Question

28. Discuss the central themes of GirishKarad'splay, "The Fire and the Rain.
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Answer 1

Answer:

PLAY DC: THE FIRE AND THE RAIN @ SOURCE

BYT at largeBYT AT LARGEMAY 6, 2015

THEATRE & DANCE 13 MIN READ

By Molly Cox

It’s been a long time since I saw a show that kept me on the edge of my seat, but the combination of a time-tested, tragic tale and the sensory spectacle that is The Fire and The Rain by the Constellation Theatre Company has revived my child-like enthusiasm for theatre. Inspired by the Indian epic The Mahabharata, The Fire and the Rain was written by celebrated Indian playwright Girish Karnad. He brought to life the essence of a dramatic story told centuries before Shakespeare was born. The North American premiere of this play is directed by Allison Arkell Stockman, performed at the Source theater.

The themes in The Fire and the Rain are as old as time- sacrificing for the one you love, the search for God, the greed for power, and family betrayal. At the center of the story are two innocents- the star crossed lovers Arvasu (Dallas Tolentino) and Nittilai (Lynette Rathnam). Though born to the highest caste (Brahmin), Arvasu is desperately in love with and determined to marry Nittilai, who is of a lower caste (Hunter). Arvasu has an artistic, gentle nature, and wants nothing more than to be an actor. Unfortunately, he is victimized throughout the story. He is blamed for murders he didn’t commit, and then (to add insult to injury) he has to cremate the all the dead bodies. His brother Paravasu (Michael Kevin Darnall) is the head priest of the seven-year-long fire ritual, which ironically is supposed to bring rain to the parched countryside. Although he seems mild mannered and humble at first, Paravasu is really a psycho who is trying gain immortality by any means necessary. Arvasu and Paravasu’s father (Jonathon Church) is also power hungry, and his bitter hatred for pretty much everyone he meets brings the whole family to despair.