Cause Foundation, Bengaluru is a non-profit organisation “committed to promoting local talent, and donates profits to local charities (orphanages, destitute homes, animal welfare organisations and sustainable environmental initiatives)”, said Leela Alvarez, Founder/President of the Foundation.
Leela is back in Bangalore from Coorg to present the annual musical performance. Monty Python’s Spamalot. “This gripping tale of King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake and the quest for the Holy Grail will delight audiences.”
A theatre enthusiast, Leela has previously performed musicals in Bengaluru, including The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, Grease, The Addams Family And Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Monty Python’s Spamalot, Leela It was staged by CAUSE 13 years ago, he says. “I felt it was time to stage it again. The music is great and it is one of the best productions I have done since then Fiddler on the Roof And something rottenIt is one of my favourite plays, the cast has changed, there are new people in Bengaluru who may not have seen the play.”
Leela, who has been successful in finding good actors, says that in comedy, half the battle is won with the right cast. “If an actor has good comic timing, it becomes easier to work with him. I always look for someone who looks and behaves like his stage characters in real life and hence does not have to act on stage.”
Leela says she usually approaches a group of people she already knows, but when this fails, she only auditions. “The challenge with auditions is that you don’t know the person well but only what they present to you. This has failed on stage many times and I try to avoid repeating the mistakes I made during auditions.”
Leela runs a homestay in Coorg and comes to Bengaluru every year for three months to work on her musical plays. “I am often asked if we have a theatre school. No, we don’t, but we work with people who are already actors and hone the performances.”
The challenges Leela faces are non-theatrical. “Rain and traffic problems, which are beyond my control, bother me. Financing and finding willing sponsors is difficult, but our shows do well. The Bengaluru shows cover a lot of our expenses, while the Goa and Mysore shows burn a hole in our pockets.”
This year, Leela has introduced a digital brochure. “People have to scan a QR code and download the brochure for free. Paper is precious and people usually throw away brochures.”
During rehearsals, Leela had an accident in which she suffered a black eye, swollen face and a fractured elbow. “I saved my eye when I hit the edge of the stairs. When I was lying on the floor, the only thing going on in my mind was that the show must go on. CAUSE member Arvind Kasturi is a doctor and he immediately took me to the hospital and the team continued rehearsals.” Arvind and Leela are the only active members from the original team. “Tragically three died and one left the board, although he is still an active donor.”
At all shows, Leela greets people before and after the show. “I hope they don’t ask what happened to me or wonder why there’s a woman with a black eye looking at them at the entrance!”
Monty Python’s Spamalot, It will feature some of the best new and old singing, acting, dancing and music talents from Bengaluru, including Arvind, Deepa Jacob, Kiren Alvares Lynn, Rachel Thomas and Prem Koshy, says Leela. “As always, we will also have a live band, directed by Ashish Paul with Sabarisha R assisting him.”
The dances are choreographed/directed by Alexer Fernandes, Kiren Alvares Lin and Keira Alvares Ganapathy.
Monty Python’s Spamalot, Will be staged at Chowdiah Memorial Hall on September 6 and 8 (7.30 pm on both days and 11.15 am on Sunday). Tickets, ₹ 800, ₹ 600, ₹ 400, ₹ 200, available on BookMyShow or call 988441 69903.
Published – September 05, 2024 10:39 am IST