mumbai the last time marathi actor prashant damle performed on the crescentlike stage of ncpas tata theatre his character manoj aka manya was newly married today more than a decade later when damle ascends the same stage manya would be flirting with a younger colleague while languishing in the rut of stale matrimony the marathi play eka lagnachi pudhchi goshta will mark the reopening of ncpa on october 29 after a yearandahalflong covidinduced gap like damle several actors are eagerly rekindling their romance with the stage in the wake of the reopening of theatres and auditoriums while the audiences appetite for live dramas does not seem to have been thwarted by covid some lament the lossmakingyetessential 50 occupancy rule while others choose to see the glass as half full seats for ncpas reopening day show on october 29 are fast filling several shows ranging from indian classical music to marathi and english plays too were sold out at prithvi theatre which opened on october 24 its evident though the term housefull has become a misnomer kunal kapoor trustee of prithvi theatre says while we will respect and abide by the sops standard operating procedure declared by the government we cannot but feel the unfairness of it when the 50 rule does not apply to trains buses air travel markets or anywhere elseraell padamsee head of theatre company ace productions has seen production costs rise astronomically due to sops only 50 rent must be charged for 50 seats says padamsee stressing the need for financial relief from the ministry of arts and culture she has a ringside view to the dire situation of technicians ironing men makeup artists and others who make up theatres ancillary players for set and light designer bholanath sharma who has neither received any enquiries from theatre producers nor any feelers abating his fears of costcutting on their part the backdrop is still bleak in this scenario how do i tell technicians to come back asks sharma deeply aware of the hardships of migrant crew workers actor ila arun can empathize theatre gives you a strange kind of dignity says arun of surnai theatre which is all set to open a fourday festival in prithvi on november 11 you cant beg for money even when you are in dire straits