Courtesy: Script People's Theatre
There are hundreds of NGOs working with thousands of volunteers and employees enabling millions of people in need. Physically, mentally challenged, destitute women, children, juvenile homes, old age homes and all those special places where the socially-different people are taken care of. They get their share of money, food and things they need to sustain and survive. There are thousands of charity shows being aired on TV and radio. Millions of dollars are raised. To support a cause. So that the money reaches where it is not.
Then there is a playback performance for charity done by Script People’s Theater. A visit to a special home to perform for them. To share their joys and sorrows. To share their lives.
When we think of theater, we think of a well lit stage with well prepared actors performing on it. Here things are totally different. Playback Theater is a form of impromptu theater with no pre-rehearsed scripts or dialogues. The audience is not external to the play; it is a part of it. Their reactions are taken and acted on, on the spot. Five or six actors act upon the reactions and emotions brought out by a conductor, accompanied by a musician with instruments which can produce some basic sounds. Starting from diurnal topics, a playback performance is able to bring out deepest emotions out of an individual. Sensitivity & sensibility in handling the emotions can create a powerful performance.
On a weekend, Script People’s Theater guys go to a special home and perform for the residents. The only goal is to perform. No money involved. People come up and share stories from their lives. The performers face challenges like playing back to children, mentally challenged, visually impaired. Initially there is always some cynicism with the caretakers as well as the residents. After a few enactments they start opening up and they share more. Enactment of these stories about pains and anguishes, joys and triumphs, and odds and ends not only touch the tellers and audience but also the performers.
Once, a lady shared her story about being discouraged by interviewers after they found out that she could not see. She turned around and told them sternly that it is her life and decisions, and no one could stop her. No one could. She went ahead and completed the course she had applied for. Now she is one of the caretakers at a school for the visually impaired.
Charity Playback shows have seen lots of things coming out and being performed right back. Dream of a little boy in an orphanage to earn so much money that he can give it to everyone around him. Wish of that bright eyed girl at the juvenile home to be a doctor so that she can cure everyone. Zest in mentally challenged adults. Light all around the engineer who can only partially see.
These places have financial sources, but custodians say that the donors do not share time with the residents. After all, it is not money or anything material they crave for. The performance conductor and actors show that they are listening and share similar feelings. A playback performance eventually brings out laughter and shares tears.
A charity show which doesn’t involve raising money; instead it involves soul searching, sharing and fun spreading.
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