The conch blows out in a wary distance. People tighten their grip on their pillows, their minds still brimful of fear in the cautious hill. A soldier steps in to the darkness with his taper, involuntarily moving towards his prize of the fair virgin that lay just ahead of him. A shriek. Darkness follows.
Othello, the Sen of Nepal, is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello. The tragedy is one of Shakespeare's finest, along with Hamlet and King Lear, and is now set in the 18th century in a familiar world wrought with feudalism and division. This classic, plays on a few themes that are relevant to the context of Nepal. Ethnic tension, cultural differences, territorial expansion, and love and betrayal.
The setting is within the context of the unification of Nepal and the adaptation finds Othello situated at the end of the Malla era as warring parties vied for control of Kathmandu Valley, and looked towards unification, which ultimately led to the foundation of the modern state of Nepal. This connection to the universal themes explored by the Shakespearean tradition will give an interesting prism to view the history of a well-known period in Nepal, with plenty of lessons for the current political and social transformation that we are undergoing.
The tale pursues a fiery hero with much to prove in a world that perceives him as an outcast. Complete with an astonishingly beautiful maiden and the most brilliant villain ever put down on paper, the play covers the gamut from ethnic to sexual tension, noble but doomed love, heroism, jealousy, manipulation and machination, procuring a most captivating story line.
Harnessing the talent of young minds, the production plans on showcasing a western dramatic tradition in a local theatre, adapting it to the local, social and political climate. The play is a collaboration between NepalShakes, an upcoming theatre group, and the Rotaract Club of Kantipur. The savings from the production will go towards aiding the Antyodaya Janajati Awasiya School in Chitwan with renovation and basic necessities.
Ashraya Dixit
Venue: Kamal Mani Theatre, Patan Dhoka
Date: 5 to 14 February
Tickets available at Dhokaima Café, Chez Carolyn and Nanglos Bakery Cafe (Durbar Marg).
