Viewed: ALCHEMIST (Play)

Mahesh Dattani adapts the famous novel by Paulo Cohelo, which is about following one's dreams. It tries hard to be earnest and creative, but fails to provide momentum and does not elicit emotions as it could have.

Even otherwise, this may not be an easy play to adapt considering how the protagonist isn't so active. Yet...there seems enough areas of conflict; though he deals with many people on his journey to find treasure the conflict is more of internal. The lad has to find his way and he goes on a journey meeting various people, angels and villains. Eventually discovering that his love is what is chief treasure.

Apart from some good bits of lighting, the overall production was weak; acting wasn't too polished, except for a few performances by some of the leads. The key area that failed to govern he show is directing - in trying to be creative by playing with the set albeit lighting and playing with backdrops, the 'story' failed to get going - not enough momentum courtesy lack of rising tension.

On a personal note, it was good to see a pal, Moorthy's old room-mate, Abhimanyu playing some parts in the play.

Rating **
[Max Rating ****]


[Viewed in Bangalore at Christ University auditorium on 22nd Nov, 2009 with Mota, Lull, Krishnan and Radhika]