Breaking New Ground: How The Chairs - A Musical Redefined Guwahati’s Theater Scene with a Bold New Vision

The Chairs - A Musical

On Sptember 7, 2024, Guwahati was treated to a groundbreaking theatrical performance—The Chairs - A Musical, directed by the 21-year-old Shristi Bhagawati. This innovative adaptation of Eugene Ionesco’s classic play melded absurdist theater with live music and choreography, marking the city’s first live musical play. Co-directed with the seasoned Radhika Goswami, the production reimagined the story of an elderly couple as a poignant tale of two sisters navigating the devastation of the Assam floods. The performance featured a talented cast including Indrani Sinha Das, Jureen Mahanta, Saswati Bhatta, Jigyash Dutta, Nandini Handique, and Shristi herself. It skillfully combined live original music, composed by Shristi and performed by Music Malt’s Jim Ankan Deka, Pranjoy Das, and Rupam Kalita, with intricate choreography by Nandini Handique, creating a mesmerizing fusion of theater, music, and dance. The Chairs set a new benchmark for local theater, showcasing both the timeless relevance of Ionesco's work and the immense creativity of the young team, while firmly establishing Shristi as a bold and exciting new voice in Indian theater.

Inspiration Behind The Chairs

When asked about her inspiration to adapt The Chairs into a musical, Shristi shared her deep connection to Ionesco's existential themes. “The Chairs is a tragic farce that speaks to the ongoing search for meaning in our lives," Shristi explained. "Everyone, regardless of age, wrestles with the existential questions that this play touches upon. I believed it would be interesting to experiment with these concepts in a musical format, something that had never been done before.”

Indrani Sinha Das & Shristi Bhagawati in 'The Chairs'

Her artistic vision was clear: "I was sure that one could keep revisiting this play and uncovering new meanings, but since it’s an absurd play, well, too bad, it might just not make sense at the end of the day." This juxtaposition of meaning and absurdity is what makes The Chairs so compelling, and Shristi’s decision to infuse the narrative with live music and choreography added layers of emotion to the already complex material.

Collaborative Journey with Radhika Goswami and Agora

Shristi co-directed the project with Radhika Goswami, whom she first worked with a year ago at Agora, The Space. Their collaboration was one of mutual respect and creative alignment. Shristi reflected on the synergy they shared: "Radhika and I discovered our shared love for musicals, and when I proposed doing The Chairs, our ideas about contextualization and execution were perfectly aligned."

Shristi Bhagawati, Radhika Goswami, Indrani Sinha Das

Radhika's role extended beyond co-directing. She also handled the production design, bringing her extensive experience to enhance the overall vision. “She has been a mentor for me and everyone in the cast,” Shristi said, highlighting the importance of Radhika’s guidance throughout the production process.

Choreography and Nandini Handique’s Contribution

A significant element that set this adaptation apart was its choreography, designed by Nandini Handique. For Shristi, the choreography was crucial to bringing the music to life: “It was the movements that gave life to the music. Nandini skillfully crafted movements not just as plain dance steps but as symbolic representations of the characters’ moods, and even incorporated Sattriya dance to highlight certain themes.”

Nandini Handique (2nd from left) & other actors

Handique's choreography played an integral role, especially in scenes involving imaginary characters who had no dialogue. Their physicality, guided by Handique's choreography, became a core part of the storytelling, adding a unique visual dynamic to the performance.

The Cast and Acting Dynamics

Shristi Bhagawati and Indrani Sinha Das played the lead roles, and their collaboration was a highlight of the production. "Indrani was the life of the play. We would meet before rehearsals to go over our lines and explore the characters in depth," Shristi recalled. The chemistry between the two actresses was palpable on stage, and Indrani’s vocal performances left the audience spellbound.

Cast of 'The Chairs - A Musical'

The cast, including Jureen Mahanta, Saswati Bhatta, Jigyash Dutta, Nandini Handique, and Shristi herself, all brought their unique talents to the performance. Their dedication shone through in every scene, with each actor contributing their own creative interpretations. This collective effort led to a polished and emotionally resonant performance that deeply moved the audience.

Original Music: A Seamless Collaboration with Music Malt

Shristi composed the music for The Chairs with support from Music Malt’s Jim Ankan Deka, Pranjoy Das, and Rupam Kalita. This was her first time composing for a professional play. "I was introduced to Music Malt through my co-actor, Indrani Das, and it was one of my favorite experiences," Shristi said. Although the original play had no songs, Shristi adapted some lines into lyrics and used character emotions as her guide. Jim Ankan Deka played a key role, providing strumming patterns that perfectly matched her vision. "Jim created the magic," she noted.

Music Malt team - Pranjoy Das, Rupam Kalita, Jim Ankan Deka

Due to time constraints, Shristi and her team composed a song in one sitting and recorded multiple percussion instruments for the “chaos” sequence at Rupam Kalita’s studio. "I had a vague idea of the track's sound but was clear about the emotions I wanted," Shristi explained. "Jim understood my references, and with Rupam’s percussion skills, we created the chaos sequence, later enhanced by a live guitar bit." The musicians played live during the performance, adding immediacy and emotion. Their seamless collaboration allowed for on-the-spot experiments with the score before the premiere. "The jazz bit is my personal favorite," Shristi added.