Metamorphosis

Azad Abul Kalam and Rahmatullah Basu in the play Metamorphosis

Center for Asian Theatre (CAT) staged the experimental bilingual play at Goethe Institut on March 3. Adapted by Anisur Rahman from Franz Kafka's surrealistic fiction The Metamorphosis, the play shows the existential imprisonment of a character by social and economical demands.

It was common with Kafka to present an impossible situation, such as a man's transformation into an insect, and develop the story from there with perfect realism and intense attention to details. The style seems to ground the story in reality, cutting off any possibility of its having been a dream, and yet the story itself is of an impossible occurrence. As a result, the reader is forced to look for deeper meanings within the story.

The Metamorphosis begins as the story's central figure, Gregor Samsa, becomes a giant insect. His family depended on the income he earned as a travelling salesman, and is now almost forced into destitute upon his transformation. The family members gradually become more independent and capable even as their former source of support becomes completely reliant on their love and care which they become less willing and able to provide.

The Metamorphosis can be effectively explored theatrically in any number of ways. The way chosen by Kamaluddin Nilu and Annette ter Moulen focuses on the psyche of Gregor's mind--the internal and external conflicts because of the extreme pressure created by the materialistic social turmoil, rather than focusing on the relationship between Gregor and other characters. Gregor's father and sister have been avoided by narration. And, through an interesting choreography using a black fabric-made image on the empty stage, the transformation into insect and surrealism have been shown.

Annette has set an example of brilliant light set up by overcoming the limitations of Goethe Institut. To catch the mood and tempo of the play she has used shadow-light effects.

With slow, almost anaesthetic speech patterns and almost indicative natures from the very beginning of the play, Azad Abul Kalam as Gregor Samsa performed well. Rahmatullah Basu as the inner mind of Gregor played even better as the most unreal, inhuman character.