Even the most sombre person wouldn't have been able to keep a straight face during the performance of “Dui Huzur er Gappo” (The tale of two masters) for it was satire at its best.
First staged in 1980 by the famous Bengali theatre group Sayak under the direction of well-known Bengali thespian Meghnad Bhattacharya, “Dui Huzur er Gappo” was adapted by Bengali playwright Chandan Sen from well-known Russian writer Mikhail Saltikav Schedrin's work “Tales”.
Enad, a prominent Bengali theatre group, recently staged the play at ADA Rangamandira.
Proceeds from the play was donated to “Bring a Smile” in aid of a health camp for children in Bangalore.
The play opens with retired politician Gajanan Ghosh (Gaju) and IPS officer Bakreswar Banerjee (Baku) deep in conversation on a park bench.
It turns out the duo shares an amusing relationship. Though the best of friends, they constantly engage in a hilarious duel of words to prove who is the smarter of the two. The two are partners in corruption.
They erroneously believe the power they wield as a politician and police officer will either fool or scare people into submission. So they use cunning to get their way.
The duo take on a fictional journey to an unknown island “Titir Mou” where they meet people who are the complete opposite of them in every way. The inhabitants of the island are simple peasants who believe that neglecting work is a crime, and everyone deserves an equal share of the golden harvest of the earth.
Gaju and Baku feel overwhelmed by these state of affairs, hence, they adopt a strategy that sets off an interesting sequence of events. The play effectively brings out the corruption of the bureaucracy and thus, holds up a mirror to society.
The combination of beautiful music, graceful dance, scintillating dialogues and sparkling witticism made the play not just interesting, but powerful.
Director Sayandeb's hard work that went into the production was evident from the professional stage management. It was, however, the actors who impressed the most. Their flawless dialogue delivery and emotive skills were commendable.
Sudipta Das and the director himself as the main protagonists of the play stole the show; their performances were further enhanced by the stupendous performance by the rest of the cast.
The ingenious use of lights by Somnath Chatterjee, the choreography by Mousumi Choudhuri, the creative costumes and set designs deserve special mention.
