Godor Protikkhay: A translation of Beckett's play

Students of Theatre School perform in Godor Protikkhay

These questions cropped once more as the successful students of the 16th batch of Theatre School, the largest and oldest non formal theatre training institute of the country, staged Godor Protikkhay. Translated by Professor Kabir Chowdhury, the work has its roots in Beckett's Waiting for Godot, described as the 'theatre of the absurd'.

In the evolution of a new vision of mankind in relation to his environment and the universe, one may expect to see a large number of influences. Clearly, the idea that human beings are 'absurd' is by no means new. Fundamentally, human beings are struggling with the irrationality of experience, in a state of what has been described as 'metaphysical anguish'.

The clowns thereafter come across a master and a slave, Pozzo and Lucky, and a boy who brings them a message that Godot will soon be there. However, he does not appear at all and everything becomes evident. The clownish vagabonds are nothing but revolutionaries and 'Godot' is the 'catalyst' for change. But, Godot does not show up and nothing changes ultimately. As a result oppression persists.

Director Ataur Rahman's directorial composition, without giving emphasis to the inner frustration, emptiness, weariness, hopeless waiting and cruelty of the characters, puts emphasis on stream of words, eternal weariness and childish farce. And the use of 'growling' to portray the 'frustration' was not effective. Because of all these, the production loses the essence of 'theatre of the absurd' and rather turns to a comedy. The interesting feature of the production is that 14 performers enacted the roles of five characters.

Nasirul Haque Khokon has made the suggestive 'tree' with a rope in the middle of the stage. Logically, Khokon's light designing is very simple but effective. Most of the time a 'dusk scene' was created on the cyclorama. And twice the cyclorama turned to a 'moonlit night' scene to portray hope.

The performances by Joyita Mohlanobish Mishti and Sharmin Shonchita Khanom Piya were less declamatory and more natural. The rest of the actors need to refine their acting skills.

Godor Protikkhay was staged on June 12 at the Experimental Theatre Stage on the occasion of the certificate giving ceremony of Theatre School. Presided over by Professor Kabir Chowdhury, who is also the principal of Theatre School, Professor Serajul Islam Chowdhury was the chief guest of the programme. Director-playwright-actor Abdullah Al Mamun, the vice-principal of the school, delivered the welcome speech. Eminent actor-director Ataur Rahman also spoke on the occasion. Theatre personality Ramendu Majumdar, the secretary of the school, was the host of the programme.