A steep rise in the prices of essential commodities in Italy in the 1970s provoked Dario Fo to script the political satire, Non Si Paga? Non Si Paga! (Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!). Fo, a master of subversion, attempted a dissection of the structural violence unleashed by a capitalist system. The looting of a supermarket becomes the starting point. How the working class, along with a policeman, responds to it forms the backbone of Fo’s farce, written within the ecosystem of commedia dell’arte. Two Bengali adaptations of this play offered fresh perspectives.
In Nandipat’s Pet-E Case (the title is a brilliant wordplay), Bismoy Roy’s intelligent adaptation retained the Italian backdrop but gave Bengali names to the major characters: Anandi (Monalisa Chattopadhyay), Goutam (Biplab Naha Biswas) and Mallika (Titas). The intercultural streak was cemented with the latter’s husband being given a Christian name, Lawrence (Silajit Naskar). Bimal Chakraborty, the director, skilfully reworked the slapstick methods and played around with “Bella ciao” (translated into Bengali by Debayudh Chattopadhyay), making the actors and the chorus gyrate joyously to the playback. Pet-E Case had its rib-tickling moments, but failed to hit the bull’s eye. The 105-minute duration may be pruned. Chattopadhyay and Soumitra Poddar playing the policeman portrayed the joie de vivre well, while Sandip Suman Bhattacharya impressed in the cameo of a coffin-vendor.
Berhampore-based Saidabad Nabin Natya Sanstha’s adaptation, Oto Dite Parbo Na (picture), transplanted Fo’s text to contemporary Bengal. Credit goes to the director, Partha Pratim — he also designed a spartan set with hanging blow-ups of currency notes — for infusing the youthful production with political intent, complete with smart references to the lumpenisation of public spaces. A lilting musical score, supported by zany choreography, works in the favour of this 70-minute surprise package. The main actors, Pinki Roy, Sandipa Chatterjee, Pratik Sardar, the director himself and the veteran, Tuphanendra Krishna Kaunch, responded merrily to the design, bringing the house down.
