Mang amasung Taibang
- A Soloist's Journey into Women's World -

Rajmani Ayekpam *

A solo performance in theatre is the ultimate test for a theatre artiste. Even though a theatre artiste is popular for his/her performance on stage but he/she may not be successful as a soloist. So, few theatre artists attempted solo performance. Once if success as a soloist he/she is regarded at the highest level in theatre circle.

Mayengbam Reena is the last female actor till date in the history of Manipuri theatre who entered into this realm as a soloist. Few predecessors like Y Romola, AK Sobita and Apana Devi attempted as a soloist. Among them AK Sobita was the most successful as a soloist.

Her performance in the play 'Hayeng-gi Nupi' (Tomorrow's Women) as a soloist was the talk of the town when it staged on MDU Hall in first time. It was praised even at New Delhi when it staged in the National theatre Festival organised by National School of Drama. Unfortunately, no male actor till now attempted as a soloist in the history of Manipuri theatre.

Mayengbam Reena's solo performance of Mang amasung Taibang in connection with felicitation ceremony of Critics Forum Manipur held on 10th July, 2010 is an attempt on journey into the women's world. A piece of solo theatrical production is based on Keisham Priyokumar's, short story, Mang amasung Taibang, who is Sahitya Akademic award winner. Though the story is a literary piece but it is more in sociological study. The world of Manipuri women is so complicated and vast so it's difficult to explore it.

The story of the play is about Thoibi, a simple village girl. She loves her village passionately. Those field, lake, river and small hills are the playground of the village, her parents and younger brother are best love for her. In order to get better education she resided at her aunt's residence at Imphal. Gradually she had adaptation with atmosphere of Imphal City. With her adolescence's beauty she married with rich son of her aunt's neighbour who was an engineer.

Unfortunately, the groom was a HIV positive. The catastrophe of the marriage was to shatter her dream of enjoying aristocratic life style of higher echelon. One by one, she departed her beloved husband and son. She was becoming a point of dislike and hatred for society and family.

Without any sign of psychiatric symptom she became a psychiatric patient. She stopped at every corner of room and always confined to her room. Who's fault for this tragic experience? She has to remain in her room till her last breadth. So, dream and real world is the same to her.

Generally, a solo performance is done with a director or designer and lot of back stage artistes. In case of Reena, dramatisation, concept, design & director are centered around one person, Reena, the solo performer. Some technical sides like light (L Ibochou), Make-up (Ch Kunjeshwor), Music (Y Rajen), Stage helpers (Th Premit, Buncha, Henry, Thoiba), set & properties (M Reena) supported the play. Some part of the play properties like puppet and other properties filled up vacuum left by a second or third artiste.

Manipuri woman has more freedom than other siblings of Indian women but has more responsibility to do for family and society. While she is the sole responsible for maintaining day to day household duty she is responsible for protection of their sons and husbands from security forces.

On the other hand, she may not be able to issue children to the family she may be treated as an outcast because she may not be able to bring good luck to the family. In a Manipuri family, women are the most important persons. The performance of Reena was slow and rhythmic but graceful. Even some of the acting and body movement have forgotten us that she was acting as a solo performance.

The net used in the play beautifully signified restrain world of the contemporary Manipuri women. Reena tried to capture every aspect of Manipuri women's life within a short solo performance of thirty minutes. I think Reena's attempt was successful. She can draw the attention of audience till the end of play. Music and props of the play helped Reena's performance successfully.

Any Manipuri male actor never attempted any solo performance till date. People want to see male solo performance but Manipuri male actors are inferior in solo performance in comparison with their female counterparts. Manipuri women take more responsibility for both society and theatre than men folk. The torch bearer of women folk is the best example of Manipuri women's responsibility to society.

Though Reena's performance was a successful one but it has a room for improvement. Energy is one of the most essential qualities for a solo performance. Reena needs to energise during her performance. She needs to coordinate with stage properties with her body movement.

Music is another medium of story telling for theatrical piece so it's needed to improve music of the play. Editing part has to improve because it controlled flow of the play. Even though things are there Reena's latest attempt as solo performance is commendable.