Dayton Daily News from Dayton, Ohio • 37

1-U May 25, 1986 DAYTON DAILY NEWS i ACTIV SCREENING jlOQ v. A rVi s-. TV Play brings India life alive in Dayton By Terry Morris THEATER WRITER "TTtople like Ghashiram are creat-j Yed by the politicians so they can ii- kill their own enemies indirectly. It happens not only in India but throughout the world, so this becomes a universal if (' ft fo 1 India is a country not often associated in this part of the world with theater, but Dayton and a few other American cities are about to sample a highly praised stage production from that land. The name of the play is Ghashiram Kotwal (Gha-shiram the Police Chief), and the fact that it is coming to Dayton from New York, then going on to Chicago, Toronto, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Baltimore is one hint that it may be something special.

More impressive evidence is the fact that it is the only official theater event of the Festival of India, an 18-month cultural exchange between India and the United States. Set for 8 p.m. Friday at the University of Dayton's Boll Theatre, the drama has toured Germany, England and France to critical acclaim. Its cast of 35 actors, singers, dancers and mimes will present its U.S. premiere in New York tonight, performed in its native language.

An English-language translation of It was presented in 1985 by the Pan Asian Repertory Theater In New York. There was a time not so long ago when Ghashiram Kotwal stood little chance 6 1emg produced anywhere outside of India. Written in 1 972 by Vljay Tendulkar and produced by the Theater Academy of Pune, which has performed it 415 times it stirred controversy immediately and was almost banned. A 1980 invitation to perform it at the prestigious international theater festival in Berlin raised a whole new ruckus that finally ended up in court. The show did eventually go on the road, where its international success has overwhelmed some Indians' objections to its hints of sex and violence, but especially its depiction of a corrupt officialdom.

"This is art, not a history book," the play's director, Jabbar Patel, 44, said in a 1980 interview, in London's Arts Guardian. "People like Ghashiram are created by the V' 1 Scene from 'Ghashiram Kotwal' to play at University of Dayton's Boll 0'' politicians so they can kill their own enemies indirectly. It happens not only in India but throughout the world, so this becomes a universal play." The two-act drama that the Dayton audience will see is done in Marathi, a regional Indian language, and uses only a simple platform for a set. Playwright Tendulkar's ingenuity is evident in the work's combination of a contemporary text with classical Sanskrit tradition in the person of the Sutradhar (narrator), and Indian folk theater forms of song, dance and mime that are performed throughout by the chorus of 15. The performance time, with intermission, is just over 2 hours.

Set in the late 18th century, Ghashiram Kotwal tells about Ghashiram, a penniless Brahmin from North India, who travels to the city of Poona to seek his fortune. Hungry and homeless, he tries to attend a Brahmin feast, but is accused of stealing and is thrown into prison. He grows increasingly embittered by the time he is released. "You've made me an animal," he shouts. "I'll be a devil inside I'll make Poona a kingdom of pigs." He gains his opportunity for vengeance when he sacrifices his daughter to the lecherous Nana Phadnavis, chancellor of Poona, in return for the prestigious office of Kotwali, chief of police.

He then unleashes his power in a reign of terror and arbitrary injustice that fills the prisons. When an enraged mob finally demands Ghashiram's y'-'Jiij. Theatre on Friday Theatre Research in Paris, described Ghashiram Kotwal as "vivid, direct and bursting with life." London's Daily Telegraph had this to say: "To West- em eyes the interest of the production will be its spectacle, its unusual music and the performances of Mohan '( Agashe as the elegantly sinister Chancellor and Ramesh Ti-lekar as the rogue who turns into a crazy despot." Der Abend of Berlin recommended it strongly: "A show for all its opulence as precise as a Swiss watch, as death, Nana willingly agrees to dispose of the monster he created. The irony for the people is that little will change, because Nana's own decadence has only been screened by Ghashiram's more flamboyant abuse of power. The universal theme of power's corrupting influence also juxtaposes religion and decadence.

One seduction takes place before the sacred image of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed god. Peter Brook, former director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and founder of the International Center of SEE PLAY5 Activities worth rememberim Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Admission is $2. Music enthusiasts may want to drop in and listen to the Wright State University Community Orchestra and University Chorus concert at 3 p.m. in the Oelman Hall auditorium on the main campus.

Admission is free. Memorial Day calendar keeps up holiday pace Hands of across Dayton y( route FromU.S.40toOhk)202 toValleySttoKeowee JUf to Monument to Main to ThkrJtoSumrnitto tpmm Germantownto 0hk)4. h1' egq Well, there you are, sitting right smack dab in the middle of Memorial Day weekend with Saturday already behind you but a free Monday waiting ahead. What to do? Maybe you already got a jump on the holiday by browsing and buying at Art In the Park Which concludes today (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) at Riverbend Art Center, 142 Riverbend Drive.

Or maybe when you're done scanning "Dear Abby" and the comics pages, you're going to gather the family and some friends and head down to the opening day of the Dayton River Festival (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) at Island and Triangle Parks. But think again. You have even more choices. Monday Today For ticket prices and reservations, call 1-767-2481.

Wright State University Theatre will present its final performance of the rock musical Hair at 3 p.m. in the Festival Playhouse of the Creative Arts Center. Tickets available 90 min- utes prior to the performance at the box office. The musical comedy Hello Dolly will be performed by The Fairborn Playhouse at 7 p.m. at 23 E.

Main Fairborn. To reserve tickets, call 878-1651. After holiday driving you may prefer looking at cars to sitting in them at the Springfield 86 Car Show Swap Meet which concludes Sunday at the Clark County Fairgrounds, Springfield. Gates open to the public at 7 a.m. Highlighting the event will be restored antique and classic cars, cars for sale and parts for swapping.

A variety of foods can be purchased from vendors. Admission is $2 for adults and children under 12 are admitted free. The Oakwood Historical Socity, Inc. will sponsor an Antiques and Collectibles Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

behind the Bank One Building at 35 Park Oakwood. Admission is 50 cents. There's more, too, for the collector with the heart of a child at the Midwest Collectors Toy and Doll Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the The Roendental Youth Orchestra from Roen-dental, Germany, sister city of Eaton, will perform a free concert at 2 p.m.

at Fort St. Clair Park, located on Ohio 122, east of Eaton. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket. The second offering in the Earth Lore and Songs at Sunset series presents Billy who will share original songs about the environment in a performance at 7 p.m. at the Aullwood Farm Building, 9101 Frederick Road.

Tickets are $2.50 for children, $3.50 for adults. If you want to browse away from the holiday crowds, the Dayton Art Institute, Forest and Riverview avenues, will be open Memorial Day, from noon to 5 p.m. An exhibit of musical and sonic sculpture, "Art Instruments," will be on display In the Experiencenter Gallery. A new exhibit, "Selections from the 20th Century Collection," will be on display in the Special Exhibitions Gallery. Carillon Park, 2001 S.

Patterson will also be open Memorial Day, from 1 to 8 p.m. Park exhibits, which highlight the history of transportation, will be open and guides will be on hand at each exhibit. Picnic tables will be set up in the grove behind Deeds Barn. Hot dogs and soft drinks will be available from a vendor. It is Memorial Day weekend, after all, and many people will pause to reflect on the sacrifices of our countrymen.

The American Legion, South Park Memorial Post 675, will hold Memorial Day services at 2 p.mi today at Woodland Cemetery Chapel Mausoleum in conjunction with the Annual Floral Display and Organ Concert. Restless teenagers can boogie away their boredom at a Teen Memorial Day Dance from 8 to 1 1 p.m. at the Kettering Recreation Center, 2900 Glengarry Dr. The event is open to teens ages 13 to 17. Tickets are $3 at the door.

There are several area theatre offerings to choose from, too. Sinclair Community College Theatre Department will present the musical The Fantastlcka at 7:30 p.m. in Blair Hall Theatre, Building 2. Tickets are $4 for adults, $3 for students and $2 for senior citizens. Yellow Springs Center Stage presents Its production of the comedy The Chalk Garden at 3:30 p.m.

at 136 Dayton Yellow Springs. Those who decide at the last minute to join in the Hands Across America fund-raiser today may do so by phoning Coordinator Brian Morris at his office in downtown Dayton at 222-HAND. The nationwide event was planned by the USA for Africa project to raise money for the hungry band of homeless in the United States. Morris said anyone without an assigned spot In the line should drive out Ger-mantown Street and down Ohio 4 toward Ger-mantown, where he said he expects some gaps In the line. Morris said that contributions are welcome, but not required.

Moms asked that all "hands" be in place by 2 p.m. today for the mass event at 3 p.m. When Joining the line, look for "mile leaders" who will be dressed In distinctive jackets and caps. The hands across Ohio route is U.S. 23 to Columbus to U.S.

40 to Ohio 202 to Dayton to Ohio 4 to Cincinnati. DON'T IT INGIDZ PC vr NEWSTAR GIVES TV2 UPPER HAND Tom Hopkins2D FRANZ LISZT JUST WHO WAS HE? Betty DiefcKrebs3D TOM HOPKINS2 BETTY DIETZKREBS3 RADIO HIGHLIGHTS4 TV UPDATE7 AT THE MOVIES7 GOREN ON BRIDGE7 Urn.