Times Of India 28June, 2002
Finally, here is one Bangla Play that promises to break across all theatre groups. Six directors from Kolkata and the districts will be coming together to act in one production for the first time. The script, written by Bratya Basu, includes a star-cast with some of the best names from the bangle stage. From Debshankar Haldar to Rajatava Ghosh and Maya Ghosh, the 25-character cast is all set for its first production on july 17 at academy of fine arts.
For Maya Ghosh, this would be a comeback after 11years. If you would remember, she was the fiery Sumati in Bela Obelar Gappo-the Theatre Workshop adaptations of the Arnold Wesker play, Chicken Soup with Barley. While for Debshankar it will be his second acting assignment outside Nandikar after Mephisto. And for Rajatava, it is also a comeback. Thats Winkle twinkle for You, the rehearsals for which had actually started months before Suman Mukhyopadhyay even conceptualised Mephisto for the Gujarat Consolidation Committee. And after Utpal Dutt’s Barricade, this might be another play with no-holds barred comtemporary political statement. “The script of Winkle Twinkle is the result of a series of discussions that I had with Bratya over years.” Said Debesh Chattopadhyay, who is directing the play. Not very well-known as a director, Debesh is better known as the editor of Sansriti, a theatre magazine that is popular in the circuit.
“This is one play that needs a lot of commitment. And I requested Debesh not to compromise,” said Bratya. And compromise is one word which the actors of Winkle Twinkle have not heard till now. Rehearsals, which started in January, were preceeded by scene blockings, just as in a film. Actual rehearsals started from March onlive sets by Sanchayan Ghosh which have taken up the Rs. 80,000 production cost, till now. “Not only have we changed the cast more than once, sanchayan has even changed parts of the set as well as the props,” said Debesh. Building upon his experiences in Mephisto, Ghosh promises to give an even better stagecraft to Winkle Twinkle.
“My magazine is supporting my production. And I am upbeat about the end-product,” said Debesh. The one thing to be noted is the change in terminology. With a production being looked upon as an end product, we might actually be facing a time when theatre will be treated as an industry. And with two back-to-back productions that break across theatre-groups on the production level, that day might not be far off………
Sudip Ghosh….