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More talk, less drama
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A nine-day festival, organised by Soorya, featured some brave experiments in theatre.
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A NINE-DAY theatre festival, organised by the Soorya Stage and Film Society at the VJT Hall, witnessed real drama. A series of lectures, held as part of the festival, contained more dramatic moments than the nine plays staged. The talks, moderated by Alphons Kannanthanam, consumed a lot of time. The 30-40 minute speeches were followed by sessions that witnessed verbal bouts between the orator and the audience. The talks were interesting, but they ate into the time allotted for the plays. The stage at the VJT Hall ("a glorified rat-trap", as one of the actors described it) added to their woes. Two advertisement banners (of the official sponsors), which flanked the stage, challenged the viewer's concentration.
The festival featured nine plays, starting with `Vishudhdharude Neerurava', directed by Vayala Vasudevan Pillai. The students of the School of Drama, Thrissur, formed the cast and crew. "Theatre is evolving in Kerala," said Pillai, director of the School.
Many of the participants admitted that serious theatre in the State was facing a severe financial crisis. "We are invited to stage our plays, but there is no money," added Pillai. "At Soorya, we get to present our plays in front of an elite audience. This is the only pleasure we get while staging our plays here," said the actors.
Short plays, directed by Jayaprakash Kuloor, were staged every day. These were noted for their dramatic precision while treating contemporary themes. Kuloor's plays such as `Appunnikalude Radio/ Appunnikalude Naale', staged on October 12, opened the doors to a new theatrical sensibility. He seemed to have understood the need to redefine our sense of drama. Overused narratives were done away with in his plays. The detachment between the viewer and the stage was overcome by entwining the mind of the viewer with the ambience of the play. Different theatrical tools were employed to this effect. Even gimmicks were seen working to the benefit of the play.
Kuloor's narrative did not wage war with the visual culture of modern man. His plays made the modern viewers forget about the remote control (a contraption they carelessly use to choose visuals). Even cinematic elements were incorporated in a skilful, intelligent manner.
The other plays included `Labour Room' (Prakash Kala Kendram, directed by Sreeja Narayanan), `Maaya Seethangam' (Sankaracharya Samskritha University, Kalady, directed by Ramesh Varma), `Ponnumkudam' (directed by S. Ramanujam), `Syamakaandam' (Natyasasthra, Kadampazhippuram, directed by Raju Narippetta) and `Chandandas Chor' (Mazhavillu, Kochi). Sopanam's `Kalivesham', directed by Kavalam Narayana Panicker, will be staged today.
V. G. MURALIKRISHNAN
Photos: S. Gopakumar
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
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