Children's Theatre Festival '07
"Mangal Desh": A sci-fi take on global crises
Mainul Hassan
On the eighth day (June 23) of the ongoing Children's Theatre Festival at Shaokat Osman Memorial Auditorium, Central Public Library, Kishore Theatre (Dhaka) staged Mangal Desh. The play is based on a science fiction story written by Hanif Khan, who is also the director of the play. Mangal Desh is set in the year 2017, supposedly a troubled time for the human civilisation as the super powers have decided to engage in a "war to the end" for world domination. With World War III knocking on the door, three scientists come up with a solution to save mankind. They plan to build a spaceship, go to Mars and settle there through establishing a human colony. They decide to take a pair of children -- a boy and a girl -- from every nation. After learning about the plan, other scientists join then. As planned, the scientists along with the children, start the long journey towards Mars in two spaceships. The play, though intended for and staged by children and adolescents, addresses the intimidating future of the ongoing global crises. The festival ends on June 29.
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Young actors of Kishor Theatre in the play Mangal Desh. PHOTO: STAR |
