Read Between the Lines
Play Review

Read Between the Lines, a play written and directed by Suhasini Mairathnam, was staged in Hyderabad this week. What stood out, apart from Suhasini’s excellent performance as Radha, was the plot and interplay of colloquial Telugu, Indian English and American English.

The story revolved around a mother-daughter duo and their letters to each other; Radha in the US, and her mother Shantamma in Hyderabad. The plot was interesting enough. Shantamma’s letters portrayed the essence of a middle class south Indian home, and the nitty-gritty’s of a widow’s solitary life very well. The flash back clippings were well made and blended into the live performance. Shantamma’s letters to Radha kept the audience in humorous raptures. The surprise package of the play was Suhasini rendering a song melodiously, though the sudden bursts of dancing did tend to be a bit of a distraction. Details of Radha’s unhappy marriage are realistically expressed in small doses to a mother living miles away. Shantamma’s helplessness comes across wonderfully. The bachelor neighbor’s entry and exit into the lives of the mother-daughter duo is interesting and adds a twist to the plot.

Significantly, you have to read between the lines towards the climax as an unexpected and dramatic turn of events unfolds.

Suhasini’s performance – a blend of childish energy and maturity came across beautifully; considering this is her first theater performance. Ali Baig’s performance as Shantamma’s bachelor neighbor was satisfactory. Shantamma’s role was a miniscule one. The entire cast (just 3 people) played out the scenes well.

The light and sound at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was average and tried unsuccessfully to portray the quiet solitude of an Indian household in America. The lighting however did set the mood of a sometimes gloomy evening peppered with bright childhood memories. The costumes were not great. The audience seemed very familiar with Suhasini, and the play itself was marketed solely in her name. She made no qualms admitting that this was an amateurish play. Having said that, overall, it was an enjoyable experience.