The Respectable Prostitute

Two victims, one society. One a victim of fate, the other a victim of circumstances. 

Jean Paul Sartre’s ‘The Respectable Prostitute’ is an incredible psychological play that raises questions that have never been answered and will never be. Little by little, the pieces fall into place and the mosaic gives a complete picture. Adapted by the Manna Makers, it becomes clear as to why this particular script has been selected by this amateur group. Sartre’s plays, in this case, The Respectable Prostitute, has universal appeal. What happens to the protagonist of the play (Lizzie Mackay) can happen to any woman who is vulnerable enough to believe that times have changed. This play has very powerful and thought provoking lines, which clearly state that Sartre is taking a stance to comment on attitudes, principles and power that corrupts absolutely. Coming back to the Manna Makers, the character of Lizzie Mackay played by Tazeen Nadiadwala is handled very sensitively, which stops this play from becoming a cheap interpretation. The play is set in America, Deep South to be more specific. The time is 1947, a period when the white man openly shows his hatred for the “nigger”. The play unfolds when Lizzie Mackay realizes that in racially discriminating times, it is in her hands to save the nigger, and her decision will probably save him from being lynched. Lizzie has a desire to ‘belong’ somewhere, and nothing will deter her from it, even if she is a prostitute. Cleverly manipulated by the Senator, Lizzie unknowingly signs a document, which states that the Negro is guilty of a crime he never committed. The plus point of the play is that we get an insight into the characters before we even watch the play. The Manna Makers make use of installation art before the plays starts. And it is very interesting the way director Shriti Khandelwal and her entire team have vividly brought the play to life. A slab of ice with red paint running over it represents the senator’s son, who is as cold as ice. The American flag symbolizes the senator, who thinks he can take matters in his hand. A bloodied shirt and a bible depict the Negro. The prostitute is depicted by a broken pitcher and it become very symbolic because in search for her self, she destroys the little that is left of her. Tazeen Nadiadwala as Lizzie Mackay has given a fantastic performance. You don’t view her as the prostitute, but as Lizzie, who will stand up for the truth. What Tazeen Nadiadwala also does with extreme ease is the way she portrays her character without being too loud or obvious. Some of the best scenes in the play are between Lizzie Mackay and The Negro, played by Anuj Gurwara. The audience relates very well to their scenes because of the way they are portrayed. The best scene in the play is when Lizzie hugs the Negro and cries. The music sets the mood of the play. Not much experimentation has been done with the sets. They have been kept simple, with just a sofa set, a lamp, a table and a painting of a little girl in the background. Ankur Desai as the Senator has some very powerful scenes in the play. And he gets better and better as the play progresses. He has the authority, and commands our attention.Hemang Sharma as the senator’s son caries of his character very well. But as the play progresses, he does tend to lose his character. But at the end of the play, we feel the hatred for Fred Clarke because he has convinced us to hate him. As for the director Shriti Khandelwal, she has to be complimented for doing a fine job. The play reaches its peak when Lizzie is shown sitting on the floor. There is a red spotlight on her, and all voices speak to her in her head and the play ends very abruptly. The audience does get lost and has to be prodded to clap, not because the play is not worth clapping for, but because the play leaves you wanting for