THE STRAWBERRY WINES
Inspired by: Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring
Hindi Adaptation: Auntiyon Ka Tehkhana by Ranjeet Kapoor
Adaptation, Design & Direction: Shubha Bhatt Bhasin
Language: Hindi
Duration: 90 Minutes (change if different)
Genre: Dark Comedy
ABOUT THE PLAY
The Strawberry Wines is a dark comedy that explores the uneasy coexistence of kindness and cruelty, innocence and moral decay, within the walls of an ordinary household. Inspired by Joseph Kesselring’s Arsenic and Old Lace and its celebrated Hindi adaptation Auntiyon Ka Tehkhana by Shri Ranjeet Kapoor, the production respectfully reinterprets the classic while presenting its own contemporary theatrical voice.
Set in a warm and familiar domestic space, the play gradually transforms everyday humour into unsettling revelations, inviting audiences to question conventional ideas of goodness, sanity, and morality. Through restrained performances, precise comic timing, and emotional subtlety, The Strawberry Wines offers an engaging theatrical experience where laughter and discomfort exist side by side.
Director's Note
Dark comedy fascinates me because it allows us to laugh at situations that quietly expose uncomfortable truths about ourselves and society. The Strawberry Wines emerged from a desire to explore this delicate balance between humour and unease while paying tribute to a theatrical classic that has inspired generations of artists.
Rather than recreating the original, this production seeks to reinterpret its spirit through contemporary performances, minimal theatricality, and carefully controlled pacing. Every moment has been designed to appear natural, allowing comedy to emerge from sincerity rather than exaggeration.
I hope audiences leave the theatre entertained, but also reflecting on the thin line between compassion, obsession, and morality that quietly shapes our everyday lives.
— Shubha Bhatt Bhasin
Writer's Note
Every generation inherits timeless stories and discovers new ways of telling them. The Strawberry Wines is an adaptation that honours the legacy of Joseph Kesselring’s Arsenic and Old Lace and Shri Ranjeet Kapoor’s acclaimed Hindi adaptation Auntiyon Ka Tehkhana, while offering a fresh interpretation for contemporary audiences.
The writing preserves the wit, irony, and psychological tension that define the original, while introducing a distinct dramatic rhythm shaped by Indian theatrical sensibilities. By placing humour within moments of quiet discomfort, the play invites audiences to reflect on appearances, morality, and the contradictions hidden beneath ordinary lives.
This adaptation is offered with deep respect for its theatrical lineage and with the hope that it continues the enduring conversation between classic literature and contemporary performance.
CAST
- Roza — Kamla Ghale
- Martha — Madhuri Kashyap
- Treeza — Jhalak Gangwar
- Bobby — Lav Tomar
- Johnny — Shobhit Gangwar
- Dr. Kutty — Aman Gupta
- Alfie — Pankaj Kumar Maurya
- Sawant — Muneesh Ratn
- Rokde — Sparsh Patel
- Vasant Rao Madhav Rao Chauhan — Vijay Kumar Singh
- Mr. Lean — Raju Singh Chauhan
- Dr. Varghese — Vaibhav Kishore
- Gupta Ji — Ayush Agarwal
- Peter (Dead Body) — Shrey Rastogi
- Parera (Dead Body) — Sheeshpal Rajput
Creative & Technical Crew
- Set Design — Aman Gupta, Abhishek Rajoriya & Muneesh Ratn
- Properties — Shubha Bhatt Bhasin, Ayush Agarwal & Kapil Pal
- Costume Design — Jhalak Gangwar, Ishita Gangwar & Aashi Singh
- Lighting Design — Pankaj Kumar Maurya, Shubha Bhatt Bhasin & Sparsh Patel
- Lighting Operation — Ishita Gangwar
- Sound Design — Aman Gupta & Siddhi Rastogi
- Music Operation — Siddhi Rastogi
Technical Requirements
Lighting
- Fresnel Lights — 6
- RGB PAR Can Lights — 10
- Profile Spotlights — 6
- PC Light — 1
- Lighting Console — 1
- Peacock Blue Color Gel Sheets — 5
Sound
- 4-Foot Floor Microphone — 1
- Sound Console — 1