Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Mar 25: Continuing the emergent trend of presenting theatre in a popular culture mode, Amateur Theatre Group (ATG) performed ‘Do Kori Ka Khel’, in the ongoing Annual Drama Festival, organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, today.
Parimal Dutta’s Hindi adaptation of Bertold Brecht’s ‘3 Penny Opera’ and designed, directed by young Ifra Kak, the play is a satire with universal appeal as it highlights the degradation of values. The plot revolves around a dacoit Bhayanak Singh whose marring Phoolan displeases her father Narhari Poddar, who controls a gang of beggars and makes a scheme to have Bhayanak Singh hanged. Narhari’s plan is frustrated by police chief who receives bribe from the dacoit. Narhari finally succeeds in getting Bhayanak arrested. Sentenced to be hanged, the dacoit manages to escape just before his execution only to become a leader in the end.
The production, designed as a kind of opera form, was marked by flowing dance and rhythmic body movements and groupings supported by folk music and popular filmy songs, with events unfolding in a racy sequence that interspersed with local idioms and phrases, resulted in giggles and laughs by the audience who immensely enjoyed the performance.
The cast of the play included Sourav Verma as Narhari, Ayaan as Bhayanak, Delight William as Manmohni, Aparna Kapoor as Rampiyari, Sakhshi Kaul as Phoolan, Rohit Sangotra as Police Patti and Mohit Mehra as Daroga. Those who acted as Bhikharis were Ifra Kak, Sunil Sharma, Azem Wani, Vicky Kaw, Mohit Mehra, Vivek Sangotra, Sanket Chouhan, Anil Sharma, Ankit Sahrma and Sourav Verma.
Backstage team comprised of Junaid Kak on lights, make-up by Manoj Dhamir Shammi and music design by Mohit Chib who was also assistant direction. Tomorrow Shivani Cultural Society would present Hindustani play ‘Padaav’, written and directed by Vikarm Sharma.
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