Let Me Out: The tale of a determined mother

Tarua staged the seventh show of their play, Let Me Out, at Mahila Samiti yesterday. Based on true events, the play is written by Runa Kanchon and directed by Bakar Bokul.

It takes place in the city of Los Angeles in 1928. The city's police department has gained notoriety for its 'gun squad', used to murder anyone who dared stand against them.

Runa Kanchan, the writer, also essays the role of Christine Collins, a determined mother searching for her lost son. However, when the police find a random child and claim him to be Christine's son, her struggle to get her real son back begins. It is a tale of a mother's frustrations and woes, amidst the complexities of the society. As Christine fruitlessly tries to convince the police that the child they found is not hers, the number of people dying by their bullets increase. Ibarrah, another police officer, is haunted by the crimes he has committed. The lives of characters become even grimmer, as the story unfolds.

Things take a different turn when the Father of a church decides to help Christine to save the city from destruction. Bakar Bokul, the director, essays the role of the righteous lawyer, Han, in the play.

Even though Let Me Out takes place around a hundred years ago, the story is relevant to modern times. The lack of accountability of the authorities, the extrajudicial murders and the oppression are some of the many things in the play that people can find relatable.

 "I wanted people to realise how terrifying these extrajudicial killings are", said Runa Kanchan. "My objective was to show how the lack of accountability affects the public, through Christine and her struggles."

Other cast members of the play include Sohel Mondol, Tahsin Ahmed Ifti, Ishtiaq Hossein and Shahnaz Zahan among others.