Rangotsav starts Nov 27, focuses on social issues

New Delhi: Three plays touching upon three different issues - state of girl child in the country, loneliness among elderly people and absurdities of life - will be staged during the three-day Rangotsav theatre festival, starting Nov 27 in the capital.

Daya Prakash Sinha directed `Samrat Ashok`, partly-based on his research on the life of emperor Ashoka, will open the fest. "I have read almost four books on Ashoka and they clearly indicate his lust for power and blinding ambition. But he had a tragic end and it was because he chose to be overtly ambitious. So using some incidents of his life as a metaphor, I have written this play," Sinha told IANS. "The play deals with many absurdities of life," he added saying this is the first time the play is being staged. The second one being offered is "Kissa Maujpur Ka". Written by Jayvardhan and directed by Chitra Singh, it will bring on stage the fate of a girl child in the country. The play highlights how people, even though educated and elite, differentiate between a boy and a girl. "Hi Handome" will bring down the curtain on the fest and interestingly, this will be its 55th staging in the capital and is another collaborative effort by the duo of Jayvardhan and Chitra. It deals with the contemporary issue of "elderly citizens of India and their loneliness". A Rangbhoomi theatre group presentation, the plays with distinct storylines, characters and messages will be showcased at Shri Ram Centre. "Through the medium we want to bring forth issues that concern our society the most and support it with the right kind of depiction and acting," J.P. Singh, secretary of Rangbhoomi said.