| Username |
Post |
| isolated freak |
Posted
on 09-Jun-03 11:14 PM
Before my carrying on, let me make one thing clear: This is my first attempt to review a play. Did quite a few film reviews in the past, but its the first time I am moving my fingers on the key-board tow rite something on the plays.
Death of a Salesman
Willy Loman lives a not-so-happy life. A salesman by profession, Willy travels back and forth from New York to Boston (and other cities/states in the vicinity). Willy has a dream that one day his sons will make it big. Willy wants his sons to work like him, but the sons are more into adventure. This makes Willy sad, really sad and as a result of which, Willy seems to loose his mental control. He thinks that no one takes him seriously enough despite tha fact that he did so much to the family. He expresses his disatisfaction by saying "I don't know the reason, but they just pass me by." WIlly's lovely wife, Linda, is very supportive of her husband although he yells at her and takes out all his frustrations on her. Willy's sons aren't the ideal sons but they aren't that bad. They want to do something but the only problem is, they don't know what they want to do in life. They want to go out and do things that excite them but..
Anywa, to make the long story short: Willy loses his job but his self-respect and dignity bars him from telling this to her wife (not that she doesn't know of it). Each day, Willy gets angry at small things. All he can think of is his sons making it big in life, but when he sees his sons laid-back lifeways, he just doesn't know how to deal with it. He becomes sucidal and tries to commit suiceide many times.. and in the end, he succeeds. And when he does, the sons are ehard saying, "why he had to do that?".
Now about the stage performance:
None of the actors in the play were professional artists, but their performance was quite impressive. Sajag rana who played Willy Loman was very good. Good because he really got into the character, he knew the facial expressions and his pronounciation was flawless--truly american!. Kumudini Shrestha played Linda and she too was equally impressive. Willy's sons, BIff and Happy were played by hari Adhikari and Tika Lamsal, and their performance was good, if not excellent as Willy and Linda. They got too dramatic at times. Nonetheless, they deserve credits for trying their best. NOTE: none of the artists are professional actors. They are Professors and Graduate students of English Literature at TU.
The downside:
The play was long, very long--longer than your average Hindi movie. Also, inclusion of nepali in between the lines at times just didn't make any sense. As Ashu later told me, if they wanted to give the play a Nepali touch, they could have changed the name of the places from Boston, new Hampshire and New York to Naubise, Muglin and so on.
Others:
The theater was jam packed. Mosty students and mid aged professionals came to see the play. The crowd there made me think that its about time we revived the theater scene in Kathmandu. People want to see good plays. Despite the rain and 300rs/ticket (150 witha student ID), many people showed up.
*****
To be honest, the director could have shortebned the play. 3 hrs was a bit long and I was held back many times by a friend when I tried to leave and I was thinking, why did I end up sitting next to her. I should have gotten the corner most seat :-)
Anyways, it was a good play and the evening was well spent one.
Now, that's all from me. Ashu and Arnico will take it from here. :-)
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| ruck |
Posted
on 10-Jun-03 05:35 AM
Thank you IF, great review.. truly profressional.
God Bless :-))
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| DWI |
Posted
on 10-Jun-03 07:04 AM
IF,
Had heard about the play but didn't know the story line. Went over it because I wanted to see your review. From what I gather, the story seems pretty powerful. However was it worth all the effort. It doesn't exactly seem well suited for a Nepali audience, even though the viewer might not have that expectation exactly(were there to see an english play).
But these sort of plays should be encouraged from all levels. Liked your review, can you do more? Numafung, if you have seen it.
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| isolated freak |
Posted
on 10-Jun-03 07:51 AM
Dear DWI,
Thanks for your kind words. I know you are a good writer yourself, so would love to learn from you. So, my request is be very critical of my postings and also teach me ways to make my pieces better. That would be highly appreciated.
Now, getting on the play:
The play was worth all the effort. The people who came to see the play were either studnets of English literatire or people who had gotten their education in the west. So, they knew what to expect (my opinion).
I liked the play because the people involved did work hard. However, it doesn't mean the play was excellent. As a audience member, I think they could have made it better. But, I have to admit that I have no knowledge of reviewing plays and commenting on them.
Freak
DWI, i read your piece. That was quite gripping. But why your stories revolve mostly around deception and death? Never trust anyone, even your wife and best friend seems to be the message...Would love to read more of your gripping pieces. I hope you won't be quitting Sajha soon.
also,
I am yet to see Numafung, but heard its a very good movie.
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| DWI |
Posted
on 10-Jun-03 08:12 AM
Then the play must have been worth a watch. In any event, the effort should be praised and encouraged. I think it was pretty bold of the director to choose such a topic.
As I said earlier, your review was good. I liked it, so kept reading.
As far as 'Blue Sky' is concerned,
I heard you Freak. Another friend also mentioned the same fact that the climax always leads to a death. I guess there is some chill factor to deaths that I always adhered to, in my writings. It is like those lightening and thundering effects in each one of Ramsay movies which, if repeated too much, looses it's purpose.
Unfortunately, I don't write after I think. I write after a story pops out, without even thinking. And this shrewd brain, seems to be filled with similar, death motivated bits.
I have promised to divert the course a little bit, may be I will come up with a romantic one next time. I am counting on that neural node to start vibrating.
Hope to read more of your reviews.
PS: The 'Road Map' seems to be a dynamic one, probably guided by GPS. It seems to be changing quite often, right now the destination is 'back to square one' land.
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| gharmigirl |
Posted
on 10-Jun-03 01:06 PM
IF: best review ever read. sorry to miss play.
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| rmb |
Posted
on 11-Jun-03 05:50 PM
Thank you Iso ji, loved your review. About plays, I guess they can be as long as they needs to be. There are some plays that can even go on for days.
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| rmb |
Posted
on 11-Jun-03 05:54 PM
*need
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