Gonder

A sequence from the play Gonder.

The location of the play is a small French town where German army has established a totalitarian social structure after World War II. The theme confronts us with a universal issue--the difference between man and animal. If rationality is the answer, then the question arises what difference does remain without it? The inherent cruelty takes us to the animal level.

In the play, Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis influences the playwright. He has successfully shown that those who try to apply reason bear a strong suppressed force of cruelty within themselves. And after a certain stage they lose their sense of reason and start acting like a beast. The tone of the play is a little surrealistic.

Jahirul Haque has successfully translated the play, while director Kazi Taufiqul Islam Emon's realistic approach indicates that he has thoroughly gone through Staneslavosky. The most remarkable part of his direction is the handling of three sequences simultaneously on the stage.

The set designer M Saiful Islam has created a modern metropolitan city Paris though the plot of the play indicates a small town of the '40s. However the bluish green colour of the set vividly indicates the wilderness and primitiveness of the animal.

Two major elements of light designing--visibility and composition--were up to the mark but the texture was not good enough. Symbolic colours could have been used to support the theme. Actors especially Monirul Islam Rubel and Shahnaz Zereen Sattar showed good enthusiasm. The music composition by Rahul Anand was exceptional and artistic, in fact it was the best part of the show.

Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation provided good logistic support for this production.