Immanuel Kant

What is the position of a true intellectual in society? What treatment does he receive in the materialistic world? The dramatist Thomas Bernhard, in his playImmanuel Kant, is of the view that the philosophers do not get their due. Not only that, they face negligence, dishonour and deception.

The play is a landmark: it is the first time that Austrian contemporary novelist-playwright Thomas Bernhard's drama has been staged in Bangladesh. Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT) in co-operation with Goethe-Institute Dhaka, staged Immanuel Kant, translated by Nurul Huda, on December 4 at the Goethe-Institut auditorium.

Before the show, Dr Markas Litz, Director of Goethe-Institute Dhaka, briefed the audience on the play. He described Immanuel Kant as a surrealistic work. There is a variation between reality and fiction. In fact, German philosopher Immanuel Kant had never gone outside the German city of Königsberg. However, in his theatrical fantasy, Thomas has presented Kant in a ship travelling to USA, to receive an honorary Doctorate degree from Colombia University as well as for a glaucoma surgery on his eye.

Director and designer of the play Kamaluddin Nilu said, 'The play is an experimental production. Visual script reading on the stage is a popular art form in the West to introduce a tough play or a new dramatist. I have applied the performing art form here to introduce the Austrian playwright's drama in Bangladesh.'

Bernhard, in the play, has presented Immanuel Kant, the 18th century German philosopher (1724- 1804) as the backdrop of the USA's attack on Cambodia in 1970. In Immanuel Kant, the protagonist travels in a ship to the USA along with his wife, a servant and a parrot that memorises the philosophical discourse delivered by Kant. Through the dialogues of Kant with other ordinary people on the board, Bernhard has presented the innate evil instincts of human beings as well as the web of deception that traps a thoughtful man in society.

As director, Nilu lent his unique professional touch to the production. Each of his performers read the script. Through outstanding choreography, with background music and symbolic light effects, director Nilu, created a ship on the empty stage. Shamima Aktar, in the role of the parrot, performed exceptionally well.

For theatre goers, Immanuel Kant was a unique departure from the run of the mill theatre production.