Fun and frolic in presenting a play about a play

Mike Hughes played one of the main roles as the director of the performance, the drama being about a theatre group putting on an opera. The director, Dafydd, is the person who gets the play working within the play, as Mike puts it, he is very Welsh. Dafydd introduces Guy to the cast and Guy has affairs including one with the director's wife. "Dafydd is motivated by the theatre and is a bit fiery. Sometimes he loses his temper and sometimes he shouts at the wrong people but he tries very hard to put the show on," says Mike. Giving an intro to the play, he says, "The main part is about Guy and how he goes through the operatic society, making friends and enemies, and in the end, making lots of enemies; and how the members of the operatic society respond to him. As Dafydd I'm very friendly with Guy, though in the play, he is sleeping with my stage wife, but I don't know about that until the very end. He remains, throughout, full of passion and drive."

Mike has been doing amateur dramatics since his school days. When he came to Dhaka to work he joined Dhaka Theatre and this is his tenth production with the group. The other plays that he has been in include "Twelfth Night", "Don't drink the water", "Four plays", "Power lunch" and "Time of our lives" (directed by the same person). Mike saysl, "This hobby takes a lot of time particularly as it gets close to performance but I enjoy it. We began rehearsals in January, practicing twice a week and rehearsing every day for the last two weeks. I enjoy doing comedies most of all and it's quite fun when the audience is laughing. I've been here for nearly five years now and my experiences have been very good. I work in the Roads and Highways Dept. and like Dhaka as it is full of friendly people."

David Banham, who plays Guy Jones, says, "I play the part of a newcomer to the society of operatic theatre. He comes in after the death of his wife, just to see what he can do. He auditions, gets a small part and eventually, through a succession of roles, he takes on the leading role."

David arrived in Dhaka last August and has performed in two other plays with Dhaka Theatre, "Under the Milkwood" and "The four plays". He says, "I found them all satisfying in different ways. In the others I played small roles whereas in this I play a major role, and this is more demanding, though this is a play I've known for a long time."

David has been involved backstage in lighting and sound since his school days. During his overseas postings he gradually moved to acting as well. He has spent a lot of time in the Middle East, in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Kip Watkins played Jarvis Huntley Pike, a self-obsessed businessman from the northern part of England, who is a bit of an oaf. Kip says, "I am a part of the acting troupe of the Palos operatic society and I'm always trying to give advice to the director as how to improve the play, much to the director's annoyance. Similarly I'm always giving unwanted advice to everybody. I got involved with Dhaka Stage since I've come to Bangladesh and this is my third play. I did 'Twelfth Night' and 'Under Milkwood'. I took part in the plays to do something different. It is a big commitment, more than people think, and my children wondered where I went every night as I went for rehearsals, but at the end of the day it's worth it. I work with Biman at the airport."

Sally Elliott, who designed the costumes, and also acted in the play, says, "I've been involved in amateur dramatics for 30 years, in UK, Germany, Kuwait and now in Dhaka. I've played a variety of roles ranging from Lady Metcalfe in 'Beyond reasonable doubt' to Mrs. Swabb, the cleaning woman, in 'Habeas Corpus'. Here I play Fay, the vixen of the piece. She's someone's wife but makes a habit of going out with other men. I work here at ISD as a coordinater."

Asif Ahmed says, "I play Crispin Usher, a rough-tough person, who was hired because of his voice but can't act, has attitude problems and is a womaniser. I go out with the wife of the stage manager, while I have a girl friend. It's a small but fun role. Earlier, I had done a similar role of a waiter in a play by the same playwright and he was equally obnoxious."

Penny Legg, who acts as Rebecca, who is married to Jarvis, the local councilor in the play, says, "I play the part of a 'bitch' ; she begins the rumour that tries to keep the piece of land that her husband owns. In the end everything falls flat as the company ultimately closes. The role of Rebecca is great fun."

Maya Khan, who is a soprano, comes from Bosnia and adds to the singing team of six in the play. She sang in her school choir and concerts. In practicing for the play she had to take time away from her children and husband. "But it's been a fun experience in the two years here in Bangladesh," Maya says.

Listening to the actors gives an insight into both the play as well as the lives of the performers.