The Chart Online

India semester comes to theatre
Jeff Reid

Executive/Online Editor

Southern Theatre has found an unusual ally for its upcoming production of Rakshasa s Ring - the Institute of International Studies.

Written by Vishakhadatta, and translated by Michael Coulson, the play will be something very different from traditional plays.

Set in approximately 4000 B.C., Rakshasa s Ring, is a political play which focuses on the deposed Nandas dynasty and its exiled chief minister, Rakshasa. Kautilya, Rakshasa s political opponent, overthrew the Nandas and Rakshasa, and is trying to bring Rakshasa to his side so he may retire from politics and make Rakshasa his successor.

Stacy Harter, senior theatre and speech major, plays Chandanadasa, and is looking forward to the play, for several reasons.

It s just a different style than we re used to here, and part of that is because it is a classical theater piece, Harter said. I m very excited about the play, because it s different, and I think that s good.

Harter also said that while the play is a classical play, it s different from Shakespeare or classical Greek, and people should take that into consideration.

Indian theater has no sense of tragedy, things are always resolved, because that s part of their belief system, Harter said. Also, the play would be put on in order to honor the people involved, not just to entertain the audience. Those are just some of the differences of Indian drama.

Another special feature of the play is the guest director, Lina Khoury, who completed her Master s of Fine Arts from the University of Arkansas in May 2002, and will be making her directorial debut with the play.

I hadn t met the designers or actors before, but everybody has been really cool, and really helpful, Khoury said. Everything is running smooth, and it feels very professional, even though it s in a college environment.

Khoury said this is the first play she hasn t been nervous about, and that seems like a good sign to her.

I m not losing sleep or anything, it s more of a curiosity of how everything is going to look when it gets out in front of the audience, she said.

One of the biggest challenges for both the director and the actors, has been overcoming the age of the play, which was originally written in Sanskrit.

It s very difficult trying to overcome the age of the play, Khoury said, but if you do your homework, and do the research, then things will start to make sense. You have to work hard to make it interesting to your current audience. But, I also want to keep the Indian theme and feel to it.

The play opens Wednesday and runs through Nov. 16. Show time is at 7:30 p.m. in the Bud Walton Theatre, and tickets may be reserved by calling 625-3190. It is an all-ages show and free to Missouri Southern students, faculty and staff members.