Drawing battle lines in theatre

KARACHI: The Arts Council of Pakistan in collaboration with Awami Theatre presented an open-air theatre performance last Friday. The play was titled Ikisween Sadi Kay Gus Bethiay or The Intruders of the 21st Century. The play was intended to be a pun on the political-socio and rigid religious framework that not only defines Pakistani society, but provides the backdrop for the world we live in.

The play is seen from the perspective of the developing world and describes the rich as evil forces aiming to subdue the poor.

It was the writer/director approach of Syed Hasan Asghar Naqvi and how he viewed society from a global perspective. Naqvi tried to set local characters to present this scenario but unfortunately was unable to have the impact required. The storyline was weak, and the dialogue was wooden and delivered in a way that made the audience wonder if the characters would break into a fight soon.

Naqvi described the fictional play and said, “We sketched the map of a global town in the play and showed how dominant the forces of good and evil are. There are psychological problems because we have deep-rooted economic interests in mind.”

The abstract play showed Chaudhry Globe, portrayed by Jamil Ahmad, picking up Arab born Al-Razi (Khawaja Mumtaz) and dragging him away. Chaudhry Globe could be taken to be a super power that was roughing up smaller, developing nations. After this incident, all the characters are riled up and have an opinion to give.

Ammar (Rafique Ahmad) plays a local journalist with a foreign degree who comes to town and tries to restore order to the community. However, Ammar is killed before he can make the change he wishes to, but his thoughts and actions are remembered by his friend Dosheeza, played by Nida Rasheed. Dosheeza lives in a foreign country and it is she who ensures that law and order is restored in Global town and the forces of evil are crushed.

The audience was required to use their imagination as there was no set to support the play and provide a back drop.  When questioned, Naqvi stated that the financial constraints put on the play did not allow for a back drop. Another issue that arose was, “The dialect was in pure Urdu, which was confusing for some people in the audience,” said Naqvi.

The 70-minute play was staged for one night in Karachi and will be performed  in Islamabad this October at the Pakistan National Council of Arts.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2010.