The Theatre Troupe Comes To Town

One late evening, Ahanlem was watering the aromatic herbs that she had planted in her garden.

She was humming a tune as she tended to the little plants quite tenderly when Naoba came skipping onto their courtyard and said excitedly,

"Ah, Ahanlem got great news! Where's Tomba? Still working in the field?"

Ahanlem turned to her friend and said, "Yes, he's probably there. What news you have?"

"Oh, it's the best this town has heard in ages!" Naoba answered with his eyes lit up like stars.

"Better be good this time!" a voice shouted from across. Both of them turned at the same time to see Tomba had entered, who was rubbing the sweat off his face with a small cloth. He added,

"Oi, if it's another prank, I'll kick you! My back still hurts from that beating from your grumpy old man for that prank you and Chaoba pulled on him! No way this time! Never!"

This was what they had been doing for the past days; playing pranks, fooling around and other silly things. Ahanlem was usually the type who was not fond of such but after getting involved in all those life endangering situations, they somehow became a welcome change to her.

And besides, it helped to keep her away from the lonely, terrifying fact that she was more than an era away from her timeline.

Naoba continued, "Ah Tomba, calm down my boy, I admit it hurts but you know past is past. Leave it, will you?'

"Right, let's us hear what he has to say." Ahanlem joined in, pausing her task.

"Easy for you to say, you ran away so fast and didn't get beaten, hmph." Tomba said looking unpleased.

Naoba laughed. He said, "Alright, alright! Let me give you the news now!"

"Go on." Ahanlem told him. She has been curious for a while now.

"Well then, let me tell you, the Nongbal Shumang Leela Lup has come to our town!" Naoba finally said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Words from my old man and Kaka Pishak says that this group is very good! And they are performing the beautiful ballad drama Sandrembi, which was showcased in the King's parlour last month! Isn't it great?!" Naoba added looking enthusiastic.

"Eh? When? Where?" Tomba was getting excited too.

"It will start tonight and it's going to be played for three nights! The complete ballad! Can you believe it?" the boy was now gushing like anything.

"What?! Why didn't you tell me before about this?" Tomba asked.

"Well, I heard they only arrived yesterday and it wasn't confirmed until now. Anyway, have your meals early and come to the Mayai Sangoi at seven, okay? The earlier the better, I'll be off now!"

"Got it! Ahanlem and I'll be there soon!"

-

And just as planned, Tomba and Ahanlem set out to the Mayai Sangoi community hall, after a hasty but hearty meal.

Summer had begun, so the nights had turned warmer. Regardless, Ahanlem had a light shawl over her body to feel a bit secure about herself.

Soon, they could make out lights of two bonfires shining in the distance. As they drew closer, they saw that the huge bonfires were positioned opposite each other on the far end, on either sides of the Mayai Sangoi, which was going to be centre stage for the night. The only other light that shone over it was the generous moonlight from the sky.

Shumang leela was a traditional form of theatre. It is arranged outdoor, usually in an open air space where the audience sat on all sides surrounding the stage. And the theatre group was comprised of only male artists who skillfully depict both genders in their plays. It is a very popular and beloved form of art where the theatre troupe travels about places and acts on trendy stories.

The Mayai Sangoi stage was decorated with yellow cloth attached and designed onto the bamboo ceilings, their long ends were flowing above the ground across all four corners. The stage was also adorned with huge, beautiful flowers of all kinds. Their sweet smelling fragrance wafting in the nightly breeze delighted as well as anticipated the people for the show about to happen.

The audience all sat around the three sides of the stage. Every pair of eyes was locked on the two long curtains covering the backstage where the actors were getting ready.

As Ahanlem and Tomba came forward, they saw the twins who were standing a little away from the stage. They greeted as soon as they saw each other.

"Finally, you both are here. We waited for ages." Chaoba grumbled.

"Let's sit. The play is going to begin." Naoba said as he gestured for all of them to sit at the spot he saved for them. Then, they laid the straw mat and finally sat down.

Right at the moment, a well built man carrying a pung came out. He grasp hold of the musical instrument with his strong hands, it was also supported with a thick white cloth strap over his neck. The man stood elegantly and beat the pung. Dong! Dong!

Then, he began in a loud and clear baritone,

"To the valued audience that came to see our humble play! First of all, we give our respect and appreciation!" saying so, the man gave a bow to which the audience applauded and returned the bow.

He continued in his clear but thunderous voice,

"We are now going to present the beloved drama of Sandrembi! Please enjoy!"

Dong! Dong!

The storyteller started, "Thaina Mamangeida! There live in a humble abode, a good man and his two wives--"

As the story was foretold, the curtains were raised as the actors came out to play in harmony to the story teller words', who went to sit on his straw mat in a visible corner.

As the drama progressed, Ahanlem was enraptured, Shumang leela was a tradition known and loved even at her time. And Sandrembi was a tale which tells of the life of the fair maiden Sandrembi,

whose mother was murdered by her jealous stepmother after the father died, then the poor girl was mistreated by both the woman and her daughter. Then, one day as she was going to fetched water with a rusty pot and a shabby dress with her stepsister, she caught the eye of the prince of the land.

The smitten prince requested for a sip of water from Sandrembi but the maiden, shy and ashamed of herself, refused and instead proposed him to drink from the new pot of her well dressed stepsister, Cheisra.

However, the disheartened prince left without drinking any water.

Back at home, Cheisra narrated the story to her mother. The next day, the sisters went to fetch water as usual but this time, Cheisra carried the rusty pot and was dressed in the shabby clothes of her sister. While Sandrembi was made to wear the pretty clothes and carry the new pot of her sister by her stepmother.

In the new attire, Sandrembi looked so lovely that when the prince came, he caught her by the waist and carried her off on his horse to his palace where they soon got married.

Her stepsister was burned with envy at her sister's fortune, her stepmother too felt angry that her foolish plan to make her daughter seduce the prince failed. Both mother and child began to scheme wickedly.

Sandrembi was adored by the prince who had become the king. She then gave birth to a healthy heir and the kingdom celebrated the happy occasion greatly. One day, her stepmother and stepsister came to the palace and invited Sandrembi for a meal at their home. She was reluctantly allowed by her husband, so she went to her old home dressed in her royal attire.

Later, when it was time to go home, her stepsister asked to try on her expensive dress and gold ornaments once. Sandrembi who was kind agreed to the demand but as time went by, her sister refused to give it back. At her insistence, Cheisra gave the clothes but threw the dress and ornaments under the bed and told Sandrembi to fetch it herself.

Sandrembi naively went under the bed to get them but the wicked mother and daughter poured boiling hot water on her. Sandrembi immediately died from the shock and pain. But her soul turned into a pigeon and flew away.

Meanwhile, her stepmother who plotted the whole murder dressed her daughter in the rich, royal attire of Sandrembi who went back to the palace disguised as her. When the king saw his wife, he asked her how she became so ugly all of a sudden. Cheisra who was pretending, answered that when she went home she started mourning for her dead mother which was why she had appeared so ugly.

Days went passed, one day at the king's garden, a lonely pigeon sat on a tree and everyday it sang a sad song about a king whose wife was murdered and replaced, and forgotten by him. The king who heard the song, went to the garden where the bird flew into his hand and then he kept it inside a cage. He also saw a dream where Sandrembi came and told him that after seven days she will turn back to her human form.

But her wicked stepsister seeing that the king started doting on the pigeon, killed and ate the bird while the king was away. When he got home, he was furious and scolded the woman who cried and said that the bird tried to hurt their son and so she killed it.

The remains of the bird were left on the ground in the garden, later it grew upto a beautiful papaya tree. It bore a big ripe fruit in time which the gardener picked and took it home to eat.

But every time he tried to eat he couldn't find either the fruit or the knife. This went on for seven days until one day when the gardener came home he was surprised to find a beautiful lady cooking his food in his kitchen.

The woman was none other than Sandrembi who has been resurrected into her human form, she told him her story and the gardener touched by her tale escorted her right away to the palace.

There, before the king and his men, the two women were made to fight a duel to determine who the real wife of the king was. They were both given the swords of justice. Cheisra struck first but nothing happened to Sandrembi but when she struck the imposter, she died immediately.

Sandrembi having won, was finally reunited with her husband and child. And the family lived happily ever after.

This was a folktale that everybody knew and love growing up. It wasn't any different here. They were even actually making a live performance here.

Dong! Dong!

The storyteller beat the pung and captured the attention of the audience. It was time for the star of the night to make entrance.

Sandrembi stepped out from the curtains gracefully.

Powdered face, painted eyes and red tinted lips.

The audience watched breathless at her loveliness. It was hard to believe the person was a man and not a woman.

The actor playing Sandrembi, portrayed her character beautifully and charmingly.

The audience was utterly and deeply rooted by the end of the play. They wept along with Sandrembi who cried silently while her mother died for the second time after she was resurrected as a turtle, then was boiled alive.

"Alas, my mother is no more, they have killed her, no, I have killed her... hic... hic..."

Sandrembi sobbed pitifully. The scene accompanied by the sad melancholic music of the pena instrument was heart aching.

Dong! Dong!

The play ended.

The storyteller beat his pung and said in conclusion, "Our dear audience, this is all for tonight! Let us meet again tomorrow and partake together in the tale of Sandrembi!" and he bowed gratefully.

The first night was wrapped up successfully. Everyone present applauded with tears, they were charmed by the talent of the actors who were all amazing. They all went home eager to see the second act next time.

The play became the talk of the town very fast. On the secondth night, even more people were present that Ahanlem and her group sat tightly, barely able to see the stage.

The second act was even more brilliant, it was part of the drama where the prince fell head over heels in love for Sandrembi at first sight while she was out to fetch water with her sister Cheisra. And also the scene of the second encounters where the prince carried her away and married her.

"Ah, what a sight to behold you are my love! It feels like a dream to be married to a charming maiden like you!"

"Beloved, it is I who feels lucky to have met you, my prince! The heavens are generous to me to allow me your goodness and your love! I can't help but shed these tears in joy..."

"Oh, don't cry, love of my heart! For we shall spend this lifetime together in blissful matrimony and none shall tear us apart!"

The lovers sang a duet promising an everlasting love for each other.

But the play ended with Sandrembi being murdered by her jealous stepsister and mother when she came to visit home. It was a tragic end again but the act was beyond marvellous and everyone went home satisfied and completely besotted by Sandrembi actor's charm and beauty.

It was to an extent that the whole town kept talking about how Sandrembi's actor, Aheiba was too beautiful to be a man. Even many of the male audience fell in love with how perfectly he played the character.

It was the thirdth and the last night of the ballad drama. And the whole place was packed to the brim, it seemed like the entire town came for that night.

As the last act continued, Sandrembi who had become a pigeon returned to the king's side by her sweet singing but then she was killed and eaten. Then, as she was revived again as a papaya fruit in the king's garden, she was taken home by the gardener. Finally, she returned to her human form and then challenged her stepsister.

"My sister you have wronged me! You deceived my husband and child! A wicked woman like you dared stayed at their side! With this sword of justice, I will strike you and prove my worth!"

The dramatic duel between Sandrembi and Cheisra was met with loud, excited cheers. She won killing the antagonist with a fatal blow. The play ended as Sandrembi was reunited with her beloved family with joyful tears.

The audience favourite part of the performance was Sandrembi's iconic line,

"Alas, I have avenged my mother, myself and reclaimed my rightful place! The path to justice has been arduous and taken a long, long time. But! The heavens who watched us over have shown us that it will come to pass always!"

Dong! Dong!

The beat of the pung signalled the end. The storyteller gave his final speech in his loud, baritone voice which filled the stage like a trumpet,

"To our dear audience, the tale of Sandrembi has ended at last! I hope that this beloved story has reached your hearts much more profoundly than it ever was, through the sheer talent, hard work and dedication of us artists of the humble Nongbal Shumang Leela Lup! Once again, I bow to the audience who has been generous and kind, much grateful! Joi!"

He pressed the palms of his hand together and bowed deeply.

Applause resounded in the air loudly. All the actors came out, pressed their palms together and bow and thank the audience. The ballad drama of Sandrembi ended splendidly and successfully.

Ahanlem herself, was astonished at the entire show. It was more impressive than she expected.

She couldn't help but remember her grandmother. She would have loved it.