Kopeniker Captain

A scene from the play Kopeniker Captain

Nagorik Natyasampradaya produced the play in the early 1980s. It was a time when there was military rule in the country. This could possibly explain why the play got popularity, as a social satire. .

The play has been translated and directed by Aly Zaker from the original German play by Carl Zuckmayer. The latter in his play, written in the early 20th century, proved that military power can drive a nation towards destruction. It is not the man, rather the army uniform which has got the power to practice dictatorship. Anybody in an army uniform becomes an autocrat.

The play depicts a middle-aged poor Prussian named Wilhem Voyognot buying an old army uniform from a tailor's shop resulting in an extraordinary array of incidents. He claims himself as an army captain and occupies the town hall of Kopinek. Wilhem Voyognot, in an army uniform plays the same role as an army officer in a state where martial law is in force.

As a director, Aly Zaker is realistic and has followed the European Theatre concept. He has successfully handled three sequences simultaneously. He has created 49 characters using only 21 players. Through a narrator he has unfolded each of the sequence of the play.

Not using the proscenium stage, Fayez Zahir has used a round set containing three steps at the middle of the theatre hall and the audience was placed in a semi-circle covering three parts of the set. His three-step set helps the director to create different sequences in a scene and in the case of characterisation as well. However, the symbolic colour of the set does not match with the theme of the play.

Eminent light designer Nasirul Haq Khokon's design in the play is very flat. Most of the time the use of the general light and also the symbolic light effect is not much effective.

It is really appreciable that a big group like Nagorik Natyasampa-daya has given scope to the young artistes in the play. The teamwork deserves praise. Pantha Shahriar and Auni played their roles well.