Surat: A play competing in the Surat Municipal Corporation’s annual theatre competition was cancelled on Monday after its lead actor was diagnosed with dengue, forcing organisers to arrange refunds for ticket holders.Eventz Tree, which was set to stage “Patient No 11”, could not perform after actor Mayur Saraiya fell ill. The team tried to find a replacement but was unable to do so.“It is a three-character play and if one is not available, it is not possible to perform it. We as a team and the actor, Mayur Saraiya, feel bad for losing the opportunity, but we are helpless,” Shivang Thakkar, director of the play, told TOI.The play revolves around a mute woman admitted to a mental hospital. Dr Gokhle attempts to help her learn to speak, while the third character is the doctor’s assistant.“Saraiya was playing Gokhle and the importance of his dialogues is amplified as the other character is mute,” Thakkar said.Saraiya developed a high fever during rehearsals on Sunday night. Though medication initially brought the fever down, it later returned, leaving the group devastated. The team was prepared to stage the play for organisers at a later date.The cancellation also left the SMC facing the task of refunding ticket holders. The civic body had introduced a nominal ticket charge of Rs 20 per seat for this year’s competition.“For the first time, we collected nominal charges for the benefit of the theatre artists and this is the first time a show has been cancelled for such a reason. We will have to return the money online to all those who booked tickets,” an SMC officer said.The SMC has been organising the theatre competition for 52 years.
