Review: Urooj Ashfaq's "It's funny to me"

 

My relationship with Urooj's shows is a bit of a saga.

I've loved her acting and the things she's been in for a long time. The first I remember is the AIB sketch, When Apps Are People, Part 1. I've been following her online ever since, and I'm a big fan.

A little about me first. I travel a lot for work, and I'm usually not sure where I'll be on any given day a month from now. The travel has been heavy, though it's eased off lately. Anyway. Whenever a favorite comedian of mine announces a show, I just book two tickets, never mind whether I'll actually be in town. If I'm not, I pass them on to friends, or my nieces and nephews, or whoever else I can find who likes them.

That's exactly what happened a few years ago. Urooj announced a show, I booked, and then I had to be out of town and couldn't find anyone to take the tickets. So the next time she announced one, I booked again and decided I'd be in town no matter what, even turning down a family function at my in-laws'. One day before the show, Urooj announced it had to be canceled and would be rescheduled. When the new dates came, I wasn't in town. I thought something else was waiting for me.

So when she announced she'd be in Bangalore for "It's Funny to Me," I did the usual and booked two tickets, and this time I made sure I'd be around. Everything fell into place. I even managed to bring along a friend whose sense of humor, I think, is a lot like Urooj's.

And then I almost didn't make it. Of all the days, my Uber driver decided to take a wrong turn, and for a few minutes it looked like I might miss the show after all these years of trying. I made it. Just.

The first few seconds were a bit much, seeing her in person after all these years of watching her online. She set the context early: she was trying something new and edgy, built on feedback she'd gotten in Europe. My friend and I exchanged a look. We turn up after following all her older work, and the day we finally make it, it's the new stuff?

And yet, no, not disappointing. Not even slightly. It was every bit as good. Her sense of humor was fully intact, I had a blast, and I was simply happy to have finally caught her live.

If you like her comedy, and if you want to see her take on some darker themes (and I strongly recommend it), don't think twice. Book.

Review: Anatomy of a Suicide

I had the chance to watch Anatomy of a Suicide today.

When the June schedule landed in my inbox at the start of the month, I asked AI to tell me which plays were critically acclaimed and which ones I shouldn't miss. It came back with three non-negotiables, and this one sat right at the top of the list.

I forwarded the summary to two friends. One was traveling, so the other and I settled on a time, confirmed the show closer to the date, and this afternoon we found ourselves at Ranga Shankara.

I had read up on the play beforehand and asked Claude to summarize it for me without spoilers. One line stuck with me: there will be parallel plots running at the same time, so pick one and stay with it, because if you try to follow all of them you'll only get confused. The tip came back to me the moment three plots started playing out at once. I thanked Claude in my head, picked one, and stayed with it. It paid off. I was in step with what was happening on stage, and the whole thing was, to put it simply, mind-blowing.

The emotional maturity of the characters and their relationships was extraordinary. The ease with which they spoke about themselves, with nothing to hide, was an eye-opener. That says something about the writing. The acting had me on the edge of my seat almost immediately. There was humming, singing, dancing, small recognizable behaviors, and I went through all of it with them: happy, sad, exasperated, driven, comforted, inspired, shocked, surprised, the lot.

I thought the three parallel plots were a clever choice, not just as a way to tell the story but as a way to hold your attention. It reminded me of something I picked up while facilitating innovation workshops: give people enough on the table to keep them busy and they actually focus more, because they're less likely to reach for their phones or start talking to the person next to them.

This was in Bangalore, and I don't know when it will be back. I'd strongly recommend it. I'd also suggest you read up before you go.

Max's Inventor's Club

Once upon a time, in a bustling little town called Gadgetville, there lived a young inventor named Max. Max had a knack for creating fantastic inventions, big and small, that made life easier for everyone in the town. He was always thinking, tinkering, and finding new ways to solve problems.

One sunny morning, as Max strolled through the town square, he overheard some of his fellow townsfolk talking about their daily struggles. Mrs. Brown, the baker, was having trouble keeping up with the demand for her delicious bread. Mr. Green, the gardener, was struggling to water his plants efficiently. And Miss Violet, the school teacher, wished she had a better way to organize her classroom supplies.

Max knew he could help his friends with his inventive skills. He went home and began brainstorming, drawing up plans for new gadgets that would make their lives easier and more productive.

Max started with Mrs. Brown's problem. He designed a dough kneading machine that could mix and knead the dough in half the time it took her to do it manually. He presented the invention to Mrs. Brown, who was overjoyed with the gift. Soon, her bakery was producing twice as many loaves of bread, filling the town with the delightful aroma of freshly baked goods.

Next, Max turned his attention to Mr. Green's gardening dilemma. He invented an automatic watering system that could be programmed to water the plants at specific times throughout the day. Mr. Green was thrilled with Max's invention, and his garden flourished like never before, brightening Gadgetville with vibrant colors and sweet scents.

Finally, Max tackled Miss Violet's classroom conundrum. He created a modular storage system that allowed her to organize her supplies in a neat, efficient manner. With Max's invention, Miss Violet was able to spend more time teaching and less time searching for misplaced items. Her students loved the new system, and their enthusiasm for learning grew stronger each day.

Word of Max's incredible inventions spread throughout Gadgetville, and soon, he was flooded with requests from his neighbors. Max realized that he could make an even bigger impact by teaching others how to invent and solve problems, too.

He started an Inventors' Club at the local community center, where children and adults alike could learn the art of problem-solving and creativity. The club members worked together to brainstorm ideas and build new inventions, turning Gadgetville into a hub of innovation and productivity.

Inspired by Max's dedication and hard work, the people of Gadgetville learned the importance of using their creativity to make their lives and their community better. And as for Max, he continued to invent and inspire others, proving that with determination and a little bit of ingenuity, anyone can make a difference in the world. 

Dreamweave - A village of dreams

Once upon a time, in a land filled with enchantment and wonder, there was a tiny village called Dreamweave. This village was nestled between the majestic Starfall Mountains and the sparkling Moonbeam River. The people of Dreamweave were known far and wide for their extraordinary ability to create the most vivid and fantastic dreams.

In Dreamweave, there lived a kind-hearted girl named Luna. She had a special gift: the power to weave dreams for the children of the village, ensuring they would have magical adventures in their sleep. Every evening, Luna would sit by her window, using her enchanted loom to weave dreams from the threads of starlight and moonbeams.

One night, as Luna worked at her loom, a gentle gust of wind brought her a message from the other side of the Starfall Mountains. A village called Slumberdeep was in dire need of her help. The children of Slumberdeep had been plagued by nightmares, and their parents were at a loss, unable to bring them any comfort.

Without hesitation, Luna embarked on a journey to Slumberdeep. She climbed the Starfall Mountains, guided by the shimmering constellations in the sky. She crossed the Moonbeam River, its silvery waters reflecting the soft glow of the moon.

Upon arriving in Slumberdeep, Luna found the children and their parents in a state of distress. Luna assured them that she would do everything in her power to bring sweet dreams back to their village.

That night, Luna set up her loom in the village square, and she began to weave. The threads of starlight and moonbeams danced in the air, creating a tapestry of dreams more beautiful and intricate than any she had made before.

As Luna wove, the dreams began to float gently towards the children's homes, finding their way into the hearts and minds of the sleeping little ones. One by one, their nightmares were replaced with dreams of laughter, adventure, and joy.

In their dreams, the children of Slumberdeep found themselves exploring magical realms filled with talking animals, enchanted forests, and ice cream mountains. They played with unicorns and flew with the wind atop the wings of giant eagles. They visited castles made of candy and danced on clouds that tasted like cotton candy.

When morning came, the children of Slumberdeep awoke with smiles on their faces, their hearts filled with the magic of Luna's dreams. The villagers gathered in the square to thank Luna for her incredible gift, and from that day forward, Slumberdeep became known as the Village of Sweet Dreams.

Luna returned to Dreamweave, her heart full of gratitude and love. She continued to weave dreams for the children of her village and for children all around the world, knowing that she had the power to bring joy and adventure to their lives, even as they slept.

And so, every night, when you close your eyes and drift off to sleep, remember that Luna and her enchanted loom are hard at work, weaving dreams of wonder and magic just for you. 

Tim from Whistling Wind

Once upon a time, in the charming village of Whistling Wind, there was a young boy named Tim. Tim was known for his adventurous spirit and insatiable curiosity. He loved exploring the surrounding woods and meadows, always eager to discover something new.

One day, while exploring the woods, Tim stumbled upon a hidden clearing. At the center of the clearing was a mysterious, ancient tree, unlike any he had ever seen before. Its trunk was twisted, and its branches reached out in all directions like arms, ready to embrace the sky.

As Tim approached the tree, he noticed that it was covered in countless colorful ribbons, each one adorned with a small, glittering bell. Intrigued, Tim gently tugged on one of the ribbons, and the bell rang out with a beautiful, melodic sound.

Suddenly, a soft voice whispered in the wind, "Thank you for awakening the Wishing Tree, young adventurer. As a reward for your curiosity, I grant you three wishes. Choose wisely, and your heart's desires shall be fulfilled."

Tim couldn't believe his ears. He thought long and hard about his first wish. He had always been a fast runner, but he wished he could be even faster, swift as the wind itself. The tree's leaves rustled, and Tim could feel newfound energy coursing through his veins.

For his second wish, Tim wanted to communicate with animals, understanding their thoughts and speaking their language. Once again, the tree obliged, and suddenly, Tim could hear the chatter of the forest creatures all around him. He laughed with the squirrels, sang with the birds, and even learned a few wise words from an old tortoise.

Finally, Tim pondered his third wish. He thought of his friends and family in Whistling Wind and how he could use his last wish to bring joy to them. He decided to wish for the ability to bring happiness to others, simply by sharing stories of his adventures.

The Wishing Tree granted Tim's final wish, and he returned to the village with newfound gifts. He raced through the streets, faster than anyone had ever seen. He shared conversations with the village animals, much to everyone's delight. But most importantly, Tim told stories of his adventures, filling the hearts of his friends and family with happiness and wonder.

From that day on, Tim became known as the Village Storyteller, a beloved figure who brought joy to everyone he met. His tales of the Wishing Tree, magical creatures, and daring escapades inspired generations of Whistling Wind's children to explore the world and cherish the magic of storytelling.