Review of Middle Of Silence
Ruwanthie de Chickera
Artists Repertory Theatre, Bangalore
Actors: Pathy Aiyar, Anita Mithra, Veena Appiah and others
Direction: Arundhati Raja
Venue: Tata Theatre, Mumbai, 15 September
Rating: 5
It's been a long time since I have seen an original play of such power and depth. De Chickera has stripped the veneer off lower middle-class living to present a raw and disturbing drama. Her main protagonist Ajith (Aiyar), from a respectably well-off family, is crippled from waist downwards after an accident. The girl he was to marry still wanted him, but Ajith preferred his neighbour's servant Nandha (Mithra) with whom he eloped. Soon the small money he had brought with him vanished and the couple is reduced to penury. Ajith gives in to bouts of despair and takes out all his anger on his wife, who is so consumed with loving him that she meekly endures his barbs and blows. Nandha begs for cigarettes and provisions from the local grocer until finally the latter throws her out. Her trip to Ajith's father's home proves abortive as Nandha finds that the family has truly ostrasized their cripple son. The turning comes when Nandha meets the prostitute Ramini (Appiah) who, though fallen in the eyes of the world, provides the only warmth and friendship that Nandha receives in this cold, cruel world. Though one still holds on to the hope that Nandha will find some other solution, her fall is inevitable. The real world, after all, can be quite hopeless.
Raja's direction certainly does justice to de Chickera's script as the play never falters even for a moment. All the actors give remarkable performances, with the lesser characters ably supporting the main protagonists. Aiyar's controlled display of anger coupled with fear complements Mithra's timidness and her final show of self confidence. Appiah plays the role of the fat, middle-aged prostitute with verve, often providing a welcome comic relief in this stark, stirring play. Live vocals provided by Sukhita Aiyar during the scene breaks builds up the tempo to the next scene. These were marred only by the audience applauding after every scene. One does wish that we got rid of this habit.
The play was brought to Mumbai by the Jindal Arts Creative Interaction Centre of the NCPA. It is unfortunate a play like this had only one show in this teeming metropolis.

Contact: Manuel Fernandes

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