Recent random thoughts of some theatre-loving Chennai-ites

"With all the rains and the traffic and queues and all that, let's just read the review of the play we are supposed to go to this evening in the paper ­tomorrow"

Okay... the play begins at 7.30 pm, so get there by 7.15.

ETD from home is therefore 6.30 pm…no, make that 6-ish, because of that bane of earnest audiences – free seating.

Over the last three shows, Ms Me-First and her passive-aggressive friends have been hogging the best seats, plus ‘keeping place’ for hordes of their buddies.

As for yesterday – empty seats galore... so, of course, Mr. Eight-Footer-with-the-Poosnikai-Head has to choose the one before us.

And – Heaven preserve us from foot-tappers, cough-ers and fidget-ers.

Time to leave.

Tickets?

Check.

God, the traffic … thankfully, no dignitary movement, no sudden mass protests, no breakdowns…

MOVE, can’t you see the lights have … what are you honking at?

Inching, inching ... Yay!

Arrived.

Hey – ever heard of a queue?

Now – choosing seats. Too much in front looks presumptuous; too much to the back seems overly humble ...

They’re starting.

What the ...?!! I swear I put the damn thing on ‘silent’.

Everyone’s glaring.

(Why is my left arm hurting?)

(Later)…

Leave minutes before the end. No intense-discussion-obscure-analysis-and-how-did-you-like-the-play-ing.

(Much Later) ...

(Note to self: Stay home; watch TV ... and sing: This particular world was never meant for one as worrywart as you ... starry, starry evenings…)