Rustic entertainers
By pkroutray
- 805 reads
Rustic Entertainers
Entertainment of modern day
with casinos, multiplexes’ play
a man can relax and enjoy at his will sweet
opting from options galore for the treat
But seven decades back dreamt we this never
being from a remote village under rural cover.
But over the years the villagers find avenues
the live displays of many acts, them to amuse
bull dance horse dance, open pandal opera play,
snakes’ charmers’ daredevil display
also traditional and ritual celebrations
with their songs and music attractions.
Those live displays of rustic shows
with modernity -.stroke have vanished now.
Then as a child
with joy I was getting wild
when an entertainer
be it a horse or a bull dancer
carrying frames of horse or bull
a good crowd those used to pull,
or doll dancers with fairy-like wings
dancing with masks of heavenly beings
or a bamboo queen dancing on a rope hanging high
or a magician with magic tricks hoodwinking an eye
or a monkey dancer with many monkeys around
to dance to his voice and musical sound.
Awed me and took my breath away
the snake charmer's unnerving snake-play.
An entertainer with a bioscope box fancied me
Through its peephole moving pictures, I could see.
Enjoyed,I the villagers’ music and drum beats
dancing with devotion on village streets
with prayers and chanting
from listeners’ hearts devotions spring.
Amongst all those fancied I most
the open-stage opera, my villagers host
Performed are those by groups, professional
For the village, this was an event annual.
Their charges villagers negotiate to pay
that varies depending on the duration of play
and the rating of their performances
and the market price the party fetches.
The opera party has around sixty members or so
to stage the play manage all departments of the show
actings on the stage, the music in rhythm with actions
and all other jobs so that the opera successfully runs.
A pandal as a stage seating and lighting arrangement
boarding lodging of the group are villagers’ management
Starts the opera after the midnight
ends when darkness is repelled by the sunlight.
The drama has a story with scenes of tears and laughter
dances and songs with hero heroine villain and joker
backed by many performing nonperforming actors
musical group, scene setters, dressers, and prompters,
a master performing the role of director as of today.
Then female roles the males used to play
with ladies’ make-up and fancy garments
appearing like ladies with glittering ornaments.
on different might different play perform they.
Mostly for a few nights, they are contracted to stay.
The themes by and large center around a story
from religious epics, fiction, or from the pages of history
adding to it the flavor of fun and tragedy to dramatize
to bring out from the audience laughter and sighs
Ptermqax lights are hung around to illuminate
with decoration around a festive look, these create.
Some volunteers on their own come out to assist
they ensure everything everywhere runs right.
the open-air stage has no screen
to hide the acts supposed not to be seen
the end of a scene or carrying a dead away
the audience has to ignore anything out of the play.
But the premise is too high for children to assimilate.
Confused remain they and with others they debate.
Around the four sides of the stage sit the viewers
leaving a passage from the green room stage for actors
Children take it as a festive occasion,
expedite, they, their evening lesson,
manage to get parental permission,
with early dinner to the arena they run.
Some make a fuss over parental prevention
with tears seek grandma's elderly persuasion.
with the best of their dresses looking smart
arrive they, much before the scenes start
to play and gossip with friends under illumination
enjoying the time with frolic and fun.
Some start dozing before the start of the opera shows
some sleep on the carpets breaking their vows
that they will watch the opera throughout the night
and scene by scene the total scenes they can cite.
But on seats meant for the audience, sleep soundly they all
for making space, for elders, do not respond to any call.
Some after seeing the killings and murders on stage
and the bitter sword war, violence on a rampage
get scared at the murder and the death scene
and dead bodies carried away to a place, unseen.
the fearsome ammunition as weapons on stage
and the sword battles the actor's wage
frightened some to run back to home to sleep
and some in their grandma’s arms weep.
At this advanced age weep I too
losing those entertainers that modern man may boo..
P K Routray
in the service if the Lord
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Comments
wonderful descriptions! Such
wonderful descriptions! Such rich experiences you had, thankyou so much for sharing
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The Entertainer.
'An interesting take on arts and entertainment through the ages.' Great Poetry!
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