#MeToo finds reference in theatre group Yuvaa’s ‘Muzeum’

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 22

A couple of women – walk across the stage rather awkwardly – one foot in a stiletto, the other barefoot - with red lipstick carelessly smudged on their face. After a global campaign against sexual harassment, where women openely talked about the abuse prevalent in the society, the movement has finally found reference in the theatre group Yuvaa’s response to the #MeToo movement.

In the ongoing theatre festival which is regaling Jalandhar’s theatre audiences for the past month, Theatre Group Yuvaa staged their production ‘Muzeum’ – Jalandhar theatre’s take against the culture of rape and misogyny in the country.

Yuvaa has brought in choicest theatrical fare from the city and as well as productions from across the country, in the ongoing theatre festival which has staged plays from Maharasthra, Punjab, Haryana, among other states.

One of their older productions, adopted from the original – In the outrage and anger which bubbled up in the nation post Nirbhaya,–‘Muzeum’ has stood a theatrical witness to the changing discourse on the issue.

While the play starts off with the stories of Draupadi (who has forgotten which husband she should be expecting this night), and Chitrangada, it moves on to the modern tales of the progressive girls undergoing a mix of dilemma and excitement over their new-found sexuality, finally confronting it through the worst demons society would throw at them – rape, acid attack, immolation, honour killing.

Lead woman protagonists – Shaina, Mandeep and Mohini - put up a sterling act, backed by impressive performances from the male cast.

While Sunday’s production was imperative amidst the largely bold-in-the-mainstream-but-reluctant-in-the-hinterland voices of #Metoo, the play itself remained a watered down version of some of the previous stagings it has encountered in the city. The stories of Patil, Devi and Mururthal make a bold impact, in contrast the references to #MeToo are hasty and not as well etched.