Barinder Saluja, Chandigarh, Dec. 07 : “The Chandigarh Ibsen Festival 2010” got off to a majestic start with the play titled “The Mountain Bird” at Tagore Theatre Today. The evening was inaugurated the Adviser to the Administrator, UT Chandigarh Mr. Pradip Mehra. Also present were the renowned theatre personalities and other eminent persons of the city beautiful.
The Mountain Bird, directed by Lars Oyno is a world premiere of Henrik Ibsen’s unfinished opera libretto from 1859. Mountain Bird unfolds the mystery of Ibsen’s folklorist impulse and portrays the social scenario of ancient Norway and the economic discrimination that bounds the society. The play narrates the story of a girl who survives alone in a plagued epidemic valley. She has no option but to survive the isolation that leaves her disheartened. She forgets to speak and develops a wild character. Later, she falls in love with a young man who is about to enter an arranged marriage with a girl in the same village. But the people from the village are horrified by his desire and abandon his intended bride. The story is like a satire on the social conditions and has lot of resemblance with the conditions prevalent in Indian societies, especially in small towns and rural areas.
The Chandigarh Ibsen Festival, 2010 is India’s ONLY thematic theatre festival rendering glimpses of Henrik Ibsen like never before. “Ibsen & Rituals and folklore” one of the most complex and untouched topic world across, immensely encompasses Ibsen’s both unfinished and highly acclaimed works steeped in rituals and folklore from India as well as well as from abroad.
An illustrious attempt has been made to link Ibsen with the roots of Indian theatre as India, with its rich cultural heritage, folklore, ritual and a traditionally based performance language provides fertile canvas to depict and expand the dimensions of Ibsen’s plays.
This extravaganza has been led by stalwarts of Bollywood, Indian theatre and some illustrious works of artiste from as far away as, Norway and Lithuania .The play “When we dead Awaken “Directed by : Saulius Antanas Varnas will be staged at the Tagore Theatre tomorrow.