Manav Kaul's new play LAAL PENCIL is an outcome of an intense and rigorous three month rehearsal process in an attempt to discover a new form of storytelling. It has a beautiful blend of rhythm and movement supported by excellent teamwork and a soulful script. Each and every aspect of theatre is carefully worked upon to create this visually enchanting piece.
The play is about a little girl who is isolated and ignored by everybody. While everyone in her class has a dream or a talent, Pinky is subdued and confused. She has no friends apart from 'Bapu' and is almost non- existent to the people around. However, the red pencil that falls from nowhere changes her life for good. The pencil gives her the ability to write poetry. On discovering this talent she is immediately accepted into the group. She becomes a celebrity with her poems gaining popularity among her class mates and the school faculty. She is very happy with her new found stardom until she realises the truth. The 'Laal Pencil' is the real hero and without it she is still an average girl. Despite knowing the truth she is tempted by this 'Laal Pencil'. Renouncing it would mean giving up her stardom and returning to her boring and lonely life.
The playwright makes brilliant use of metaphors and symbols. 'Bapu', Pinky's only friend is a symbol of truth while the 'Laal Pencil' is falsehood, desire and temptation. Every time she writes a poem the size of the pencil increases, thus her desire increases. However, she moves away from truth. Her friendless world before finding the pencil is the difficult and lonely path of truth. Whether to take this difficult path or to continue her joyride of pleasure and achievement based on a lie is the central conflict of the play.
The play opens with a heap of blank papers lying randomly on the stage floor covering the entire space. The light reflecting from it has a stylish effect. Also the director uses a white backdrop to divide the space. A certain part of it is lifted during some scenes to make it into a screen. This space at the back (upstage) is then used to represent different locations while the front space (downstage) remains the classroom throughout. Synchronised movements are used throughout the play to communicate the character's lives.
The actors do a fantastic job of holding the play together. Their timing is perfect all the way through. The movement, dance and speech are expressed with great energy, co-ordination and physical control. The lighting wonderfully blends in to create and enhance a mood or to help make transitions from one scene to the next. The form of the play at times overpowers the content and that slackens the pace a bit.
Manav Kaul has tried to create a new form and a new language which is truly original and entertaining. With 'Laal Pencil' he tries to make the children think and explore various layers to reach the underlying message. It is a play which will stay with you and grow on you long after you have left the auditorium.
*Sudeep Modak is a young theatre person with interests in other media. He has worked with Ramu Ramanathan, Chandan Roy Sanyal and has done production work for THE PROPHET by Naseeruddin Shah's theatre group Motley, amongst other things. He is currently acting in Suyog's revived production of SAKKHE SHEJARI, written and directed by Sai Paranjpe.
Manav Kaul's new play LAAL PENCIL is an outcome of an intense and rigorous three month rehearsal process in an attempt to discover a new form of storytelling. It has a beautiful blend of rhythm and movement supported by excellent teamwork and a soulful script. Each and every aspect of theatre is carefully worked upon to create this visually enchanting piece. 
