Little Thespian’s play Question Mark is not confined to the task of raising questions, somewhere during the course of the play, the answers too surface. They are blatantly stark and uncomfortable yet they are undeniably true.
Adapted from renowned playwright Ismail Choonara’s They Burn People, They Do, Question Mark is set in a mental asylum where life is lived on imagination and pretence.
The inmates — Raj, Raza, Mohan and Kanti —live in a world of their own, oblivious to the real world. Sometimes they indulge in an imaginary game of cricket, or they rehearse for a play that will never see the light of the day. And, of course, like all those locked behind concretes, they too wait to leap into the real world and cherish the freedom that comes along with it.
For Raj, the wait comes from a false hope, that his family will eventually come and take him back home. Raza longs for momentary freedom, to walk to the nearby mosque accompanying the caretaker Abdul for the Friday congregational prayers.
Mohan, a failed actor, likes to live in his make-believe world of rehearsals, stage and dialogue, while Kanti is trying to battle his past demons that haunt him as a result of the tragic death of his wife.
If life is not perfect inside the asylum, it is hardly assuring outside its premises. The world outside seems to be up in flames and burning in an orgy of rage and death. “The play is set against the backdrop of the post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat. It confronts us with the brutal, cruel face of a certain brand of politics in our country. To satisfy their own greedy, selfish ends, some of our leaders create an imaginary enemy and poison the minds of the masses, compelling them to fear and hate the so-called “enemy”. And the most lethal weapon they use for the purpose is religion,” points out director and actor Azhar Alam.
“The story draws a parallel in between mentally unstable inmates and communal leaders. The former’s speech and actions are devoid of any logic, at least from the perspective of rationality. While our leaders, who represent the most sane and sensible amongst us all, also behave in a way that is nothing short of madness. The manner in which they manipulate religion is no less absurd or maniacal than the pretentious game of cricket played by Raj and Raza,” feels Azhar.
The asylum is run by a widow, played by Uma Jhunjhunwala, whose maternal instincts give a sense of composure in such vulnerable times. On the other hand, there is a hate-mongering leader who indulges in provoking mayhem.
The shrill cries of helplessness from the victims and the vindictive urge of the hate brigade are the grim realities of the real world and juxtaposed with it, is the sweet nothings, stereotypical humour and an underlying fear that arise from the almost juvenile world of the mentally challenged.
Riding on a well-written script, the hard-hitting dialogues and well-etched performances make Question Mark an engaging affair. The brilliant use of light to convey the dark mood and the sombre music add to its credentials. It conclusion leaves the audience pondering — who is insane, the inmates of the ashram or us, the so called saner lot?
Ironically, in Question Mark, hope and innocence succumbs to the blaze of hatred.