Theatre Review: Falguni

Play : Falguni (Bengali)
Director : Koustav Dattagupta
Duration : 60 minutes
Cast : Debashish, Krishna, Koushik
Onyo rokom ��� that���s how we thought this play would be. But despite raising expectations, Onno Theatre���s presentation of the Tagore classic ��� Falguni ��� fails to hold the audience captive. At fault is not just a half-baked approach to the text, but shoddy execution and confusing flow of a simple narrative.With too many characters expected to breathe life into the play, it turns out to be a clear case of too many cooks spoiling the broth!
The dance drama, directed by Koustav Dattagupta, however, begins on a rather interesting note. Once the third bell rings and lights in the auditorium dim, you see an actor animatedly seeking permission from another to start the play. Next minute, you catch the latter walking in through the entrance and leaving through the exit, ringing a kashor ghanta, to indicate the initiation of the performance. A rather small innovation, but enough to get you hooked on.
But then, the first impression is not always the last impression. Enter some school children, frantically searching for their thamma, and what follows thereafter is a story ala Thakurmar Jhuli as the lady sits them down to narrate the once-upon-atime tale of a king ��� the text of Falguni. This is where the play gradually starts going downhill, what with a huge (and unnecessary) cast making it impossible to keep track of the characters. Add to that frequent role reversals among the actors ��� some of the main characters also double up as prop-bearers ��� resulting in utter confusion.
However, simple innovations keep the play going. Inclusion of contemporary dance moves that the propbearers use while entering and exiting the stage is a noteworthy attempt. It comes across as an endeavour to contemporarize the classic for a younger audience. In the music department, the flautist requires special mention for striking a common chord for all the scenes and creating the ambience of rural Bengal.
True to its name, Falguni is a riot of colour on stage. The basanti-coloured saris, marigold garlands are bound to catch your attention. Wish they were enough to hold it too through the 60 minutes of the play. Alas, that���s not to be. As they say, all that glitters, is not gold.