KATHMANDU, April 9: “What more?” Norwegian director Morten Krogh yells at Kamal Mani Nepal, who is already half naked. In the fit of passion, he throws away his boxer, the last piece of cloth on his body.
For the fraction of minute then, he stands, perhaps overwhelmed by his “passion for art.” But as soon as he regains sense, he puts it on and decides not to do the same on April 16 when the play will be staged. [break]
“Krogh is crazy,” Nepal shares his “unforgettable” memory of the previous day’s rehearsal. He is acting on Jekyll and Hyde, the best selling novella by Robert Louis Stevenson published in 1886. The script was immediately adapted in English theatres after its publication and soon after in silver screen.
“We’ve almost worked on body movements. I just need to remember my dialogues. So, it is almost a final version,” he whispers.
The stage is messy with a baby pink inflatable sofa, which is piled with clothes, wooden cloth hanger, and steel rack with laboratory apparatus.
Nearby, theatre lights, which are still to be set on the bucket like light holders at the ceiling of Rimal theatre, stand in a row like penguins.
Nepal hurriedly sets the Bunsen burner and sets a jar of acid (literally) over it.
“What happened to the rack?” Nisha Sharma, another actor, sitting at the audience row, points to the raised plank of steel on the rack and cries excitedly.
Nepal, who is almost on the verge of sweats, holds the plank, tries to set it straight and lets out a short blurt, “Shit!”
“Ok,” Krogh says in his low, slow voice that contrasts with the otherwise excited ambience of the theatre, “Everybody ready.”
A pin drop silence!
The set design is amazing, though very minimalist compared to Gurukul’s grand sets. Besides his intense direction, Krogh is also known for his amazing capacity to create story through objects.
“I’m happy,” the director says to Nepal after the rehearsal, without showing a hint of what he said on his face. “Next!”
“Morten is a very demanding director,” says Sunil Pokharel, principal of Gurukul, who is also acting on Danish folktale, Emperor’s New Cloth.
Explaining his role, Pokharel says, “It is a story of an emperor, who believes too much on sycophants to the extent that he is cheated.”
So, why monologues? That too, six at once!
Emperors’ New Cloth: Based on the Danish fairy tale of a king who ends up walking naked in desire of wearing the most expensive clothes. Acted by Sunil Pokharel
Ugly Duckling: Danish fairy tale collected by Hans Christian Anderson based on the story of an ugly duckling, which matures into a graceful white swan. Acted by Bhola Raj Sapkota.
Psychosis: Based on the famous play “Psychosis” by French writer Sara Ken, whose suicide in 1999 actually made it famous. This is the story of an anarchic, antisocial woman who suffers from psychosis at the end. Acted by Nisha Sharma.
Jekyll and Hyde: Based on the novella by English writer Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886. It tells the story of a doctor, who finds a chemical solution to express the hidden part of his split personality. Acted by Kamal Mani Nepal.
Psychosis and Jekyll and Hyde are restricted for minors. (Age 14 and above)
Miss Margerida: Based on the satirical play by the Brazilian playwright Roberts Athayde, it tells the story of an eight grade lady teacher who personifies the cruelty of power. At times she is also narcissistic and hysteric. Acted by Sarita Giri.
Bag Lady: Based on the story of a woman who survived Nazi’s concentration camp and lives in the street with her bags, in which she has her house, husband and every dream she couldn’t live in the real life. Acted by Aruna Karki.
After six years since its establishment, this is the first monologue save the series of poetry monologues the students of Gurukul performed on its opening year. Last year, Birendra Hamal (Samaya Sarir Yatra) and Khagendra Lamichhane (Peeda Geet) attempted solo performance but they weren’t strictly monologuing either.
One reason why not many monologues are performed in Nepali theatre could be because story-telling is one major feature of Asian theatres. “In fact, it is said that the west adopted the concept of play back theatres from Asia,” Rabindra Baniya, a Gurukul actor says.
In the beginning Krogh, too had thought of performing play back drama on Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Three months before when he arrived in Kathmandu especially to plan the play, the initial plan was Hamlet but at the eleventh hour, the director decided to direct monologues and offered actors two themes to choose from.
Bikash Karki
“We wanted to challenge artists this time,” was Pokharel’s answer. To have him say, when an actor has to carry out the whole play on their own, there is very little space to blame it on someone, which usually happens in the group plays. “This also ripens the artists.”
And all six artists agree with this.
This is not the first time the actors are working with Krogh though. In 2006, he had also directed Tara Baji Lai Lai, a light play based on the school going students, which was well received by Nepali audiences.
The six monologues will be premiered (invitation only) from April 15 till 17. Two monologues will be featured each day. After April 17, the plays will be open for public.
For details:
Aarohan Gurukul
Tel. 4466956
