| |
TThis loosely adapted Indian
version of Peer Gynt takes place in the setting of a mental asylum,
set within a hospital premises. The Hospital has a philosophy of
its own. Life often begins, and ends in a hospital. It is also the
laboratory of God. Peer Gynt, about to die, requests God for a second
chance to re- do his life, even as God is removing his sinful heart
for a close examination. Meanwhile, the Devil also lays claim to Peer's heart, as
such a heart is his own creation, not God's. Curious to see a better version of Per's life, God grants him the second
chance, Peer grabs his heart and runs away, Devil follows him. Hence the game begins. It is a game between God, Devil
and Peer Gynt.
Then we see Peer going through all the follies of his life. We see him
as a brazen youngster absconding with a young girl on her wedding day.
He is almost torn to pieces by a city mafia. He bids farewell to his
dying mother and to the girl who's devoted to him, and goes off to
conquer the world. We see him as a wealthy middle-aged businessman who
exploits any situation to his advantage and narrowly escapes a plot
against him. His ambitions to be Emperor lead him to the Madhouse
where he presided over a scene of death and destruction which lays
bare his soul. Back home, his woman now a blind old lady, still waits
for him: and so does God. This spatially experimental production is
very physical and has a strong visually narrative, ritualistic
structure. It is a quite contemporary structure, maintaining the
absurdity of the original text.
|
|
|
|
 |
