The setting is very sombre, almost ponderous. Four women, sitting on barstools on a stage with diffused lighting, perform monologues - based on true stories of women collated from the world over. These are interspersed with some lighthearted segments where each of them, in turn, utter a word or a short phrase in rapid succession on a related topic. The cast comprised the crème de la crème of Bombay theatre - Avantika Akerkar, Jayati Bhatia, Sonali Sachdev and legends Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal and Dolly Thakore 

The play is structured into a number of acts, with careful thought having gone into the sequencing and the message imparted in each. The underlying themes are addressed to different groups of people - some to women, some to men, and some with messages universal enough for any human to empathise with.  

The first few acts, including the first one which involves audience participation, attempt to shock the audience – get those people squirming in their seats to open their minds and accept some basic facts of life. In the subsequent segments, there is a clarion call for the sexual liberation of women. These seek to educate women on their rights as an equal partner, their right to experience pleasure without an accompaniment of guilt and even exhorts them to take pride in their bodies. Here, Jayati Bhatia’s solo, where she uses her jaw-dropping voice modulation skills to drive home the fundamental truth about the pleasures of sex is an absolute riot. After having shocked the audience for the most part, the show ends on a poignant high - by describing a touching event which seeks to get society to celebrate women for the magic they bring to the world.  

The sheer acting prowess of the cast went a long way in making the show entertaining. The versatility demonstrated by Avantika Akerkar, Jayati Bhatia and Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal was astonishing. Their perfect accents - both regional and international - when performing were an absolute delight to listen to. It is unfortunate that the pretty Sonali Sachdev, who drove the point across in style in her solo, was not utilized more. Dolly Thakore was the surprising weak link, with her blasé demeanour preventing the feelings ingrained in the script from coming through. The verbal wizardry and split-second coordination demonstrated in the segments where each of them say a word or phrase in rapid succession showcase the calibre and the effort put in by the entire cast. 
 

The show does bring to light the shocking treatment of women in India and elsewhere. The subject matter would help change certain stereotypes that men, even the educated ones, might have about women. From a woman’s standpoint, it informs her of her sexual rights and encourages her to utilize them. But one crucial element was missing - it didn’t proactively tell women how to deal with violence. Agreed, most women, due to societal constraints, might not be able to get any recourse - legal or therapeutic – for acts of violence perpetuated against them. But still, sharing stories of women successfully overcoming trauma (like say Oprah Winfrey’s rags-to-riches story) would have made the treatment of the theme more holistic. And that would have been more relevant in a developing country like India where women’s development is still an oxymoron. They could have reduced the focus on sexual liberation, parts of which - especially a ridiculous segment which seemed to celebrate statutory rape - seemed faux-feminist. 

The impact would be far greater if the show were to be performed in Hindi in the slums of Dharavi instead of an air conditioned auditorium with a Rs 250 entry fee. However, it is debatable as to whether it will be taken in the right spirit or be seen as a Dada Kondke sex comedy. And that is the Catch-22. The audiences to whom they should reach out to for their cause to have maximum effect don’t have the intellectual maturity to distill out the true concept from all the references to sex. 

To sum it up, it is definitely worth a watch. Despite the seriousness of the theme, the show is riveting. Though the subject naturally lends itself to coarse comedy, it doesn’t come across as crass at all. And even if you don’t particularly care for the message, the infectious energy of the cast and the tautly written humorous monologues will ensure you get your money’s worth.