The political satire House Arrest by Anwar Maqsood serves as a breath of fresh air to a population that seems starved for entertainment....
THEATRE
The political satire House Arrest by Anwar Maqsood serves as a breath of fresh air to a population that seems starved for entertainment. Stricken with stress and uncertainty, people of the city flocked to the Pakistan National Council of Arts to immerse in the art of play and theatre.
As you walk in, you’re already awestruck by the walls of the building. The aura of this place, traversing all kinds of art, seems to not only scintillate the senses, but it serves as a much-needed break from dullness and routine.
As the lights dim and the play starts, what you see is a room inhabited by old women who are 75 and 80 years of age. Bound within the walls where no one visits them and they go nowhere, the name aptly describes their predicament: house arrest.
What may seem on the outside like a struggle of “me and mine” between the women and their so-called son and daughter in law, on a deeper level it reflects our daily struggle.
The urge to own things, to keep them in possession. To never be satiated. To always gauge who is better than the other.
The merit for success is money and authority. Whoever has their name on the house gate is the one in charge. And how many futile fights have we fought trying to prove we're in charge or that we are in power?
That said, the story lingers, with multiple people visiting these ladies – a robber, a hockey player, a retired police officer, and a judge – each depicting the sad state of affairs of our society where the nation is duped by leaders in the name of change.
The house metaphorically represents our country, with each visitor representing the stakeholders. We see how each robs this country and its people and then portrays it in a different light. The way the play subtly and humorously makes these points palatable is a testament to Anwar Maqsood sahab’s talent and intellect.
A truly engrossing moment was a sequence of fighting between the women and the daughter in law; their craft, practice, and timing were not only spellbinding, but they also left the audience in fits. It represented the tussle between the old and new, how the one who is young thinks they are entitled to the heirlooms and the older ones feel insecure enough to never let go for another’s benefit. The one who is widowed still remembers their beloved in dreams, talking about what could have been. This sequence happened in the background of music that not only gave weight to the feelings and emotions but was a perfect blend of classic and contemporary, which made the play relatable across generations.
All in all, House Arrest is something worth watching for it gives life a humorous element all the while softly pinching the ache of reality. It makes the big things seem small in perspective and gives the audience a chance to romanticise life once again.
