Ganga-Jamuna Theatre Fest
Overflowing crowds at Chupkotha’s production
Reality often perturbs one’s mind to the level where he/she requires reconsidering the meaning of fundamentals like family and friendship. He/she may find the commonly constructed definition of those two terms do not work in real life as expected.
For old people in particular, reality may turn often shocking and their beliefs could be shaken. As ageing is a special process, and most people do not know, and is never taught, how to grow old, they may become demanding, a bit erratic, or feel hurt and take shelter in silence and loneliness.
On the other hand, young people might not be able to properly care for their elders, and unable to ensure that the latter do not feel lonely and dejected.
These stories of negligence are explored in American playwright Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer winning play Driving Miss Daisy. Kolkata-based theatre troupe Chupkotha staged an adaptation of the play, with the title Atmiya Swajan (family and friends), at National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Tuesday.
The show was a part of the ongoing Ganga-Jamuna Theatre Festival that began on September 1. Adapted by Soumya Sengupta and directed by Dolly Basu, the play revolves around friendship between a geriatric couple- Damini and her chauffeur Lalu.
Damini, a 70 year old widow and a retired school teacher, does not prefer to live with her son and daughter-in-law. She, in fact, cannot come to terms with ageing, with being unable to do her chores and other works like driving.
Damini’s son, however, appoint a chauffeur for her, who (the chauffeur), as time passes, come to be the only real friend she can talk to and rely on.
In a very slow tempo, in cry-a-little-laugh-a-little rhythm, the play pushes the sentiments of elders into the audience. The acting of both veteran theatre actors Dolly Basu, as Damini, and Soumya Sengupta, as Lalu, were imposing.
Teeming number of audience were present at the hall; though, it seems, many of them came to get a look at Dolly Basu, who is extremely popular in Bangladesh for her role as Opola Rai in a Kolkata-based television drama series Rashi, telecast in Zee Bangla.
-With New Age input
