There is always a different level of excitement before watching a play and it gets even more exciting when the playwright is making their debut. Kacho Dhaago, currently being staged at Kausi Theatre, Kathmandu, is one such play written by a debutant playwright Mukti. As the play is by a debutant playwright, most of the audience might be curious about the play’s genre, theme, and overall content.
Well to clear your curiosity, you should watch Kacho Dhaago.
Directed by Aashant Sharma, Kacho Dhaago depicts the story of a western part of Nepal which many Nepali can relate to. It portrays the story of an elderly woman who, having lost her husband early in life, single-handedly raised her family.
She lives with her daughter-in-law while her sons have moved abroad. Despite her longing to be with her family, especially her grandchildren; she is reluctant to leave her home to join them overseas.
In the play, the entire village is frustrated because of the trouble caused by the monkeys. The villagers are planning not just to chase the monkey but in the worst-case scenario, they have also decided to kill them.
Among a troop of monkeys, there is one monkey, played by Mukti, who regularly visits the home of an elderly woman, played by Aayushma Magar. When she is alone at her home, she talks to that monkey, feeds him and finds the persona of her husband in the monkey. She is worried that the villagers will kill him if they see him. So she also puts continuous effort into hiding him from the villagers.
So, would she be able to save the monkey whom the villagers want to kill desperately? How will their relationship continue, and what will be its fate?
The play has multiple layers, ranging from the loneliness of an elderly woman, migrating abroad and struggling over there, insecurity to return homeland and others. These all are the things that revolve in almost all the contemporary Nepali families.
An elderly woman, played by Aayushma Magar, reminds us of elderly citizens who have to be home alone as their offspring or other family members are away from home. They do not have anyone to talk to or to share their feelings. The struggle that the old people have to endure because of loneliness has been well represented in the play. Any elder people who have been through such situations can easily relate to the play.
The bond between the old woman and the monkey reflects a significant psychological factor. While she may have a soft spot for animals, this connection goes beyond that. It highlights her deep desire to overcome loneliness. The monkey provides her with a sense of companionship, making her feel as though there is someone who listens to her patiently and appreciates her care.
Another issue the play highlights is migration. Migration is no longer a new phenomenon for us; each day, hundreds of people leave the country in search of better opportunities. Many leave with a promise to return, but only a few fulfil that promise, while others choose to settle abroad. As they establish themselves in their new countries, they often want other family members to join them.
One of the children of the old woman is settled in the USA. His dialogues vividly show how insecure he feels about going back to the homeland. Instead, he even wants his mother to come to the USA. He shows disagreement with his son when the son shows his interest in going to Nepal and doing research there.
This reflects the mindset of a lot of people who are settled in the developed nations and are frustrated with the situation of their homeland and see no hope there. This trend is common among Nepalis living in various parts of the world.
In this scene, when the son tells his father that he has been selected as a researcher by the university and needs to travel to Nepal for his research, the father asks about the topic of the research. The son responds that he does not know the topic. This does not make sense to the audience. Who would travel from the USA to Nepal for research without knowing the subject?
Hopefully, the creators will address this inconsistency.
Similarly, there is another place in the play where the makers should work. In a scene where the son from the USA makes a video call to his mother, the mother inquires about everyone except her daughter-in-law. This situation in the play feels odd. Although they might have had a strained relationship, there is no indication in the play that they have such a relationship.
Further, the play also has a comical side. The performance of Thula, played by Sagar Dahal and Bastarey, played by Nistha Tripathi makes you laugh frequently.
Another aspect that should be appreciated about the characters in this play is that some actors have taken on multiple roles, and the way they quickly switch from one character to another, with different makeup and costumes, is commendable.
Besides some minor flaws, the play has beautifully encompassed the different layers of society, making it look real, natural and relevant. A lot of people can easily relate to Kacho Dhaago.
Mukti, the debut playwright, has shone as a writer, actor, dancer, and singer on the stage. The flexibility he holds in his body while walking, running and jumping as a monkey deserves special mention.
Kacho Dhaago will run through September 14 every day (except Tuesday) at Kausi Theatre, Kathmandu at 5:15 pm. There will be an additional show on Saturday at 1:00 pm.
