CHENNAI: Usually, a play for children never manages to appeal the older, and vice versa. But with director Rajiv Krishnan and his Tanglish play Jujubi, one doesn’t know the target audience for sure, because the play enticed the young and old alike. At different levels, though. Staged by Theatre Perch at Spaces on Saturday, Jujubi was a bit of all genres - musical, interactive, slapstick and sentimental too. The story is set in Rulampettai, whose king Idi Minnal orders the enforcement of a futile new rule that comes into effect every new moon day. His dictum is announced by his bird, bearing the titular name Jujubi, that repeats his words. The rules include that no person should cast a shadow, be taller than two feet or laugh. Those who breach these rules, animals and trees included, are put in jail. As the rules become unbearable, three thieves steal the laddu (Jujubi lays laddus instead of eggs), to prevent these new rules from extending to the next generation. The laddu reaches Minuki, daughter of one of the victims of the king’s atrocious rules, and listens only to her as it hatches in her hand. It repeats only her words, and brings the end of the king’s rule.Every effort was made to engage the audience — many tiny tots — by holding interactions with them. While the actors mouthed a few rules during the play, the juveniles came up with their own list of rules that they found good and bad. Some called ‘No ice cream’ a bad rule, while others said ‘No food’ was a good one. And the song Rulampettai ooru kulla irundha raja Idi Minnal was nothing short of a kuthu number! Actors Anand Sami, Karuna Amarnath and Sri Krishna Dayal were quick in their role play and ensured the unhindered flow of the story. While the sets and props were planned to suit children, many adults seemed interested too. Rajiv Krishnan provided able support conveying different moods on the musical instruments.
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