A misunderstanding of sorts

An English-style living room with a sofa that flaunts upholstery with Indian motifs builds curiosity. Though the play’s name had been announced, yet the lights remain dim making it easy for the audience to connect the action on stage with the play’s name – The Virtuous Burglar.

Just then the phone rings and fills the silence in Stein Auditorium (India Habitat Centre) with noise. The man on the stage – obviously a burglar who entered stealthily – feels compelled to attend to the call. Imagine what happens next. The caller turns out to be the burglar’s wife!

This Dario Fo comedy directed by Avijit Dutt (who also essayed the role of the Burglar) and presented by Yatrik Theatre Group thus gains momentum. This is a story of a simple burglar who gets caught in the plans devised and crafted by the members of the elite class. While the Man (Sunit Tondon) of the house uses the burglar to hide his extra-marital affair with the Woman (Vandana Kilim Datta), who agrees to be introduced as the burglar’s wife to save herself from the embarrassment of being caught in an illicit relationship.

Anna’s (Shibani Bedi) arrival in the scene not just gives jitters to the man who fears being caught by her, but also imparts another layer of comedy to the script. Though it is difficult to dismiss the impending arrival of the burglar’s wife (essayed excellently by Swaroopa Ghosh), one is in for a shock to discover that even Anna has a lover – Antonio (Pranay Manchanda) who is also the Woman’s husband!

The confusion in the play, as to who is whose wife and lover is presented with such ease that a viewer ends up enjoying the pace of story-telling. Also, the veterans – Dutt, Tondon and Ghosh deal with their characters with great finesse, leaving the audience to whole-heartedly enjoy the clean comedy. Though there is a reference to homosexuality
towards the fag end, it too induces hilarity. 

Execution of certain scenes on the stage such as the Burglar entering through the wooden window, his hiding in the old grandfather clock, wearing a mask to prove he is a thief, earn appreciation and praise for the direction and set design. Though the credit for the script goes to the

legendary Dario Fo, the precision in delivery of dialogues penned by him goes to the cast, especially Swaroopa Ghosh whose get-up and mannerisms evoke much laughter. Also, when Dutt sings the last name of his character (Tornate) to teach others its correct pronunciation, after having reminded them about it many a times, is completely hilarious.

It is largely the timing that works for this performance which creditably fulfils the objective of eliciting laughter.  The presentation, like the script, is short, crisp and apt, making one admit that classics always work wonders!