A musical satire combining contemporary theatre, fine wines and gourmet food is part of a new concept by a production company, which is experimenting with providing live entertainment using stage and film.
Le Cigare Volant (The Flying Cigar) is a restaurant you won't find listed anywhere that is because it is a fictional place that has popped up from scratch in an upmarket hotel here only for one evening as part of a stage production "Dinner for Pricks" by Humour Me, a creative entertainment enterprise.
The ultra-decadent restaurant plays host to the deluded chatter of titular 'pricks' in "Dinner for Pricks", a satirical theatre production poking fun at the high-strung elite of the city.
Three tables in the restaurant, seating a motley crew of dysfunctional characters, see most of the action, as hilarity ensues. Casual jibes about loveless sex, debauchery, farcical relationships, and a mirage of pomposity dictate proceedings, setting the tone for a level of absurdity
Eccentric waiters casually serve food and drinks, and make light conversation as audience members enjoy their evening while playful, oddball characters, engage in a series of comical exchanges.
We have taken the concept of entertainment further by creating a most unconventional brand of comedy. It is almost like an extraordinary structural comedy," says Druv Sachdeva, director, Humour Me, who has choreographed the production.
Sachdeva says the concept of entertainment has moved beyond auditoriums and stage shows and even films. His company has been associated with delivering tailor-made, live entertainment at the most unconventional places like boardrooms, corporate houses, schools and colleges.
A "robber" walking into a real bank enacts a "hold-up" before breaking into a song and dance routine with fellow cast members, or a "contract killer" doing his "act" are all creative impromptu concepts performed successfully by Sachdeva and his troupe of actors.
"We don't work with scripts but create original content. There is no concept of live entertainment in India and we hope to build it into a brand. Moreover we hope to transform the life of every individual and create memorable experiences for them," says Sachdeva.
Kapil Sekhri, Co-Promoter and Director, Fratelli Wines, which presented "Dinner for Pricks" says, "We are excited about our association with Humor Me's initiative It will be a perfect ambiance for wine enthusiasts to enjoy an evening of great laughter with this satirical theatre show. Through this tie-up, we are glad to present a excellent platform that gives an opportunity to budding Indian artists to showcase their talent.
