A scene from the playPhoto: STAR

TROILUS and Cressida are two minor characters in the epic Iliad. However, through the tragic love story between the characters, Shakespeare, in his play Troilus and Cressida, has delivered an anti-war message.
Troilus and Cressida is widely regarded as one of Shakespeare's more difficult and rarely staged plays. The play has some comic elements, yet it's more tragedy than comedy. Rooted in the decade-long Trojan War, the play centres on a love story.
In the play, the comic character Thersites satires the ongoing war between the Trojans and Greeks, calling the heroes “lechers” who quarrel over each other's wives.
Popular theatre troupe Nagorik Natyasampradaya staged Syed Shamsul Haq's translation of Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida with the same title.
The play opens with a mourning procession for a Trojan hero, who died while battling the Greeks, to indicate that a war is going on.
But romance is in the air -- between Trojan prince Troilus and Cressida, daughter of the Trojan seer Calchas, who, sensing the disaster awaiting the city, has fled to the Greek camp.
The conflict between the rival camps is at a stalemate and dissension is growing in both camps. The Greek hero, Achilles, is growing increasingly arrogant and insubordinate. In Troy, whose massive walls and towers continue to defy the opponents, argument is brewing over the merits of keeping the beautiful Helen -- abducted by the Trojan prince Paris -- in the city.
The open invitation from the Trojan hero Hector, for one-on-one combats, stirs the Greek camp.
It must have been challenging for director Ataur Rahman to stage a play with so many complex actions. And he has aptly managed pull it off except the war scenes. The duels did not display enough vigour.
However, the young actors of Nagorik have clearly benefited from Ataur Rahman's guidance in delivering Syed Shamsul Haq's translation of Shakespearean lines in the proper rhythm.
A wooden circle in the centre, with two galleries at both sides -- the set falls short when staging the actions of love, politics, conspiracy and more, supposedly taking place in the palace, battleground and camp. Set designer Faiz Zahir could have kept the stage empty.
Tutul Ahmed's costumes for the Trojans and Greeks deserve plaudits and Amlan Biswas's light design is simple but effective.
Omar Ayaz Oni has the physique for playing Troilus. His acting and delivery are precise and spirited. His performance is well matched with Tania Hossain as Cressida.
In the Greek camp, Raziv Dey's portrayal of the scheming Ulysses stands out. With convincing vigour and sophistication, Dey delivers his difficult lines.
Pantho Shahriar as Hector gave a bold performance, Yousuf Russell is also a perfect cast for the Achilles character.
The dialogues between Pantho as Hector and Yousuf Russell as Achilles and Dey's Ulysses are the most effective and remarkable parts of the play.
Harunur Rashid, as Ajax, struts and preens to comic effect. M. Fakruzzaman Chowdhury as the mangy, scab-scarred Thersites, is a good entertainer.
Troilus and Cressida was staged on December 8 at the Experimental Theatre Stage.