Mody-Kotwal had initially planned to stage Shirley Valentine, written by Willy Russel, as a reading enactment at the Experimental Theatre. Mehta refused, saying a reading was ``too informal'' for that theatre. Mody-Kotwal agreed then, but the successes of the reading in other cities like Chennai and Pune early this year egged her to ask NCPA for the more spacious Tata Theatre.

This time, Mody-Kotwal was advised to stage the monologue in Experimental. The ground for denying her Tata Theatre was that she was not an affiliated producer. When Mody-Kotwal agreedto fulfill the terms and conditions to become one - a deposit of Rs 15,000 and 50 per cent of the box office receipts of the first three shows - she was reportedly told that this was not all. ``I was then told that the NCPA's Consultative Committee will preview my work to ensure quality. This does not fall under the purview of Mehta or the NCPA, but I still agreed. Later, I was told by one of the NCPA employees that Tata Theatre cannot be given for Shirley Valentine because it is a monologue and that NCPA does not allow the staging of solo shows at Tata,'' a visibly peeved Mody-Kotwal told Express Newsline. All this while, between April and May this year, Mehta never gave Mody-Kotwal an audience despite the latter's persistent efforts through secretaries, alleged Mody-Kotwal.

``Several solo recitals and arangetrams have been staged at Tata Theatre. And not so long ago, Steven Berkoff had enacted monologues from Shakespeare at the very theatre. I brought this to the notice of theauthorities,'' pointed out Mody-Kotwal. ``But they actually told me that Berkoff was allowed to perform because he was a foreigner! Further, I was told, `You may be talented but other Indian and local artists might want to use the theatre for their work''', she said.

Seating capacity apart, Mody-Kotwal wanted Tata Theatre to cover the costs. ``At Experimental, there are a maximum of 200 seats and one can charge only Rs 50 to Rs 80 per seat. How am I to cover costs? The monologue has a tremendous potential for an addition of more characters. I informed Mehta about my intention of not keeping it a monologue so that I could have the theatre. Mehta dashed off a letter to Mody-Kotwal stating: ``I do not think you need to make unnecessary and unaesthetic compromises in your one-person show by adding extra actors...''

``How dare Mehta assume that I am going to do unaesthetic work?'' fumed Mody-Kotwal. Like several others in English theatre circles. ``There is no logical explanation for telling Mahabanoo what sheshould or should not do,'' said theatre producer Delna Patel. ``Mehta's attitude is very sad. Creativity is being held at ransom. Mehta talks about aesthetics, but who will set the parameters and who is qualified to speak on it,'' added Ruby Lilaowala, culture columnist with the Daily.

Mody-Kotwal alleged that this is not the first time that the NCPA has created problems for her. ``Mehta had problems with Art, and NCPA even cancelled one of the dates of (W)hole in the Head recently without telling us. I feel discriminated against,'' she said.

Express Newsline was repeatedly told that Mehta was not in her office and that she keeps her mobile phone switched off. Shirley Valentine is now slotted for an August opening at St Andrews, Bandra.