‘Beech Bahar Ki Raat Ka Sapna’

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

By Ameer H Ahmad

KARACHI: National Academy of Performing Arts’ - Repertory Theatre Company’s 14th production titled “Beech Bahar Ki Raat Ka Sapna” opened Friday at the Arts Council, and would continue everyday until April 11.

The musical play, an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s celebrated comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was directed and translated by Khalid Ahmed. The play also features an original music score, created by Arshad Mahmud and Nafees Ahmed.

The play features three interlocking stories; the main plot involves four lovers (Hermia, Aleena, Sikander and Taimur) whose complex love lives are complicated further by their entrance into the fairyland woods, where Gulfam and Gulnar, the King and Queen of the Fairies are already embroiled in a conflict over a child under the care of Gulnar. Mix in the impish Puck and the villagers turned actors, Peter Baboo, Penda, Mohan, Murli, Dilbar, and Rangbaz and the result is a hilarious and unique take on Shakespeare’s comedy.

Lured by their dreams the lovers and the actors take to the forest, where Gulfam leads them astray. He casts a spell upon the lover’s eyes and throws their love-lives into utter confusion. To punish Gulnar for her disobedience, he turns Penda, the lovable paan-seller into a donkey and makes her fall hopelessly in love with him. Featuring duelling lovers and comical hijinks, the play was a resounding success with those in attendance. Especially the inability of Puck to walk around normally, instead rolling, jumping and sliding around the stage, true to his impish form and the villagers turned actors, who kept the audience laughing with their hilarious antics.