KATHMANDU: Voko Ghar, a famous one-act play by playwright Govinda Bahadur Malla ‘Gothale’, examines the psychology of a family bearing the tortures brought about by poverty. This very story about the victims of poverty was staged at the Russian Culture Centre on December 28 by the Shaili Theatre group.

Voko Ghar is the story of Narbahadur’s family; they are so poor that they have to go without food for many days. Narbahadur has been fired from his job and there are frequent quarrels between him and his wife Mandira. She is tired of her husband’s inability to fulfil even the basic needs of the family. With nothing to eat in house, she impatiently waits to be invited for feasts by her neighbours. Though aware of his family’s condition Rajendra, the eldest son, tries to distract himself from reality by either reading books on socialism or listening

to fairy tales told by his

sister Sarita. As for Sarita, dreaming about being a princess is the way she tries to hide from the harsh reality of her life.

Director Nawaraj Budhathoki has been successful in depicting the playwright’s attempt of highlighting the psycho-analysis of the poverty stricken characters. Though based on a serious theme, a couple of light moments inserted between the serious ones have prevented the play from becoming monotonous.

Describing his method, Budhathoki said, “Some situations, dialogues and languages have been modified so as to make it relevant to the present situation.”

As for the actors, Akash Magar is perfect as Narbahadur, a man who is more interested in gossiping than doing anything to solve the crisis that his family is in. He is equally good in both serious and comic scenes.

All the other actors have also done justice to their roles be it Shanti Giri as Mandira, Manju Devkota as Sarita, Manas Raj as Rajendra and Kedar Shrestha in the role of Tanka Prasad, the money lender.