With Animalia, director Manik Arora has brought a unique twist to Anton Chekhov’s classic one-act comedic play, The Bear: A Joke in One Act. Premiering at the Mississauga Multilingual Fringe Festival and produced by Dramatic Jukebox on the heels of their Toronto Fringe Festival hit Toba Tek Singh, Arora’s adaptation is a fresh and engaging perspective that intertwines contemporary urban dynamics with animalistic allegory.
Animalia shifts The Bear’s narrative from a traditional rural Russian setting to contemporary urban Toronto. The story unfolds in the drawing room of Elena Ivanovna Popova’s estate, seven months after her husband’s death. When her late husband’s creditor arrives to collect on outstanding debts, the interaction between the widow (played by Kamila Ultarakova) and the creditor (Deval Soni) swiftly escalates from polite to volatile, resulting in a series of unexpected and comedic confrontations. Animalia reimagines Chekhov’s original work by addressing modern issues such as dating apps, social media’s influence, and the intricacies of urban life.
And the musical comedy offers a humorous take on the serious themes of death, grief and mourning by examining the animalistic instincts that lie beneath our civilized exteriors.
The characters in Animalia represent the city’s diverse wildlife—from the stoic raccoon to the agile housecat. Arora’s inspiration for Animalia was sparked by a moment of profound insight into the character dynamics of the original play. He recalls that in The Bear, the female protagonist comments on the coarse behavior of the male protagonist by calling him a bear – but there is never a counter commentary on her behaviour. “Finding correlation to her spirit animal gave birth to the idea of using real animal personas for characters”, he explains. And what he calls the “’BEAR’ ‘BEAR’ / ‘BORE’ moment in the script” represents his “eureka moment”.
The musical aspect of Animalia serves to integrate the enduring themes of love, loss, and conflict with the primal instincts of the animal kingdom. A dynamic live score enhances the on-stage action, with musicians Kabir Agarwal and Abhishek Sharma responding to the unfolding events and creating an immersive experience for the audience.
The production also features a multilingual approach: while English is the primary medium, the characters speak various languages, including Russian, Hindi, Gujarati, and Marathi. The effect is a nuanced commentary on themes of colonization and cultural dominance – which is reinforced by the show’s stylized design, which merges human and animal traits. Arora sees the show’s “satirical exploration of the raw instincts that lurk beneath our civilized façades” as both timely and relevant for diverse audiences in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA): “Set in the concrete jungle of Toronto, the play invites audiences to recognize familiar animalistic behaviours in themselves and their neighbours, prompting a playful reflection on the complexities of urban life and the primal forces that shape our decisions. By embodying the wildlife of the GTA, our characters offer a fresh perspective on the city’s unique social dynamics.”
In his directorial vision, Arora emphasizes the volatility beneath our veneer of civilization: “The constant pressure to conform to societal norms often leads to the suppression of our primal instincts,” he explains. “Immersed in a world dominated by technology and social media, we find ourselves second-guessing our most basic urges. Animalia challenges this notion, suggesting that suppressing our instincts can be counterproductive. The play also aims to demystify and normalize the raw power of human connection, exploring themes of passion, attraction, and evolutionary chemistry.”
And Arora’s ambition is nothing less than “to redefine the theatrical experience.” Animalia is “an attempt to challenge conventional theatre – while ensuring the show remains accessible and engaging for a diverse audience,” he reveals. “Our goal is to create a contemporary piece that stands out in a world saturated with audio-visual stimuli. By blending thought-provoking themes with captivating storytelling and dynamic visuals, Animalia aims to offer a unique theatrical experience.”
In closing, Arora connects this ambition to the immersive spirit of early theatre, where performance was a communal celebration. “Our cast and crew approach this production with a playful energy, reminiscent of medieval theatre troupes. We’re hoping that audiences will be thrilled by this fresh and innovative adaptation of a classic tale.”
As Animalia makes its world premiere, it invites audiences to laugh, to reflect . . . and to feel the primal forces that drive us all. And Arora is confident it will succeed on all fronts: “Animalia promises to leave a lasting impression on our audience.”
Animalia, presented as part of the 2024 Mississauga Multilingual Fringe Festival August 19 to 25 at Sampradaya Dance Creations. Visit eventbrite.ca to reserve tickets.
© Arpita Ghosal, SesayArts Magazine, 2024
