The complexities of female emotions and women’s relationships gain significant attention in the two Kannada plays Ambe-Ambike and Macbeth Aata, directed by Suresh Anagalli, director of National School of Drama, South. Both plays are women-centric and deal with different aspects of feminism. In Anagalli’s words, “The plays are not mere approaches to feminism. They, in fact, transcend feminism.”
The performers are from Anagalli’s experimental theatre troupe Aneka, which operates in Bangalore. Anagalli is known for his unique theatrical style that employs rich visual language to amplify the power of lyricism.
Talking about HS Shivaprakash’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth that has been adapted to stage by him, Anagalli says, “Here, Lady Macbeth is pregnant. Besides, all characters emerge from witches and merge with them ultimately.” He points out that the eastern philosophy of the cyclical concept of life and death is pitted against the European concept of life and death in a linear fashion, Anagalli explains. “This Indian approach to Macbeth is therefore a game, aata, where the central image is birth and death and the visual image is blood. This is especially inspired by the Japanese Noh theatre, where slow, emphatic movements are implemented.”
Deepa BK, the actor who plays Lady Macbeth, says, “We basically expect two kinds of reactions: those who have read the text and will be impressed with the presentation and those who have not read the text and therefore may not fully comprehend it.”
Coming to Ambe Ambike, Usha Bhandari who plays Ambe, says preparation for the play was very demanding: “Breath control and voice culture is all important here.” “There is no dialogue between the characters. Only poetic rendering.
Both plays will be staged in succession today at 7:30pm at Ranga Shankara, 36/1, 8th Cross, JP Nagar 2nd Phase.
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