 |
|
The story of a handsome young boy from the slums of Bombay who dreams of fame and romance, the show is an exploration of the importance of cultural heritage, the price of success, the bonds of friendship and the power of true love. In other words, it’s Bollywood 101 on Broadway, or, in our case, at Playhouse Square Center.
Time Magazine declares the show “Something gorgeously new” and The New York Times calls it a “Feel-good fantasy.” The London Sunday Express deems it “the best British-originated musical since Phantom of the Opera.” BOMBAY DREAMS was originally produced by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber in 2002; he recruited the famous Indian musician A.R. Rahman to write the music. Rahman has sold more than 100 million albums, received many accolades, and collaborated with a number of international musical artists. The script of BOMBAY DREAMS was written by Meera Syal and Thomas Meehan, based on an idea by Shekhar Kapur and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and the lyrics are by Don Black. BOMBAY DREAMS first opened at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre on June 19, 2002. On June 19, 2003, exactly a year after its opening, almost one million tickets had been sold. A year later, the musical began playing on Broadway, opening at the Broadway Theatre in New York City in April, 2004, running until January of 2005. The London production of Bombay Dreams won the 2003 Emma Award for Best Play/Theatre Production. The Emma Awards honor multicultural media events and personalities. Bombay Dreams was also nominated for the 2003 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical and Best Costume Design. The Oliviers are the most prestigious awards for theater in the UK.
On December 23, 2005, Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars announced the international tour of BOMBAY DREAMS, opening February 21 in Costa Mesa, CA, and running through the summer and into the fall of 2006. BOMBAY DREAMS is a co-production with members of the Independent Presenters Network (IPN), and recognizes the significance and importance of the Cleveland theater scene. Playhouse Square Center was one of the first venues chosen, negotiated, and booked. The creative staff for this tour of BOMBAY DREAMS includes Director Baayork Lee, whose credits as a director, choreographer and producer span five continents around the world: US, Australia, Italy, Korea, and Japan. Musical Director is Kevin Farrell, whose Broadway credits include Fiddler on the Roof, Peter Pan and Cats; he has also conducted many touring companies, especially the last three major national tours of Evita, which he also premiered in Rome. Choreographer is Lisa Stevens, an award-winning choreographer/performer originally from Vancouver, Canada who now resides in New York City; Ms Stevens was the Associate Choreographer of both the London and the Broadway productions of BOMBAY DREAMS as well as being an original cast member of each. Kenneth Foy is the Scenic Designer, and is well-known for his designs of the Houston Grand Opera’s acclaimed multi-media productions of Carmen, Madama Butterfly, and Pagliacci as well as HGO’s Porgy and Bess, which most recently played in Milan’s venerable La Scala. BOMBAY DREAMS is one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most spectacular productions: the set and the costumes for the musical are glamorous, with an array of colors. It explores the themes of love, cultural heritage, and the power that success can have. It deserves a glamorous, evocative venue to tell its “Bollywood 101” story. Where better than Playhouse Square Center? Where, indeed. SYNOPSIS AND MUSICAL NUMBERS
BOMBAY DREAMS is a love story set against the backdrop of the Indian movie industry Bollywood. Akaash, a young slum dweller, dreams of becoming a huge movie star. In the meantime, he works as a tour guide in Bombay, introducing tourists to the city he loves (“Salaa’m Bombay”). When the tour is over, he returns home to his grandmother, Shanti, and his best friend Sweetie, a eunuch. He donates part of his earnings to the communal collection, with which the group is trying to purchase the land on which they live. Contractors show up to tell them the land has been bought, and they would need to raise millions to buy it themselves. Akaash promises to provide the money as soon as he becomes a famous move star (“Bollywood”). Vikram, a lawyer who has heard about the tenants’ plight, arrives in the slum to offer his services. Shanti invites him into her home, along with his fiancé, Priya. Vikram explains that he will do the legal work for free. Although Akaash and Sweetie are skeptical, they eventually agree. When Akaash discovers that Priya is involved in the movie industry—her father Madan is a film director—he tries to get her to cast him, but she explains that she hasn’t actually made any movies yet. The only job she’s managed to get is directing the Miss India pageant. Sweetie comes up with a plan to sneak Akaash into the pageant and get him some exposure (“Love’s Never Easy”). Madan and Vikram both support Priya at the Miss India telecast. Madan also wants her to fix the contest so he can win a bet, ensuring he’ll have enough money to hire Rani, the leading Bollywood actress, for his new film. Rani and the contestants perform for the audience (“Lovely, Lovely Ladies”). Just as the winner is announced, a group of feminist protestors—including Akaash—crash the pageant. Akaash grabs a microphone and leads Rani and the contestants in the lively Bhangra dance. He and the other protestors are thrown in jail for their efforts, but Rani convinces the policemen to free Akaash, telling Madan that she will only do the movie if Akaash stars opposite her. It seems that all Akaash’s dreams are coming true at last. On the set of the film Diamond in the Rough, Akaash is having some trouble staying in character as the crew attempts to film “Shakalaka Baby.” Priya talks to him privately, encouraging him to think more about the character and less about being on camera. He begins to make some headway (“I Could Live Here”). Sending him off to rejoin the shoot, Priya considers the emotions that Akaash brings out in her (“Is This Love?”), ending Act I.
Act II opens on the night of the movie’s premiere, and Akaash now lives in a gorgeous new apartment. Shanti arrives, but Rani turns her away, saying that it’s vital that nobody knows of Akaash’s true origins. The high society guests arrive for the pre-show party and warn Akaash of the pitfalls of being Famous. At the premiere, the movie turns out to be a huge success. Sweetie, Shanti and the other tenants from the slum cheer Akaash on, but when Sweetie tries to approach Akaash, he pretends not to know him. Shanti and Sweetie are devastated, and Priya tries to comfort them while Akaash and Rani move on to another party (“Love’s Never Easy-Reprise”). At the Indian Film Awards, the cast of Diamond in the Rough performs a song from their film, “Chaiyya Chiayya.” Akaash wins the award for Best Actor, but Rani is beaten by another actress. At Akaash’s new mansion the cast and crew continue to celebrate their success. Priya confronts Akaash about his treatment of his family and friends, and he tries to explain to her why he can’t go back. They both acknowledge their feelings for each other (“How Many Stars?”). However, Rani and Vikram find them, and Vikram warns Akaash in no uncertain terms to stay away from Priya. That proves to be a difficult task, since Priya has cast Akaash in her new film, Bombay Dreams. Rani insists on playing the lead, but when she disagrees with the way that Priya wants the heroine portrayed, Rani quits the movie and dumps Akaash at the same time. Sweetie arrives to ask for Akaash’s help; the final appeal to save the slum land is happening in court the next day. The tenants of Paradise Slum need Akaash to support them, as his fame and influence will save the slums from being demolished. Akaash, however, is still unwilling to give up the life he has found and sends Sweetie away. Priya and Sweetie both wonder why they love a man who could behave in such a way (“Hero”). At the slum, Sweetie arrives with bad news: the appeal has failed and the land has been lost. Shanti urges them all to forget it for the time being and celebrate the feast of Ganesh. Later, the contractors show up to gloat over their victory and tell Sweetie that they will be demolishing the area that night. It is not nearly enough time for the residents to move out, and Sweetie implores them to speak to Vikram. The contractors laugh: why would they talk to Vikram when he is the one ordering the demolition? Sweetie realizes they have been betrayed and runs to tell Akaash and Priya (“Ganesh Procession”). Sweetie sends a boy to tell Akaash, then confronts Vikram himself. Vikram admits his deceit, but tells Sweetie that no one will ever believe Sweetie’s story. When he says Akaash will believe him, Vikram tells him that Akaash will not come to his aid any more than he has before. Sweetie then threatens to tell Priya the truth about Vikram before the marriage that evening. That sends Vikram over the edge and he shoots Sweetie. Akaash arrives just in time to see his friend die. He realizes that he cannot continue with the lie he’s been living (“The Journey Home”). Akaash arrives at the slum just as the bulldozers
are moving in. Starstruck, the contractors leave for the evening. The
group rejoices at Akaash’s homecoming, while also mourning for
Sweetie. Akaash, though, still has to tell Priya the truth about Vikram
before it’s too late. He arrives at the wedding and tells her
everything. Vikram tries to kill him, too, but Priya comes to his aid.
Vikram is taken away, and, rather than waste a perfectly good wedding,
Akaash and Priya get married—starting off their life together
with one perfect kiss (“Wedding Qawali”).
|
 |
