Rustic entertainers

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