We,the People

On public demand,Prof Mahendra Kumar of the Dept of Indian Theatre has revived Nikolai Gogol’s Russian play Revizor in Hindi titled,The Inspector General. “We have just done one show of the play in the department’s studio theatre,which has a small capacity. It was the wish of the actors,now former students,that we revive the play and take it to a larger audience. So we’re showcasing it again,” says Kumar,who has directed and designed the play. A show will be held this month.

The actors have come from various cities to be part of the play and remember it being a big hit when it was staged at Panjab University some years ago. Kumar showcases works of the Masters,from William Shakespeare and Mohan Rakesh to Kalidas and Gogol,especially on texts which have not reached audiences. With 30 actors,elaborate costumes and sets,the play,on the surface,is a comedy,a case of mistaken identity,but the underlying theme is corruption.

A satire,the play brings on centrestage the fact that the public has become perpetual petitioners in the darbar of administrators. “The play was written 200 years ago,but its subject is so relevant in today’s times. These are writings that are timeless and as a director,I strive to be near the text as much as possible,retaining the basic content always. I urge the actors to improvise,experiment with the design and costumes,to give the audience a complete experience,” says Kumar.