I have a friend who loves to watch theatre performances and he could travel across states anytime to watch a play. Being someone who has never been to one, I couldn't imagine what was so captivating about it, until today.
Along with some of my friends, I watched a play called 'No Escape' directed by our senior, Souparno Bhattacharya, and performed by the Upstart Crows as part of our department's Theatre Wing called Theatreyrie. It was an adaptation of the play 'Evam Indrajith' by Badal Sircar, an influential Indian dramatist and theatre director.
David Wesley Sir's brief and clear introduction to the concept of Third Theatre, about the great dramatist Badal Sircar, and the story of Sisyphus was enlightening. This, and the director's introduction, enriched our understanding of the play and helped us move along with the characters without any delays or confusion. The pamphlet containing information on the play, which we received before the performance, was also beneficial. I don't know if this is a common practice in theatre, but I'd be happy if someone could let me know.
Since I don't know the criteria for analyzing and evaluating performances, I will share with you the things that caught my attention. First of all, I loved how they made use of the entire space. It almost felt like we were in the play and not just watching. They even made use of the balcony. The actors were not acting but living! There was no moment in the play where I found anyone out of character. I was also intrigued by the minor scenes played in other parts of the stage besides the main scene. It makes time in the play more realistic where many things happen simultaneously in different places, which I feel movies can't present. The sound modulation by the characters, dramatic pauses, and the superb timing of background music added to the overall mood of the play be it humourous or reflective.
I congratulate and appreciate everyone involved in this production. Their sincerity and hard work created something so beautiful and touching. The theme and message of the play resonated with the audience and we look forward to more such performances.
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