Feature
An evening at the theatre
Sabreena Ahmed
 As an English literature student we read the definition of drama as a “reflection of life”. Well, I would say for me drama is a place to vent my emotions. When I am in the place of a director, I see how various emotions of different characters bring out life on stage in a play. And when I am in the seat of the audience, I can feel the effect of catharsis. As an actress, I feel the energy inside me to get into the emotions of the character I am playing and bringing it out in front of the audience.
A few days back my classmates and I planned to go to the experimental hall to see the play “CLEOPATRA”. We needed a break from our studies of upcoming 3rd year final examination. After taking our tickets we were sitting on the balcony near the entrance to the hall. Suddenly a flicker of dispute was sparked in the group (guess by who!). The question was to the boys “What kind of wife would you like? Would you allow her to work? If she works, would you help her with the household chores?”
Shoib answered: “I would like Aishwariya Roy as my lover, but I would definitely want someone like Kajal to be my wife.”
Shammi was furious: “What kind of answer is that? You will play with one's heart and marry another.”
Shafayat: “Don't tell me that you girls don't do that.”
Shoib: “Wives should be made silent on the very first night whether by wise words………
Shafayat completed the sentence with a contemporary touch: “……or by pistols and guns.”
Subarna had the sweetest way to speak her mind in a polite way, “You are cowards and that is the reason you want to threat your wives with weapons."
Shafayat: “Women themselves are weapons. They force men to do whatever they want. Most women try to separate their husbands from a joint family.”
Shammi defended: “Don't you guys have a brain to think and decide what is right or wrong? Why do you follow your wives?”
Shafayat: “You tell me, is it right to take a son away from his mother? That mother who has raised him for 28 or 30 years?”
Khokon who was silent all the while added: “Men have to adjust with both the sides. If they don't do that, peace will never come.”
Shoib was always on the cynical side. “You should always remind your wife that she has to do some duties at home…
Shafayat: “I would not allow my wife to work in other firms. It will be convenient for her to work with me at my business.”
Shammi: “That shows how mean minded you are. You will not trust your wife. And without trust you can't love her.”
Everyone laughed and wanted to say something. Our moderator Sukanta was irritated and calmed everyone down, “I personally like the girls with a Rabindrik touch. I have my bent of mind on that side. A wife, who would work in the outside world and also would not forget to light the lamp near the Tulsi tree, is the partner I prefer.”
Subarna and I supported him. The debate had to stop there as it was time to go inside the auditorium to see the play. In one scene Hermes was shown to be trying to murder Cleopatra while she wanted to learn about the stars from him. All of the girls in our group gave the boys a look that said: “See, how cruel you guys are?”
And when Cleopatra had to forget Hermes and be friends with Antonio, the boys told us, “You girls always play with hearts.”
It was fun to see the day to day debates on gender roles in the society come alive during the historical play. We enjoyed it very much. It inspired my friends to see the play BINODINI as they had got the taste of live performance in theatre. Only I was watching the set, light, costume and use of colours used in the play along with the storyline. The people working on the costume, lights, music and set design work backstage, where the audience doesn't see them.
But they go through the same pressure the actors under the spotlight have to face. The actors get the fame as a reward, but the backstage people usually are unseen.
Working with Tahmina Madam in the English Department Drama Society (EDDS) in my department and Brine Pickles under the British Council made me learn to see the details. I am grateful to Farhana Apu, Tazeen Apu, Nirjhar Da, Upol Bhai, Sharmin Apu, Sagor Bhai and Rana Bhai as they had mentored me when I was a fresher in the department. Because from the reading sessions of the script to costume design, from designing the set to choosing the right washes, from co-ordinating everyone to keeping the rehearsals regular is a painstaking job. But the real satisfaction comes when everyone puts his/her own pieces and completes the jigsaw puzzle, and bit by bit the play comes to a full picture.
My juniors and classmates ask me what I get from working in the backstage of a play. Some even ask if I do it for any kind of remuneration or honour. Well my answer to them is, “I love Drama”. It keeps me cleansed and free from any bitter thoughts. If I am too stressed out, working on a play relieves me from my pain. It is the place to vent my pent up thoughts and emotions. I agree with Edwin Forrest, “A passion for the dramatic art is inherent in the nature of man”- one just has to seek for it inside his soul.
Sabreena Ahmed
President
English Department Drama Society (EDDS)
Department of English, University of Dhaka
Member, Brine Pickles
(A creative writer's performance group affiliate of the British Council).
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