After a couple of months of no major comic theatrical activity in Islamabad, the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) has come to life with rib-tickling comedy play ‘CinderJutt’, performed by some extraordinary young folks.
“CinderJutt”, a musical comedy bilingual stage play that will continue at the PNCA Auditorium till November 26, brought excitement to the young viewers with an amalgamation of music from the 1960s till present, putting them in a trance as they are absorbed with the storyline.
Roots College International Millennium Campus I-9/3, in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and PNCA is presenting ‘CinderJutt’ that is a comic version of the world’s most read fairytale ‘Cinderella’.
Directed by Flora Mehmood and produced by Javed Saeedi, the two-and-a-half-hour production has the core aim to entertain the dwellers of twin cities’ entertainment adornment. A variety of characters in the play have literally tickled the audience’s funny bone to the core. The jam-packed hall was enchanted, bedazzled, hypnotised and captivated by the magical-comical-musical dream.
The ingredients that have led to the success of the play mainly include magic old musical numbers, enchanting set, glittering costumes and ballistic ‘desi’ family.
‘CinderJutt’ is a story in which the role of beautiful Cinderella has been replaced by a Nikka (Shahryar Jutt) who is the stepson of Bobby Jutt (Rubab Tanzeel). Nikka has two stepbrothers named Shoki Jutt (Faisal Imtiaz) and Gogi Jutt (Shahryar Gillani). Nikka, like Cinderella, is a victim of unjust oppression. His mother and sisters always looked at him with hatred. However, at the end of the play, Nikka gets married with Rania (Zoya Abbasi), which is obviously a triumphant reward as his stepbrothers wanted to win her heart.
The two characters, who sprinkled humour throughout the play, are Shoki Jutt and Master Jani (Nabeel Awan) – a tailor who arrives from the United Kingdom.
The play revolves around a Punjabi Jutt family whose Cinderella is a young Punjabi boy harassed by his stepmother, his lion of Punjab ‘ghandasa-carrying’ older stepbrother and the now stereotypical gay younger stepbrother. The stepmother character is the typical figure, greedy for her husband’s wealth and trying to gain social status. In comes the rich uncle with his beautiful daughter recently returned from London, looking for a suitable match for her.
The producer Javed A Saeedi and director Flora Mahmood have previously experienced a successful venture in the form of ‘Avanti.’ The rest of the production team include Veera (choreographer), Faizan Raza (graphic designer), Rashid Shah (project manager), Waqar Wasif (project supervisor), Shazak Malik (costume designer), Sajeel Murad (assistant producer), Rubab Mahmood (project director), Ghulfam Ghauri (makeup) and Ali Niazi (lights and sound).
That said, Saeedi and Mehmood have put together a picture-perfect ensemble cast where each role fits the actor playing it like a glove. The actors are all a break from casting friendly faces and are a brand-new and mostly untested cast keeping in line with the producers’ aims for encouraging young artists and presenting a softer side of the country.
The play is a light-hearted musical made for a night away from everyday life and will continue to run daily till November 26 at 8:00 pm.