Bitter Chocolate was performed by Sutradhar recently in Lamakaan coincided with the fifth anniversary of Lamakaan.The play is based on Pinky Virani’s book by the same name with a compelling theme.
Half-a-dozen actors, including the play’s director Vinay Varma, took up reported instances of child sexual abuse from the book and enacted it in the form of a narrative, each one more graphic and horrifying than the other. It seemed that unbridled paedophilic lust knows no religion or gender as the incidents unfolded of sexual abuse and incest in homes and closed spaces, over nearly an hour.
A few of the artistes seemed totally involved and emotionally affected as they relived the traumas of the characters they chose to portray. The reaction of the audience too was equally empathetic and encouraging.
The crusading role of Pinki Virani – whose book went into its 25th edition, a year and a half ago in 2013 after making its debut in 2000- too came up for praise too.