New Delhi, 08 June (H.S.):

The National School of Drama (NSD) will present the final performance of “Mr. Thief?” on Tuesday, a production performed by second-year students of the institution.

According to NSD, the Hindi adaptation of Nobel Prize-winning Italian playwright Dario Fo’s celebrated play “The Virtuous Burglar” has received widespread appreciation from audiences. The adaptation, musical conception and direction of the production have been undertaken by theatre artist Ishtiyaq Khan.

The play revolves around a burglar who enters the house of a wealthy man with the intention of committing a theft. However, what follows is a chain of misunderstandings and unexpected events that creates a highly entertaining comic situation. The arrival of the homeowner with his lover, followed by the appearance of his wife, the burglar’s own wife and several other characters, triggers a series of humorous complications and chaotic situations on stage.

Beyond its comedic appeal, the play also offers a sharp satire on marital infidelity, social hypocrisy and the double standards of the upper classes. Through its engaging narrative, the production highlights how supposedly respectable members of society struggle to conceal their secrets, while the straightforwardness of an ordinary thief exposes their contradictions and moral pretensions.

The success of the production has also been supported by the efforts of the backstage team. Costume design for the play has been created by Deepankar Paul, while sound design has been handled by Sandy Singh. The lighting design has been developed by Divyang Srivastava, and stage design responsibilities have been carried out by Shraddha Biswas and Niloy Dey.

Presented as part of NSD’s ongoing theatre activities, the final performance of the play will be staged on June 9 at approximately 7:00 p.m. at the Abhimanch Auditorium in Mandi House, New Delhi.

Admission for the audience will be free of charge on the day of the final performance.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar