Amateur actors shine in Hindi adaptation of Dario Fo’s acclaimed play

A scene from play Ek Aur Durghatna, staged by Hill Thespians at Abhinav Theatre on Monday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
A scene from play Ek Aur Durghatna, staged by Hill Thespians at Abhinav Theatre on Monday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Nov 19: Couched as farcical and slapstick comedy, a biting critique of the shadowy side of the police force was presented as, ‘Ek Aur Durghatna’, Amitabh Srivastava’s Hindi adaptation of Dario Fo’s play ‘Accidental Death of An Anarchist’, by Hill Thespians on day-7 of ongoing Annual Drama Festival 20018 at the Abhinav Theater, here today.
Cleverly incorporating a smattering of dialogs in Dogri and local references of terrorist attacks, today’s performance brought focus on how police in collusion with government will go to any extant to silence anyone who is thought as a threat to the state. This may amount to the killing of innocent citizens in fictitious encounters or false implication in criminal cases.
The play opened with an Inspector interrogating Sanki-The Maniac, who constantly outsmarts the dim-witted Inspector. Sanki in Inspector’s absence intercepts a phone call and comes to know that a judge is coming to the police station to investigate the death of a terrorist. Impersonating as judge, he gets the police to re-enact the events. A woman journalist, who is probing the events, is also present. The play ends with two alternative endings in which the Maniac then leaves the audience to decide what ending is best.
Designed and directed by Sunil Sharma, who also played the lead role, today’s play was a delight to watch as the winter capital’s group of young amateur actors exhibited tremendous sense of timing in dialogue delivery, synchronized body movements, groupings, and above all improvisation and spontaneity, to dish out a highly entertaining and a well-paced performance.
The cast included Sunil Sharma as Sanki, Abhishake Sharma as Inspector Pahuja, Ankit Sharma as Inspector Vajpayi, Pardeep Sharma as Superintendent, Jaan Mohammad as Havaldar and Sunaina Kumari as Women Journalist. Costumes by Deepak Sharma, props by Mohit Choudhary, set by Vishal Bharat, make-up Manoj Dhamir, music by Sourav Verma, lights and Abhiskake Sharma. Ankit Sharma was the assistant director.
Tomorrow, Roheet Verma’s ‘Gudiya Azad’ will be presented under the banner of Naqaib Rangmanch.

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