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Playing
with Innocence|
Theatre World's presentaion directed by Arvind Gaur and sponsored by
Council for Social Development is one of the best solo performances
that this critic has seen on the Arvind has selected six stories from Virani's book to underline the different perspectives of real life victims of CSA, family members, social workers, lawyers, judges, police officers and paedophiles. Lushin plays 12 different roles to project these characters and the change over from on role to the other including the costume change is never more than 25 seconds. To facilitate the quick change over Arvind's use of video images helps but more than at the device gives a certain dramatic depth to the scene. As for instance when we have a 10-year-old Arun's case. One day he picks up courage whips out the knife he has kept under his pillow and suddenly brandishes it when his uncle touches him. The sexual abuse stops. Five years later, Arun is 15 and is sitting before a lit candle, shivering. He looks afraid, and recalls his uncle standing overhim. "I cannot sleep, I cannot study". Lushin with her narration shakes your insides. The change over from video to the stage is smooth with no break in the continuity or the rhythm. Yet another effective devise for the change over is Arvind's frequent use of a few lines from different songs beautifully sung in the background by Sangeeta Gaur without interrupting the flow or the rhythm of the presentation. Yet another very strong expose of society's indifference to male paedophiles was "Otta Sir". A spiritual and yoga guide at a boy's school, Otta violates boys at his will because no one at school or the parents are bothered about it. Lushin as Otta Sir was just outstanding and earned a well-deserved long applause. Breaking the silenceIn another case involving a 12-year-old girl who lodges complaint against her father who takes her to shady parties where they watch X-rated stuff. Lushin plays magnificently to project the haranguing advocate who brings the child to tears. And so it goes on from case to case breaking the silence around child sexual abuse and thus fulfilling one of the most important roles of theatre to serve and educate the community without being pedantic. And this the "Bitter Chocolate" achieves most admirably. The play must reach out to the people particularly college students, teachers and parents and of course the general audience for it is excellent theatre in every sense of the word. |