Raghav Aggarwal

With 20 actors — all of whom came on board through an audition process that the duo conducted — a classic and all of two weeks at hand, the play has pushed the team to the edge, Irizarry admits. "But it has been a blast and that's the beauty of theatre," he says. When asked what he looked for in actors while screening them, he tells us, "People of varying experiences, who were willing to experiment. So, we have a couple who sings in English and Hindi, and another actor who raps. It's about using the talent of the group."

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While the first two acts of the play are based on a classic translation of the classic, the third act draws from the 1949 Hollywood comedy inspired by The Inspector General. The final act is improvisational. "I have been listening to what's happening politically [in India]. The ensemble has made some bold choices for the improvisation," Irizarry shares, without revealing much.
Despite the hectic schedule, the artiste ensured he caught up on some theatre in Mumbai, making good use of his trip coinciding with Motley's 40-year celebrations. "I watched Seema Pahwa in Aurat, Aurat, Aurat, and the actors in Dear Liar were amazing," he says, referring to Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah.

Daniel Irizarry. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

What is it about being a globetrotter that he wouldn't exchange for anything? "Travelling gives you a broader scope of the world, and empathy," Irizarry shares. "It makes you think about the human condition, and moments that connect human beings across distances."

ON Today, 6 pm and 8.30 pm
AT Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
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