“To dissipate the tension but keep the energy up” was one of the actors rationale for tonight’s final rehearsal by Adishakti Theatre of Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros which they will be performing next week at the National School of Drama's Utsav Festival in New Delhi.
Rhinoceros is a metaphor for the rise of Fascism prior to the Second World War. It describes how a small town progressively fears, excuses and then embraces the transition of its population from human to rhinoceros. Ultimately the only human who does not succumb to this mass metamorphosis is a flustered everyman figure who is criticized throughout the play for his drinking and tardiness.
I had not seen this play before and was only vaguely familiar with the context. The strongly accented Indian English was hard to follow. And a costumeless rehearsal in which the actors play more than one part already has the potential to be confusing. My only real complaint was with the bombastic conclusion - the bass and drums accompanying Mr. everyman's insistence that he will fight the rhinoceros invasion at all costs is too LOUD.
That said the choreography is stunning – such a wealth of influences in the individual and collective movements. Good theatre does not need plot to intrigue. It needs actors to engage - and the Adishakti troupe shines every moment.
Photo by Adishakti
