KARACHI: An Urdu adaptation of the play Perfect Wedding by Robin Hawdon titled Hotel Jaan-i-Jaan will be staged at the Arts Council of Pakistan from April 19 for 10 days. This was announced at a press conference by the council’s President Ahmed Shah on Thursday evening.

He said a bunch of students of the council had made a theatre group and since the council was always willing to help youngsters in artistic pursuits, it had put its weight behind them. To support them senior actor Yasir Hussein was appearing in the play as a principal character. “Farhan Aalam, who teaches theatre here, will direct the play and Babar Jamal has adapted it in Urdu. I’ve seen the movie based on the drama and I still remember some of its lines,” he said.

Babar Jamal said it’s an adaption of the Robin Hawdon play. “We have adapted it in accordance with our society. It’s the story of two friends one of whom is getting married. It’s a funny, farcical play which can also be called a comedy of errors.”

Producer Raahim Bukhari thanked Mr Shah for accepting his proposal. “I went to him with an idea, he lent an attentive ear and said ‘go-ahead’. I’m also thankful to Yasir bhai. I gave him just a single call and he agreed.” He then introduced his team members to the media.

Actor Yasir Hussein said it’s 2024, and the council and its president were helping a group of artists. “I remember we did a play in 2009-2010. It went well. People cried and laughed, but didn’t buy tickets for it. We went to Shah Sahib and told him that despite the drama’s success, we weren’t able to sell tickets. He replied there’s no problem. We said we needed to give the council its money for using its stage. He said we didn’t have to give the money. We thought he was kidding and soon some people would get hold of us. But he wasn’t kidding. Ever since, I have an unbreakable relationship with the council.

“When the students called me, I liked the idea. I wanted to do theatre, too. It’s going to be an entertaining project. I have only done originals and not any adaptation. This is my first time. It’s nicely written. We have turned the story into a Pakistani tale. It’s very funny. It won’t let the audience leave their seats.”

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2024