Desperately seeking child8217;s play

PUNE, June, 18: The very mention of children's theatre conjures up images of flowers, trees, fairy godmothers... These images are offshoots ...

PUNE, June, 18: The very mention of children8217;s theatre conjures up images of flowers, trees, fairy godmothers8230; These images are offshoots from the pen of a writer, who aims not only to entertain, but also to send across a definite message.

Unfortunately, these days, one rarely gets to see or hear of such writers. On the conclusion of the recent children8217;s festival organised by the Grips theatre in Pune, the need for such writers was felt immensely, to keep the movement afloat. Amongst all the plays presented, only one was new 8211; Hush, Hoosch, Thal, Thoosch.

It circles around three children, caught in childhood bickerings and adult reprimands, unable to do what they want to do. Coming from different milieus, they vibe well with each other and join hands to shoo away the evil pakya8217;, who blackmails one of them, taking advantage of their vulnerability. This binds them closely, making their parents realise how they got carried away in the tide of the adult world, neglecting the basic needs and dreams of the young ones.

But then, was this play just one wave of the magic wand, or a sincere effort to write exclusively for children8217;s theatre?

According to the playwright, Vibharwari Dixit, 8220;This was a wonderful opportunity and I jumped at it. In the past, most German plays were translated into Marathi, like Chhan Chote Waet Mothe, Nako Re Baba, Pahile Paan. And while they struck a chord with the audience, they had been viewed earlier. So I decided to adapt Folker Ludwing8217;s Bello, Boss and Bully, which took the shape of Hash, Hoosch, Thal, Thoosch.

8220;It was an arduous task, as the original context had to be adapted to the local scenario, but with the help of senior artistes, I managed it, despite a few hiccups in the beginning. According to the Grips way of things, adults perform the role of children. So the script had to be reasonably formed. Keeping this in mind, we had to lead children into a world of reality rather than fantasy.

8220;I have been associated with theatre for a protracted time and have acted in plays like Premachi Gosta, Aekach Pyala, as also plays of the Grips theatre. This enabled me to visualise the sequences I wrote and also matured my outlook towards theatre. This success has kindled the need to write more and I hope to produce same original themes.8221;

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This script, written with the finesse of an expert, was enjoyed by children and adults alike. Surely then, we can look forward to some good theatre scripts for children, deviating from the traditional razzmatazz which encompasses the world of the child.