Kathakali dance drama inspires American musical

NEW YORK: A major off Broadway musical, 'Queens Boulevard', that will premiere in November, has been inspired by a Kathakali dance-drama titled 'Kalyanasaugandhikam'.

Produced by the well-established Signature Theatre Company, 'Queens Boulevard' is written by its playwright-in-residence Charles Mee and will start previewing in November. Opening in December, it will run for the entire month at the company's 160-seat Peter Norton Space in Manhattan.

Promoted as a celebration of life, love and community, 'Queens Boulevard' has an Indian American named Vijay as the romantic lead.

On his wedding night, his Japanese American bride named Shijuko mentions how she loved a flower, called the flower of heaven, which someone gave her. Vijay slips out to get another one just like it and is thrown into a series of adventures in the streets of Queens in New York, including being mistaken as an agent for illegal immigrants and landing in a lock-up. Finally, he gets back home with the flower.

The story of 'Kalyanasaugandhikam' (The Flower of Good Fortune) takes off from an episode in the Mahabharata about the time when the Pandavas were living in a forest. One day Draupadi comes across a beautiful, sweet smelling flower and implores husband Bhima to get her more. Bhima goes through a lot before the mission is accomplished.

On setting his play in the Queens, which does have a road named Queens Boulevard with storefronts and apartment buildings running through it, Mee said, "Queens is like no other place on earth. Forty-six percent of its residents are foreign born."

He said this makes it a convenient backdrop for creating colour, conflict and costume drama.

"Charles Mee is a master of showing that even the classics can be made very current," said Geeta Citygirl, who is overjoyed to be in the musical's cast.

The cast includes three other South Asians, Amir Arison, Satya Bhabha and Debargo Sanyal. They are among the 15 actors playing 40 roles in an ensemble piece.

Mee, with many plays to his credit, is the recipient of a lifetime achievement award in drama from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He currently teaches playwriting at Columbia University's School of the Arts.

Davis McCallum, the director of 'Queens Boulevard', and choreographer Peter Pucci are also veterans in their fields.

Signature is a not-for-profit organisation committed to presenting good theatre at an affordable price and offers subsidised $20 tickets. Off Broadway theatres are those with 100 to 499 seats.