Page 258 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

English - II

Notes a movie instead of a play I would have the actors re-create this scene before scene III actually happened
so the audience could see the relationship between Chitra and Arjuna forming. By showing this
scene it would also help the audience understand the passing of time.
Scene IV beings with Arjuna and Chitra sitting together and Chitra is weaving a garland. I would
make the garland full of beautiful flowers such as white lilies and pink roses to reinforce Chitra’s
newfound beauty as well as her innocence (the white lilies) and her feminine features (pink roses). I
would keep the setting the same as in scene II because of the lake and its beauty and the grass would
contrast well with the garland. At the end of the scene, prayer bells begin to ring, so to show that the
scene was ending, I would dim the lights and sound prayer bells to cast a bit of an eerie effect on the
audience to keep their attention.
Scene V is extremely short with just a few lines between Madana and Vasanta. For this scene, I would
have the actors of the two gods on the stage, but the stage would be completely blackened so only the
outlines of the figures could be seen. This would keep with the eerie effect at the end of scene IV and
also add to the effect that these two are not mortal and they are a step above humans. Time has been
fleeting and soon the year of Chitra’s beauty will be up. To emphasize this, I will have a clock on the
background screen with the hands moving very fast after the gods have spoken to show the Western
audience that the play isn’t in the span of just a few days, but a whole year.
Scene VI is another scene with Chitra and Arjuna speaking to one another. It is a shorter scene, so I
would keep the stage clear of most items and use the background screen for effect. On the screen I
would have pictures of flowers blooming then dying because of the lines that Chitra says at the end
of the scene involving the death of flowers. The stage would be dimly lit and only the actors and
background screen would be visible so the audience would focus on the dialogue which is very
important in this particular part of the play.
Scene VII are the gods and Chitra talking about how her beauty will be ending that night. The stage
will remain dimly lit and the gods will be on ladders, only their outlines visible to the audience.
Chitra will be below them on her knees begging for her beauty while a moon is present in the
background. A spotlight will remain on Chitra encasing her beauty to the audience and letting it
radiate because it is her last night.
Scene VIII is when Arjuna meets the villagers so I would have a path of stone on the stage with grass
surrounding it where the villagers and Arjuna meet on the path and have their discussion. Chitra
and Arjuna would then be sitting together after a quick scenery change in a tent where they discuss
that he will not be with her that night. I would have a spotlight on the tent so the audience focuses on
the couple and what they are saying, but they won’t be able to see the couple speaking; they will only
be able to hear them. As he leaves her from the tent the stage grows dark and Chitra weeps.
Scene IX ends the play and is important because the audience finds out that Arjuna accepts Chitra as
she is because she is a great leader and he finds her beautiful anyway. Arjuna and Chitra would be
standing on the stage with no props and just a few lights so the audience can make out the actors.
They would say their lines and the background would change to clouds floating in a blue sky to
create a sense of calm and serenity for the audience to show acceptance and love.
The staging that I have created for the drama Chitra is important to the understanding of the Western
viewing audience so they can perceive the moral of the story much easier. With more scenery and
props used as well as a background screen it helps viewers who aren’t familiar with Indian culture
and traditions incorporate the meaning into their culture. Every culture has women who think like
Chitra; as if they aren’t good enough for the person they love. This play shows that no matter what
your culture is, you are not alone and staging can help enforce this concept.
Self-Assessment
1. Fill in the blanks
(i) Tagore has the special distinction of becoming the only poet to have two songs as National
Anthem, one is ............... and the other is Amar Sonar Bangla.
(ii) Rabindranath Tagore won Nobel Prize in ............... for literature.
(iii) Symbolism is if two kinds, Traditional and ............... .
(iv) Vasanta symbolizes ............... .

252 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY