Play Preview: WeMove Theater’s ‘By2Coffee’ is a light-hearted play on the generation gap

Playwright Abhishek Iyengar seems to have found his flair for what, in his own words, is “contemporary middle-class tales”. He likes to trace the psyche and struggles of the urban middle class in Bengaluru. The title of his upcoming Kannada play (which is also his eighth) – By2Coffee – It reveals.

‘By to coffee’ is a middle-class Bangalore language which means to split a cup of coffee. Abhishek’s play ‘By to Koffee’ for WeMove Theatre is about a mother-son conversation.

The son, who lives in the United States, is in the middle of his annual trip to visit his mother in Bengaluru. A mother who is constantly worried about the well being of her son wants him to get married as soon as possible. During an overnight drive to a temple, their car breaks down in the middle. So, they both go to a local restaurant for coffee. Mother once again raises the issue of marriage. The son, who considers himself modern, reproaches his doctrine of relationships, beliefs, customs and traditions. This simple and satirical conversation, reflecting on the generational gap, leads to many unanswered questions.

written by abhishek By2Coffee in 2017. “I didn’t stage it because I know some people told me it was a little ahead of its time,” he says. “While it is a light-hearted play, it talks about serious topics like religion, racism and inclusion. I think the discussion on these topics is better now than it was five years ago. So, I felt this was the right time to stage the play.”

By2Coffee Will premiere in Rang Shankara on November 10. Abhishek also plans to do another show on November 27. He added, “We are likely to have a show in Mysore this December.”

The cast includes MS Vidya, Suraj Kiran, Pradeep Pradyumna, Madhura Vaidya, Vasudha Bhogaraju and Naveen Prasad.

The 65-minute play ‘By2Coffee’ in Rang Shankara will be staged on November 10 at 7.30 pm. Box Office and Tickets at Bookmyshow.com