Dhaka Drama Festival 2004

A sequence from the play Bhaboghure

In Bhaboghure (the wanderer) the playwright Shantanu Biswas has depicted the dark aspects of society like terrorism, chaos, uncertainty, hypocrisy, greediness and degradation of rationality through a man who claims himself as a Muktabeni (wanderer) in a way as the legendary actor Charlie Chaplin did.

The protagonist of the play is an honest and homeless fellow who considers everybody as his friend and always gives a hand to them. As a result he faces troubles by the evil doers of the society. He is one totally unsuitable in the the world based on evil.

At the end of the play dramatist Shantanu Biswas shows that Muktabeni again returns to his wandering life in search of peace.

Director Tarun Kumar Basu also seems very much influenced by Charlie Chaplin, particularly in the composition of the comic scenes. He has used chorus as the narrator of Bhaboghure.

Realistic set design of the play is appreciable. Set designer Deepak has successfully handled the interrogation-cell scene. However, using minimum set elements, he could have given maximum effect which is the basic target of set designing.

Light design was the worst part of the play. Visibility, the basic requirement of light design, was not maintained properly in Hafizur Rahman Shuruj's design. As a result, in most sequences gestures of the performers were not clearly visible.

Foyez Ali Babu, as the protagonist, performed really well. His bold appearance throughout the play was enjoyable. However, the rest of the performers could not maintain the same standard.

Over all, after the first two plays of the festival viewers got relief by watching another good production.

'Theatre should not be treated as mere entertainment'
--Ramendu Majumdar
Ramendu Majumdar, ex -President of the Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation (BGTF), bears the honorary member post at the BGTF current committee. Ramendu is very optimistic about the current condition of theatre in Bangladesh.

As Ramendu said, 'I think the festival is very effective in promoting theatre in Bangladesh. As the alternate space for Mahila Samity Stage, I think, the Experimental Theatre Stage is a very good venue.

'After the festival, I expect, the Experimental Theatre Stage will become a good venue. However, transportation is the main obstacle. I think VAT is unacceptable, as the government should not treat theatre as mere entertainment. If the rate of the hall rent could be decreased, it would be better for the theatrical groups,' Ramendu added.

Ramendu further said, 'My group Theatre (Baily Road), will stage Meraj Fakirer Maa in the festival. We have two running productions- Meraj Fakirer Maa and Madhobi. We like to stage our two plays in two different venues.'

Ershad Kamol

Schedules (June 25-July 02)
June 26
Play: Ami Gadha Bolchhi
Playwright: Krishan Chandar
Director: Mujibur Rahman Dilu
Group: Dhaka Drama Natyadal

June27
Play: Karnakatha
Playwright: Tanvir Ahmed
Director: Mohammed Jasimuddin
Group: Abayab Natyadal

June 28
Play: Tahader Kotha
Playwright: Rezanur Rahman
Director: Farhad Zaman Palash
Group: Dhaka Sarak

June 29
Play: Good Bye Dhaka
Playwright & Director: Nazrul Islam Khan
Group: Bahubachan

June 30
Play: Bou Basanti
Playwright: Ratan Siddiqui
Director: Azad Abul Kalam
Group: Udichi

July 01
Play: Kanjush
Playwright: Moliere
Adapted by Tariq Anam Khan
Director: Liakat Ali Lucky
Group: Loko Natya Dal

July 02
Play: Shat Ghater Kanakari
Playwright & Director: Momtazuddin Ahmed
Group: Theatre (Arambagh)

July 3
Play: Court Marshal
Playwright: SM Solaiman
Director: SM Solaiman
Group: Theatre Art Natyadal