Karachi witnessed a one-of-a-kind theatrical presentation recently. Where fashion shows and concerts are the order of the day a theatre offering is always a welcome change… not that the former are not interesting sources of entertainment; it's just that Karachiites have not been treated to many theatre performances. And if it is a local presentation of the internationally renowned Broadway musical, CHICAGO, then you can well imagine the excitement level of us entertainment-starved Karachi walas! And so we reached the venue, the Arts Council, on time to rub shoulders with the who's who of the fashion and showbiz industry. From designers to actors, models to singers, you name it and they were there in huge numbers as CHICAGO turned out to be “the event” where it became more a status symbol to be spotted than support for a cause.
Organised by Catwalk Productions, the musical was staged by the talented youth of Made for Stage Productions in support of RahatKada, Pakistan's first hospice for cancer patients. Such efforts are always appreciated and need to be applauded and supported by those who have been blessed. And hence the A-listers kept on trickling in long after the red carpet till the time that the curtains were raised.
And thus the tale of greed, corruption, treachery, violence, exploitation and adultery began. Based on the murder of Fred Casley by chorus girl Roxie Hart (Sanam Saeed), Velma Kelly (Nida Butt, director) narrates the tale for the audience amidst dance and singing. A live orchestra was playing the original soundtrack of CHICAGO accompanied by a live choir, all students of NAPA.
Considering that it was Nida's second attempt at direction, she did a smooth job of it, what with incorporating live music and songs in the play, along with numerous dances thrown in for good measure. Rarely does one see such a well-executed play. Having rehearsed for six months, not once did any of the cast fumble their lines or make a wrong move.
While the cast were good in their performance, the same could not be said about the lighting which could have been better. The acts were at times too long… in such musical presentations, a lot depend on the sets which have to be spectacular and huge, for it is not just the dialogues but the overall presentation that impresses. However, to undertake such a gigantic challenge and to execute it to such a level of professionalism is no mean feat. Hats off to Nida for venturing into unchartered territory!
All the actors performed well but Sanam Saeed as Roxie Hart and Nida Butt as Velma Kelly were outstanding. Says Nida, “I never dreamed of getting into theatre but after my first production, The Producers (2006), I decided to push my limits and this time aimed at producing the entire musical soundtrack live with a six-member band. I had my hands full and hadn't planned on playing the role of Velma Kelly. It kind of happened by default. Producing, directing, choreographing and casting had been enough… yet, secretly I was thrilled with the opportunity. Grueling months followed but it was worth All That Jazz.”
The play was saucy; the play was bold (read risqué). The play, in the end, was a success. Especially when the proceeds are for a noble cause supported by a leading financial institution - it feels good to know somebody out there is doing something for the terminally ill.
