A mediocre adaptation with little scope

Theatre -CHANDAN SARMAH

A scene from Trisha. Picture by Eastern Projections Though a number of plays based on contemporary short stories have been staged successfully over the years, Manik Roy’s adaptation of Dilip Roy’s much-acclaimed Piyaah falls short of expectations. Piyaah did possess the sensitive quality to become a sound stage production, but Manik Roy’s adaptation and production of the play Trisha, based on the same story, evoked mixed reaction when it was staged at Rabindra Bhawan on November 29 under the banner of Cocare. The play delves into the psyche of four middle-aged couples who get into extra-marital relationships out of sheer loneliness. Bureaucrat Pratush Barua, a successful man, feels lonely and alienated from his wife Manasi when she, with the help of her business partner Alakesh, becomes an established name in the corporate world. Barua is also tormented by a nagging thought that Manasi and Alakesh may be more than business partners. Enter Hoimantee — the wife of his family friend Shibalik — a person he finds he can confide in and share his thoughts. Once a painter and a poet, Hoimantee, too, is happy to be with him. They become close friends. Manasi and Shibalik are aware of the goings-on. Shibalik is confident that one day Hoimantee will come back to him. But Manasi has already filed for divorce from Pratush. She leaves for another city with Alakesh. Shattered and lost, Pratush turns for comfort to Hoimantee who tells her that she will never leave her husband for him. Pratush is left all alone. Though the adaptation is passable, certain flaws in direction, especially in the lighting and set designing and overall acting make the production a mediocre one. Tapas Dutta, in the role of Pratush, fails to carry off the role which is passionate and full of emotion. Moitrayee as Hoimantee never appears to be a middle-aged woman and is loud. Chinmoy Bhattacharyya as Shibalik did not have much scope to show his acting skills.