Since the nationwide lockdown came into force in March, Marathi theatre has been facing huge losses with no official information as yet on when theatres will reopen. In this uncertain environment, Marathi actress and lyricist Spruha Joshi has shared a video about the launch of a new play, Mogra.
Directed by actor Hrishikesh Joshi, the play will be held on 12 July. The video ends with the cryptic statement, "At your favourite nearest theatre."
This video does not offer any details about the play and the artistes who will be performing in it. In fact, the last sentence has been clever worded to indicate a virtual play which will be streamed live for the subscribed audience. The 'favourite nearest theatre' obviously meaning the drawing rooms of the audience.
Mogra is not the first Indian virtual play, as the credit for that goes to 'Lockdown Love' starring Shriya Pilgaonkar and Priyanshu Painyul, which was first staged live in April on the Zoom app. But Mogra may well be the first virtual Marathi play.