Whatever your sense of humor may be, you’ll find comedy in 100 Din Chor Kay that will leave you in laugh-induced stitches.
The play continued to leave audiences in fits of giggles at the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP), Karachi, every day with a full house. Such was the overwhelming response that it was extended another day to accommodate those who couldn’t catch up. Based on Babar Jamal’s adaptation of Cash on Delivery by the legendary Michael Cooney, ACP debuted with the repertory theatre company.
Cast & Makers Of The Play
Featuring an ensemble cast, the characters included Amir Hassan (Fawad Khan), Irshad/Jimmy Painter (Nazar ul Hassan), Durdana Raja (Sara Taqi), Erum (Alina), Nida (Sheryle John), Samra (Komal Hayat), Dr Faiz (Hassam Irfan), Dino (Ghulam Muhiuddin), Mamo Bashir (Muneeb Shaikh), and Nadeem Farman (Muhammad Ghous), all of whom fill up the theatre with rollicking humor.
Zeeshan Haider’s directorial, 100 Din Chor Kay, was definitely for everyone who fancies a good laugh, brimming with wild frolics and dry wit, and peppered with social connotations and real-life tragedies, wrapped cleverly under the blanket of humor. The set design depicted a true middle-class feel to the stage. The light and sound design was the cherry on top as chor nikal kay bhaga pertinently dominated the music.
Storyline Of 100 Din Chor Kay
Cracking the plot of the story, is centered on a scammer-man who cons the state-run programs for underserved financial benefits. However, when they begin to inquire with questionable details, what follows is, a cascade of lies laden with throat-hurting humor. His shenanigans furl everyone into a potpourri of lies, beginning with his tenant, Irshad, who resides in his house free of cost to his wife, Samra. Thus, living in her head, the latter goes on to assume various elements, blatantly spinning a web of lies, building up into a fiasco, hoping against all odds, the reason for her husband’s betrayal. As the situation becomes ever more mixed up, the laughs become the only thing nearly as big as the powerhouse of performances.
Performances
I believe Irshad walked away with the play with his dynamic performance and diverse tonality of dialogue delivery. Moreover, all the other actors played their parts with precise craft and thought, bringing out the best in each other with their improvisational skills. Their weapons were the words, and what phenomenal stagecraft in terms of delivery – snappy, fresh, hysterical quips with great banter between the characters. As a regular frequenter of theatre, I personally feel that tragic and dramatic scenes are much easier to portray. However, comedy requires a hefty dose of humor to leaven the mood. A crackling social message lying underneath farce comedy is what encapsulates 100 Din Chor Kay.
Verdict
So, it can be safely said, that while the play was a good lesson in life. It offered much-needed entertainment, without being too preachy. Considering this was the first play of the repertory company, I expected an amateurish performance, but it caught me completely off guard – and for good.
Thus, written from a place of utter rawness, Zeeshan Haider must be lauded for a commendable job at the direction. Although the 2-hour odyssey seemed like a commitment for a theatre night, there was not an instance that would keep you asking for more. Hence, some tough decisions at the editing stage could’ve made the same play a lot crisper with tight scenes.
100 Din Chor Kay is showing at The Arts Council Karachi until 17th December 2022
