Man has, since time immemorial, chased the cause of spirituality and of material satisfaction. Wedged between these two lies a desire for love ? a concept that Love on the Brink, a comic play directed and produced by Mumbai-based Lillete Dubey explores. The 100-minute play is adapted from a Tony Award winning Broadway hit Luv.
Sengupta?s character is called Bandy, an intellectual Bengali morphed into a tramp, who is on the brink of collapse, both physically and metaphysically. Dazed, dissatisfied and confused, he finds himself standing on a cliff, about to take the plunge. Fate, however, brings his friend, Chops, into the background and thus prevents Bandy from taking his life. The solution offered to the forlorn character is that ?he needs to fall in love? and only then will he, literally, get a life. The action revs up when Chops introduces Bandy to his wife, Amu. ?To me, what?s interesting is how we are in love with the concept of love but our hopes don?t always play out. Chop, for instance, introduces Amu to Bandy because he feels the passion has gone from his marriage,? says Dubey.
?The most interesting point of view would be the woman?s,? says Sengupta. ?Her character is smart and bookish, intimidating to most men and she has to subvert her intelligence to gain love. Essentially Love on the Brink looks at love beyond worldly constraints. An existentialist question is asked throughout?is falling in love the purpose of life? but the treatment is witty and satirical.?
As the plot thickens, a triangle forms with the tramp falling in love with Amu. Not before long lust and love are explored. ?There should be a balance of both love and intelligence. My character is constantly battling her heart and mind, incapable of satisfying her material needs and her innate desire to love. These are questions most women identify with,? says Tanksale. Sengupta adds, ?Despite its farcical form, the play raises some very contentious issues.?
