Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 15: Theatre group ‘Natrang’ here today celebrated its 37th foundation day with the presentation of John Millington Synge’s popular play ‘Riders to the Sea’ under the direction of Neeraj Kant.
A handout stated that Natrang was established on May 15, 1983 with the presentation of two short plays ‘Neeli Jheel’ and ‘Nanhen Kandhey Pair’ directed by Balwant Thakur.
In the last 36 years through selfless contribution of thousands of its associates, Natrang has brought the J&K theatre to the National and International limelight.
The play ‘Riders to the Sea’ was set on an island off the coast of Ireland.
It begins with Nora bringing in a small bundle with her and telling Cathleen that these may be the clothes of their brother Michael. The young priest told her a body of a drowned man was found at Donegal, and the body might be Michael.
The sisters are scared to open the bundle of clothes because they do not want their mother, Maurya, to know it as Michael has been missing for a week and the family had already lost five men to the sea.
Maurya is prepared for the funeral for Michael, with whiteboards for his coffin ready at the cottage.
The last son, Bartley is planning to go to sea to sell family horses so they could get some money.
Maurya tries to stop him but paying no heed, Bartley leaves without receiving any blessings from his mother. Maurya’s laments are interrupted when islanders bring the body of Bartley into the cottage and tell the women that the grey pony knocked Bartley into the sea, where he drowned.
The whiteboards that were supposed to be used for Michael’s coffin will now be used to bury Bartley. Maurya prays that the souls of her husband, her husband’s father and four sons may rest in peace.
The artists who performed in the play were Meenakshi Bhagat, Vrinda Sharma, Manoj Lalotra, Arti Devi, Simran, Kananpreet Kaur, Udit Sagar and Umang Sharma.
Lights were operated by Neeraj Kant while Sushant Singh Charak scored the Music.
The show was coordinated by Sumeet Sharma, Anil Tickoo and Mohd Yaseen.
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