Last Day in Mayapur
Mayapur, West Bengal
Mahamantra has been sick, as sick as a dog. That would pose challenges for our productions as he plays major enough roles in each of our dramas. He did spring back into action at the last minute. Our troupe transcended all obstacles. When it was five minutes to showtime we suddenly realized that the fellow playing sage Narada was not in our dressing room, at the pandal where we were performing.
Oh My God!
We were all struck with a panic attack. But the show must go on. Quick decisions had to be made. The audience was waiting in anticipation.
"Call him (the actor) on the phone!" I shouted in the crowded dressing room.
"Maybe Maharaja will have to fill in as the understudy (referring to me)" suggested Chandrashekar.
"I'm serious. We haven't seen you act for years," he taunted again affectionately.
Fortunately our lost actor answered his calls and he raced to the pandal and all went fairly smooth.
The compliments came after production. "Do this in Hindi and I'll take you around Delhi with your show," proposed a prominent writer from Delhi after seeing the "Gita: Concise."
Other offers came for both days, 22nd and 23rd. The local TV station from Kolkata came and had me interviewed.
Most importantly the volunteer actors learned much about the story of Dhruva, the young man who had to deal with anger and the second story was about Arjuna who had to deal with indecision. These are two topical subjects that tend to confront any younger person in life.
While I enjoyed the walking and chanting in Mayapura in the early hours, I also concur with our little devotional drama family that enacting these stories of transcendence was a beautiful experience.
6 KM
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