The New Nation - Internet Edition

Entertainment Report

A week-long presentation of Maxim Gorky's play 'The Lower Depths' began at the Natmandal Auditorium of Dhaka University on May 25. Department of Theatre and Music of Dhaka University organised presentation. The show will begin everyday at 7:00pm till May 31.

The play, translated by noted filmmaker Tanvir Mokammel, and directed by the promising director Sudip Chakraborty, presents the suffering of the people of the working class. Unfortunately unlike the other translations of the Western classics, the play did not match with the pathos of the local people.

The play however, had little interaction with the audience because of dissatisfactory translation and performance. The dialogues, particularly the slang used in the play, sounded harsh to the audience sometimes.

Though the set design, lighting and costume were praiseworthy, the performances should have been more improved. Students of the department worked behind the designs and performed in the play.

According to the organisers, the play is for the first time staged in the country. It is a part of the academic exercise of the 4th year honours students of the department.

Through the play they aim to highlight the significance of the historic May Day and express their solidarity to the poor and common people of the country.

They hope that the Bengali version of the play will uphold the rights of the underprivileged and struggling people of the country without hampering the spirit of the classic.