Transit: A dream staged

BY AVAYA SHRESTHA, Katmandu, July 22: Staging of 'Transit', writer Kumar Nagarkoti's latest surreal play, has finally begun at Shilpi Theatre, Battisputali after 47 days of rehearsal. The play opened on Friday and shall stay on stage till August 19. 

It is hard to say what the play's plot is. Everything feels like a lucid dream, much like life itself, according to playwright Nagarkoti.

What sort of a dream then? Nagarkoti answered, the sort that made Chinese philosopher Chuang Tzu exclaim 'Once upon a time, I dreamt I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky. Then I awoke. Now I wonder, am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?'

Perhaps, the play sought to evoke this feeling of existential incertitude. After all, Nagarkoti himself proclaimed, "Instead of dreaming dreams, I wrote them." And he named this new dream 'Transit'. 

"For me, you are the future. For you, I am the history." This prelude prepares the audience for the adventure they are about to embark on – one of time travel. Time traveller Mayavi reaches the studio of 'play director of history' Manav Shastri. And that is where the journey begins. 

It is clear from the performances that director Ghimire Yubaraj and actors Divya Dev, Akanshya Karki, Shilpa Maskey, Basana Timilsina and Milson Rai have worked very hard. Musicians, set designers, stage decorators and all other personnel working behind the scenes earn an A+ for making the words on the page seamlessly come alive in front of audiences’ eyes. 

Nagarkoti has proved his mettle many times. There is no questioning his abilities and the popularity of his works among Nepalis. But his theme is what pulls him down here. His language is understandable but the plot is not. His topics are very complicated. 

Those who seek realism in art and literature may not be able to relate with the characters and events of 'Transit'. But those desiring style, supernormalism and humour can visit Shilpi any day of the week except Tuesday at 5 pm.