British playwright Harold Pinter’s iconic 1978 play, Betrayal, is one that explores a poignant love triangle.
Presented by Mumbai’s Aadyam Theatre, a retelling of this iconic play is set to captivate Bengaluru’s audience with its gripping narrative.
“People can expect a retelling of a classic text and some very nuanced performances on stage. It’s going to be one-and-a-half hours of absolutely engaging theatre,” says Rachel D’Souza, the director of the play.
Of wounded hearts and fragile memories
Critically regarded as one of Pinter’s major dramatic works, Betrayal intricately navigates the evolving relationships between three characters through a series of meetings and conversations.
Unfolding in reverse chronology, the play starts in the year 1977 when lovers Jerry and Emma meet after a gap of two years. From there, it spirals backwards to 1968 to the first transgression when Jerry, Robert’s closest friend, declares his undying love for Emma, Robert’s wife.
Along the way, the play draws its viewers into various events in time, when things both said and unsaid create a compelling theatrical experience.
Rachel tells us, “During the pandemic, I was drawn to several classic texts and stories about relationships. The kind that takes place behind closed doors and makes you feel like you’re peeking into the very personal and intimate lives of people. This is one such story and that got me really excited. We haven’t done anything to change the text, the characters or where they are from. We are performing the play in its original form.”
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Depicting shades of grey
Betrayal features actors Sukant Goel, Abir Abrar, and Vivek Gomber in lead roles.
“These are people I have worked with in the past and have a long-standing relationship with. I share a comfortable equation with them. The play has complex characters who put themselves out there. They are three very unlikable characters, who are unfaithful, and playing with family, the values of society, etc. But there is something inside of them that makes them want to do all this. The writer never really addresses it and that’s frustrating,” Rachel laughs.
She adds, “There is a certain lightness in the way he (Pinter) writes about things. This humour in this play is not the laugh-out-loud kind. It’s the humour that is sharp and biting. It’s something that must be seriously handled.”
No need to be adapted
As the play addresses themes that are universal in nature, there was no need to make the script Indian.
Rachel says, “The plot here is quite simple and not something we can reinvent. It’s stuff that happens all around us. People get married, they get divorced, people go through break-ups, cheat on partners, these things happen.”
She adds, “Here, what I find interesting is the way it is treated. Pinter has that very nuanced approach. It’s more about what’s being withheld than what’s being said. And that means that every member of the audience will get to take away with them their own version of the story.”
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Pulling the heart ‘strings’
Music plays a pivotal role in this production, with Nush Lewis’s mastery of the harp adding emotional depth by seamlessly transitioning between scenes.
“For the production, I have collaborated with Nush, a Mumbai-based harpist-singer-songwriter. She performs along with the artists on stage. For me, working with indie musicians to design the sound in a way that I like to treat the text and the theme was an exciting experience,” adds Rachel.
As Aadyam Theatre gears up to make its debut in Bengaluru after its successful runs in Mumbai and Delhi, Rachel shares that it’s an exciting time for the team.
“Bengaluru has a very rich and thinking audience. I have been here with different shows before. So, I know that regardless of what kind of play it is, whether a musical or a puppet show, Bengaluru has an audience for it. They talk about it, come to watch, and indulge in it. I hope that happens this time as well,” says Rachel, adding that they will start touring festivals and other cities next year.
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Tickets are available on Book My Show
Date: 15 September (7:30 pm) and 16 September (3:30 pm and 7:30 pm)
Venue: Ranga Shankara, JP Nagar
