KARACHI: Four years ago, one of the graduates of the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa), Zarqa Naz, directed the play Wapsi, an Urdu version of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit. One remembers that while reviewing the production, one was critical of the actors’ performance despite some mirthful moments for the audience. So, it was expected that when Naz was going to do it one more time at Napa’s ongoing Women’s Performing Arts Fest on Monday, things would be different.

Were they? To be honest, not quiet. Yes, there were several moments in the drama where the audience laughed heartily. But the director is now a seasoned campaigner. She could have gone further than that.

Wapsi has the character of a writer, Mansoor (Hammad Khan), as the protagonist who, when the curtains go up, so to speak, is seen with his wife Areeba (Rachna Kirpalani). She is his second wife. The first, Noreen (Alina) died seven years ago.

Soon another couple, Dr Adil and his wife (Faisal Rajput and Mahjabeen), enter the scene. They talk about a clairvoyant, Khanum Batool (Asiya Alam). It doesn’t take long for the quirky Khanum to join them. They have a séance with her help; and in comes the ghost of Noreen. The problem is only Mansoor can see his dead wife. This creates funny situations which result in a few interesting, plot twisting incidents.

Urdu adaptation of Blithe Spirit staged at Napa Women’s Performing Arts Festival

It has to be said that despite some inert moments in the tempo-building first half of the play, the audience enjoyed the second half of the story. Naz and her team should be commended for that. One means it. But as it has been mentioned earlier, since Wapsi is a known, tried and tested play, it could have been funnier.

Why? Answer: reacting to fellow actors’ lines and gestures is a big and important part of the acting skill set. For example, when Khanum is conducting the séance and sliding to her right (side of the stage) in frenzy, the four other actors on stage look unaffected by the situation.

Similarly, when Noreen arrives for the first time, Mansoor looks more at Areeba than her, and Areeba’s reaction doesn’t help either.

Also, in such a comedy, in scenes where madness is shown, covering most of the stage area by moving around frantically creates an impact (a case in point is Khanum’s dance to a song or Noreen’s struggle with the spirit of Areeba). It didn’t happen on Monday. The script, too, with lines such as tumharey andar jealousy ka factor aa gaya hai made the whole exercise a bit amateurish.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2024