Sri Ram Theatre, Delhi
Playwright: Reginald Rose (1954)
Genre: American Courtroom Drama, Crime
Language in which it is written initially: English
Stage Adaptation: Sri Ram Theatre (Hindi). Also available in other languages.
Ticket Cost: 200/- + gst
Screen Adaptation: First as a Television play, then a stage version by Sherman L. Sergel. Later into movies.
On one such weekend trip, I came across this play as a suggestion on Book My Show. I can’t say whether the cover poster or the title prompted me but I booked the ticket instantly. Little did I know about the play then except the title which suggested that it is something dealing with crime/thriller. With the idea of having a fresh persona while watching, I avoided fishing many details about it.
The play went well as it kept the audience occupied and inquisitive till the end. Though a serious play in the sense that it deals with the scene of the court and murder trial, there is also occasional humour to induce laughter. The rest of the play is based on intense arguments, arguments full of insights to leave you awestruck, sensical as well as nonsensical arguments too, to find whether the accused (a boy in this case) is guilty or not.
The play is written in three acts, but there are no considerable scene changes. The same props and set run throughout the play. The action is minimal. Whatever substance is there, it’s in dialogues and the plot that keeps the audience engaged till the end.
Later on, I went on to read the play and found that the text is uniquely constructed in the sense that it provides all sorts of information, necessary to stage the play. Even the characters’ description is given at the beginning. However, too many characters of the same type make it difficult to keep track of them but as you read, you develop an acquaintance with them. After the play, the audience is still left with certain questions but I think that’s all right in a play. Take it as your homework.
Considering every aspect, I would say that the stage adaptation indeed does justice to the play. I would recommend everyone watch this play at least once. I am also hoping to watch its English adaptation.
Meanwhile, interested people can check out these links to know more about the play.
Click here for the pdf of the text.
Click here for the movie (in English).
Click here for the movie (in Hindi with the title ‘Ek Ruka Hua Faisla’).
Thank You!
Shashank
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