Unboxed Writers

You have seen actor and director Atul Kumar in TV commercials, in cinema cameos but none of his more commercially visible work can sum up his range as an actor or do justice to his ability to perform human complexities almost as if  he were reading the back of his hand. His performance in Hamlet-The Clown Prince is a tour-de-force and in a chat with Unboxed Writers, he reveals the passion, pain and joy he has invested in this role and his equation with director Rajat Kapoor and the rest of the cast.

How is it to work on a free-flowing, devised piece of performance rather than working with something that is structured and firm in its outlines?

Firstly it comes with a huge possibility of failure which, one has to come to terms with because there is no written, good script to save you. Also it is full of danger and one finds oneself tackling the basics of theatre in each production which is good. And then slowly a show emerges and one feels much more content with the creation which is entirely one’s own.

How and where did Rajat as a director intervene during the rehearsals?

All the time. Although, he directs from outside, he also takes in all inputs from all actors to build up on. So in a true sense, it is an ensemble effort including the director.

Are comic and tragic elements easy to blend in a performance?

This is a fun group of friends even outside work scenario and most of them are clowns in real life so comedy comes easy. Bringing in tragic and darker elements of Hamlet was a bit difficult and turning it upside down and making it funny was easy. But yes, we were constantly conscious of keeping the basic ethos of the tragedy of Hamlet close to us all the time.

Tell us how you personally connected with the play and what you took away from it?

I  have been wanting to play Hamlet since I was 16-years-old and finally got to do it in my late 30s. It is my most favourite of plays and I think in spite of this production, my own journey with Hamlet has not ended and I am sure I will be re-visiting it again either with my own production as director or  act again with another director- may be in completely another form or may be dance theatre! The clown approach to Hamlet opened newer doors into the world of Hamlet and revealed aspects which were not apparent to me ever before this. It was most wonderful, elevating and fulfilling to work with Rajat on this version.

How were the rehearsals..fun..challenging..infuriating occasionally and what is you take on your co-actors?

Rehearsals are always party time! So great great fun. Never a moment of feeling down although there were days when we felt we are making rubbish but then we were sure it will change into something more substantial finally. So we kept at it. Even over more than 100 shows later, Rajat keeps playing around with scenes, little moments and changes things here and there. The play is also a bit improvisational so there is always that space for actors to invent while performing – all that is fun. About, co-actors as I mentioned earlier they are close friends so its like being in a fun mad crazy family!

Memorable moments while performing this before an audience?

In the Netherlands, Amsterdam where the audience watched the whole thing straight faced and did not laugh at all but gave us a standing ovation after it ended and called us on stage six times for the bow! We were told later that’s how they watch comedies at all times! We were so disillusioned while performing because no one was laughing…

Watch Hamlet-The Clown Prince in Bangalore..

Dates: 2nd to 8th October

Time: 7:30pm (also at 3:30pm on 2nd, 6th & 8th)

Venue: Ranga Shankara JP Nagar, Bangalore.

Ticket cost: Rs. 200
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Reema Moudgil is the author of  Perfect Eight (http://www.flipkart.com/b/books/perfect-eight-reema-moudgil-book-9380032870?affid=unboxedwri )