Review

A scene from the play Birsa Munda

The play Birsa Munda is set against the backdrop of the British colonial period when the native and tribal people revolted against British oppression. The genre of the play is Ethnic Theatre.

The protagonist of the play Birsa, in Birsa Munda, is a tribal leader who organises his community against the British rulers and as a result has to sacrifice his life. The playwright also shows how the missionaries try to convert the people to Christianity and the tragic end of the movement as a result of the betrayal by the traitors.

Munda rebellion took place in 1889 at Nagarpur. Masum Reza has written another play- Birsa Kabya based on the same revolution. In Birsa Kabya Masum has tried to present Birsa as a hero, which is why he focused on the biography of Birsa. However, Alok Dev's play Birsa Munda is only a fragment of the historical event. It only focuses on the rebellion of the Munda tribe against the British Empire and their native accomplices.

Masum Reza in Birsa Kabya has used several dialects to represent different communities. However, in Birsa Munda by Alok Dev, the playwright has used standard Bangla to represent Bangali as well as the tribal people's dialect. But surprisingly, Alok in Birsa Munda has used imperfect Bangla only to represent the British accent, which goes against his own technique of handling dialogue diction.

Director Arup Anwar unfolds his play through a narrator. His technique of directing the Ethnic Theatre needs to be improved. In certain cases his ignorance of the genre is explicit.

Set designer Rizvi has used thrust stage. His using of a symbolic yellowish colour for the church represents the underhand activities of the missionaries to convert the natives to Christianity during that period.

The light design needs to be improved.

The main lacuna in the performance was the dialect. The artistes definitely need to promote standard Bangla for a better performance.

'The Experimental Theatre Stage will ultimately become an ideal venue' -- Mamunur Rashid
'From the beginning of our drama history we were looking for an ideal theatre stage. The Experimental Theatre Stage fits the slot. After this festival, I think, it will turn to be a very good venue,' says Mamunur. 'The stage is very convenient for quality acting. The performers need not think much about projection while acting. As a result they can wholly concentrate on acting. I think the quality of productions of the groups will develop on this stage. That is why, I think the theatre groups will try to stage plays here,' Mamun added.

Mamun expects that the drama lovers of our country will share a similar sentiment about the modern theatre hall.

Schedules (June 22-27)
June 22
Play: Shoroshi
Playwright: Sarat Chandra Chattapadhyay
Director: Mostofa Heera
Group: Shanglap Group Theatre

June 23
Play: Shadhucharan
Playwright: Chandan Sen
Director: Ratan Saha
Group: Pratidwandi Nattyagoshthi

June 24
Play: Bhabaghurey
Playwright: Shantanu Biswas
Director: Tarun Kumar Basu
Group: Theatre (Topkhana)

June 25
Play: Hat Hadai
Playwright: Selim Al Deen
Director: Nasiruddin Yousuff
Group: Dhaka Theatre

June 26
Play: Ami Gadha Bolchhi
Playwright: Krishan Chandar
Director: Mujibur Rahman Dilu
Group: Dhaka Drama Natyadal

June27
Play: Karnakatha
Playwright: Tanvir Ahmed
Director: Mohammed Jasimuddin
Group: Abayab Natyadal

Venue: Experimental Theatre Stage at Shilpakala Academy; Time: 7 pm
Tickets are available at Sagar Publishers, Baily Road and at the venue before shows.
Prices: Tk. 30, Tk. 50 and Tk. 100.