Finding the premises of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago (ZAC) unoccupied, Dr Khurshedji Khopri and Compounder Cawasji decide to open a Parsi clinic. A host of patients come with complaints, looking for a miracle cure only to return in the next Act with reports of hilarious side-effects of the medicines dispensed. The two-Act Parsi Gujarati comedy AARP — America Aavela Retarded Parsis — written and directed by Aban Daboo and performed on May 1, 2010 with the support of the ZAC natak mandali and community succeeded in raising $ 3,700 for the Association.
All the tickets priced at $ 25 and $ 20 (inclusive of the show and dhansak dinner) were sold out. In fact ticket sales had commenced from the beginning of the year with designated members in charge of distant suburbs putting up posters in the local Indian grocery stores. "This resulted in arousing the interest of non-Parsi communities and we had a great turnout of Gujaratis, Bohris and Isamailis. Audience members had come from the neighboring states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin,” wrote Daboo in response to Parsiana’s queries.
After Daboo wrote the play (AARP actually stands for American Association of Retired Persons) and decided on the cast, she sought commitments for practice sessions over weekends beginning October 2009. "Camaraderie developed within the group ranging in age from a teenager to senior citizens in their early 70s. Potluck dinners and chai-biscot (tea and biscuit) sessions were popular. Eventually the group was planning the next menu with as much gusto as the next practice session,” states Daboo. Barely a month before the show Afshan Barshan informed the troupe that his boss wanted him to move to California mid-April. After the initial ‘Oh mai ré (Oh my)!’ everyone was relieved to learn that it was an April Fool e-mail. Daboo though had told him, "Taaro kheemo karas né taaraa boss no bhi kheemo kari naakhas (I’ll grind you and your boss to mincemeat).”
Cast of AARP — America Aavela Retarded Parsis with director Aban Daboo (inset)
Theater and dramatics is a team sport, believes Daboo, giving credit to all the teams who worked in unison. Bomi Damkevala and Neriosang Karanjia as Khurshedji Khopri and Compounder Cawasji "outdid themselves and had the audience in stitches throughout the natak. They were supported by a great cast who did their best to keep the laughter going,” wrote Daboo in the ZAC newsletter of February 2010. Cast members (in order of appearance) included Minoo Press, Rohinton Rivetna, Dinaz Weber, Hosi Mehta, Arzan Lali, Barshan, Bachi Damkevala, Zarin Press, Zarin Karanjia, Freya Dhunjisha, Nergish Mehta, Aban Grant, Viraf Darukhanavala, Khuzaan Screwvalla with the choir including the entire cast plus soloist Tina Siganporia and Delnaz Lali with karaoke music created by Dr Adi Tamboli of West Virginia. The finale was an anti-climax culminating in a Parsi morcha and the singing of four songs. "The audience responded with a standing ovation, applauding, cheering and whistling (bawaji style),” reported the director.
Giving credit to Roshan Rivetna and husband Aspy Daboo for "running the production team like clockwork,” Aban was happy to report that unlike other ‘desi’ shows that invariably start more than half an hour late, AARP started on the dot of 6 p.m. Aspy succeeded in transforming the ZAC hall into a mini theater and Roshan created an elegant dining area with flower arrangements, toran and chalk. While the cast variously helped out the production and ticket sales team, others who contributed were Arnavaz Barshan, Aban Vazifdar, Farokh Dhunjisha, Ken Weber, Cyrus Rivetna. Ticket sales were boosted by Tenaz Bamboat, Bachi Billimoria, Cyrus Grant, Jamshed Kavina, Dilnaaz Rustomji. Serving as ushers were Binaifer and Mahazbeen Darukhanawalla, Rushna Patel, Persis Sidhwa, Shanaya Grant, Zarine Deboo, Katie Bredlau, Binaifer Kavina and Siganporia. More than 40 individuals have been named for cooking, serving, procuring, donating items that were served with the dhansak, cutlets, kachumber, achar, wafers, kulfi dinner that was most enjoyed by the non-Parsi crowd.
The backstage star of course was Aban Daboo who has been active with all ZAC activities for the last 25 years. For the ZAC silver anniversary in 2008 she had written and directed a short comedy with a song in calypso rhythm Hurray for ZAC. Even her vehvai in Detroit was presented a skit and song on his 70th birthday! Interested in the theater since she was seven and having learnt Indian dancing later, Aban was a regular on stage at school and college functions, weddings and navjotes, fashion shows… For her office in the US she has written and directed short skits along the lines of "Saturday Night Live” for Secretary’s Day and Xmas parties.
Those who missed out on the first show or want to relive the experience can keep the evening of October 2 free.