The Comedy of Errors: A Look at “Monkey Business”
KARACHI: Before we dive into the theatrical shenanigans of “Monkey Business,” let’s first establish some ground rules about comedy. The ultimate goal of this art form—a production designed for the stage—is to evoke laughter. Among the various comedic flavors, we have the delightful farce, which often resembles watching a circus on a bad day. Then we have satire, that sharp blade slicing through society’s foibles. In our neck of the woods, these different styles often get blended into one delicious mess, and as long as the technicalities are somewhat respected and the audience leaves with chuckles, who are we to complain?
On Friday, Yasir Hussain’s latest stage endeavor, “Monkey Business,” made its debut for the obligatory entourage of friends and family—because who else would come, really? It formally kicked off on Saturday and will run until April 20, giving you plenty of time to earn a merit badge in sitting through theatrical antics.
The plot centers around Wasim (played by Yasir Hussain himself), an actor whose career could use a serious GPS reset. His wife, Sana (Yusra Irfan), is a painter whose aggression could rival that of a caffeinated bull. Then there’s their tenant Sherry (Umer Alam), who aspires to be an actor—because apparently, everyone and their grandma wants to star in a tragedy these days. Buckle up, because you’re in for a delightful barrage of showbiz references!
The plot thickens. Wasim receives an alarming call from a man (Bilal Yousufzai) at the Arts Council, inquiring about his government aide due to a supposed physical ailment. This is where our hero, in a moment of sheer genius, decides to fake a debilitating condition. Because nothing says “I have my life together” like wobbling on crutches while pretending to be afflicted! Naturally, hilarity ensues as the inspector pays a visit, and chaos reigns—involving wardrobe changes that would put a fashion show to shame.
Written and directed by Yasir Hussain, “Monkey Business” will run until the 20th at the Arts Council. Bring your crutches!
The absurdity ramps up when Wasim learns via the news that some escapees from a nearby asylum are on the loose. When the inspector arrives for an investigation, Wasim and Sherry dive into an ensemble of misunderstandings, including impersonations that make reality TV look dignified.
Now, let’s talk about the references. “Monkey Business” kicks off by playfully roasting the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA)—or as the script cheekily calls it, “Lapa.” Apparently, the actors are so obsessed with proper Urdu pronunciation that you’d think they were auditioning for a role as the language police. And if nostalgia is your jam, the play features a sequence reminiscent of the late Umar Shareef’s antics with Saleem Afridi, proving that, yes, humor can transcend time—and also have a questionable taste in plotlines.
All in all, in its technical execution and exuberant dance routines, “Monkey Business” pays homage to Karachi’s commercial theatre of the ’80s and ’90s—an era when stage performances were as alive as they were chaotically bizarre. If that’s the aim, then hats off to the creators—they deserve a standing ovation for this delightful romp through the absurd.
