An adaptation of Love's Comedy

A scene from the play. PHOTO: STAR

Usually Henrik Ibsen's plays deal with powerful social issues such as politics, freedom, gender inequality, pollution and questions of existence. However through the triangular love story in Love's Comedy, Ibsen has raised an important question: Do most people aspire for a secure conjugal life or a world of fantasy? The answer would in most cases lie in the former. This is evident in Adhora's decision to make a life with a rich businessman, Gulzar; leaving her fiancé, a young poet Roudra, in Professor Afsar Ahmed's adaptation.

The adaptation deserves credit. Though his craftsmanship is influenced by Tagore, he has adroitly converted the Norwegian classic to a contemporary Bangladeshi play.

As a director Rashid Haroon's approach is realistic. Logically he has given more emphasis on vocal-based acting. Interspersed with laughter, dreams and other entertaining sequences throughout the play, Haroon's handling of the conflict at the end, when Adhora makes her decision, is noteworthy.

Using a suggestive stair at one corner of the back stage, replica of trees and stools, an ambience of a lawn of a house has been created.

The light design is the weakest part of the play. Creating zones, rather than using general light throughout the play, would have been more effective.

Sharfuddin Anam as Prokhar Roudra, Partha Protim Haldar as Sultan Mandal and Zakia Sultana as Kajori performed spontaneously. The other actors need to refine their histrionic skills.

As part of the ongoing Ibsen Commemoration theatre festival, Department of Drama and Dramatics of Jahangirnagar Univesity staged Shokhi Bhalobasha Kare Koy at the Experimental Theatre Stage on May 14.