Dreams of Mayadevi: blending dreams with reality

Mayadevi is simple mother who is waiting for her son Siddhartha a.k.a. Kale to return home who has gone lost six months ago. She lives alone in her home and there's another character, Lahure who respects Mayadevi as sister and protects her. She talks with her own shadow and with birds. She had only read about wars in letters sent to her when her husband died in foreign war. Lahure and her husband both had gone to war, but Lahure returns being amputee and her husband died there. Lahure had come home seeing enough war but the war doesn't leave him. Battle is raging in his own jungles and people are killing their own brothers or neighbors or someone they know. Mayadevi says, "It's easy to run in moonlight but difficult to hide". She time and again talks about moon and points toward the war. Then a man of her son's age comes to her house asking refuge for night. She lets him in and sees her own son in him. Seeing her pain, the man takes her to the battleground where people are dying and groaning and grumbling in pain. She searches her son but he's not there. Both of them return home. She cannot forget the pain, fear and shouts. Then she sees a dream, in dream she becomes Mayadevi, mother of Lord Buddha. She is going to her matriarchal home. But on the way, she feels labor pain. She gives birth to Siddartha and feels the ultimate happiness. She tries to hold her son but he runs leaving behind lotus petals. She wakes up and finds herself at home, looking at the young man. Then 2 people enter her house and takes away young man forcefully. Then she heard her Kale's voice. She tries to stop him but he goes away. The drama ends her saying, "Mother is happy to know that you are alive, Kale! May flowers bloom with your every step too, my son!"

Dreams of Mayadevi is simple yet powerful drama which connects the story of past and present, war and peace, dreams and reality and above all a tale of mother's love. She had hoped her son would be Siddartha, preacher of peace but reality is different. Lahure knows war doesn't help anyone because he has seen the destruction but he's also helpless. Mayadevi and Lahure present the state of people who are forced in war and are enduring pain. They want it to stop but couldn't do anything. Before they used to play in jungles but all are only memories now. Now in full moon only jungle can be seen, not pain, death, war it hides. Dreams of Mayadevi is full of metaphor and similes. This drama shows the young people who are facing identity crisis and fighting absurd war. Mayadevi dreams of peace and happiness but alas, it's her dream only.

Every character is flawless. Professor Dr. Abhi Subedi has written this play with so supreme command, and he has successfully captured the intensity of conflict. Use of moonlit night and darkness has created surrealistic effect. Directorial command is superb. Design of stage is simple yet powerful. Use of lights, music and themes are wonderful. Clearly a masterpiece.

Aarohan Theater Festival is going on at Gurukul everyday till February 12, 2007. Don't forget to be there and taste the dramatic enjoyment.