Fantastic play of revelations

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Based on the deaths of Shakespeare’s Othello, his wife Desdemona and his confidant Iago the play, Yamadhoothu — After the Death of Othello, was a fantasy ride with mesmerising music, perfect acting, complicated relationships, close proximity of life and death and some goosebump giving hollow cries and revelations. Staged in the city for the first time, the play was a part of the ongoing “Bharat Rang Mahotsav” at Little Theatre Group Auditorium.

“When the body is dead, and mind is yet to die. What will someone think or say during these few moments? Some mysteries, secrets and the truth are bound to unfold. I have tried to look into these intricacies,” says, 24 years old, V. Abhimanyu, Kerala-based, director of the play.
What sets the play apart from others is its contemporary visual language. Out of seven, three acts were without any dialogues. Presented by Janabheri group, Yamadoothu was both exhilarating and depressing. The story unfolds through the monologues of Othello, Desdemona and Iago. Three wild birds appear on the stage to accompany the spirit of the three, who meet with death in unnatural situations, to the other world. The dead request the birds for some more time so that they can complete a conversation they are in the midst of. The ensuing conversation reveals different perspectives and insights into the lives of the three as the birds watch with care, the infatuation in the behaviour of these characters after death.
Enacted by Krishna Kumar, Hima Shankar, Prasoon, Sreekanth, Alan and Joshi the one hour and 13 minutes play in English and Malayalam highlights the obscurity behind the death, says Abhimanyu. “I worked on the adaptation and dramaturgy for about two months. My idea was to have very few dialogues. Theatre is all about thinking in a different way and bringing in new perspectives,” he says. Abhimanyu has directed two more plays, Kalaripayattu and The lovers, which also had a strong visually appeal.