22/09/2026
We have all heard of chamber concerts and café concerts, but Y.G. Mahendra sir and the United Amateur Artistes (UAA) team have introduced a brand new concept: Living Room Theatre. While single rooms are typically chosen for solo monologues, experiencing a full-length, two-hour crime thriller inside an intimate setting was extraordinary. The attention to detail was impeccable—every element, from a simple wall switch and background photograph to the curtains, was carefully thought out to transform a small space into a fully realized room. Even the lighting was designed to enhance the mood without overpowering the physical constraints of the setting.
There was never a dull moment; the two hours simply slipped by. The play struck a fine balance with its intelligent script, blending sharp puns, subtle sarcasm, and light political touch-and-goes. Every character—from the hero (a wrongly accused man who served five years in prison) to the judge, doctor, and criminal—carried their dialogues with apt timing. Kudos to the script!
A special mention goes to Suppini for his standout performance as the short-tempered Sankaran. Having been part of the original 1989 staging, his continuous journey with the troupe over the decades is truly worth celebrating.
The production captivated every age group present, bringing together eight-year-old students and forty-five-year-old mothers alike in shared enjoyment. In an age dominated by screens, it was a rare sight to watch teenagers completely engrossed in live theatre without looking at their phones once.
UAA’s Living Room definitely gave us a compelling drama right into an intimate space. It was engaging, witty, and an immersive evening!
