ISLAMABAD: Students from the National University of Medical Sciences performed an adaptation of Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus on the third day of the Youth Drama Festival 2017, held at the National Art Gallery on Sunday.

Titled Dr Salahuddin, the hour-long performance discussed the devil inside man, and followed the titular character Dr Salahuddin as Satan overwhelms his conscience and exploits his weaknesses.

According to the lead actor Awais Farooq: “The play highlights the endless desires of an unsatisfied man. The role was challenging because I had to play several characters – a singer, a danger, a scientist etc.”

Prior to the performance of Dr Salahuddin, students from the Federal Urdu University Islamabad paid tribute to the playwright Dr Ashfaq Ahmed with an hour-long play titled Mata-i-Gharoor.

Faiza Akhtar, who directed the performance, said its subject was relevant to current times when authority is blatantly misused.

The play follows an elderly man who reminisces about what he believes was a horrible past, in which he hurt many people by abusing his powers. By the time he realises his actions, it is too late and many homes have been destroyed. Those he trampled upon refuse to forgive him, and he lives with the guilt.

Students from the Federal Urdu University came in third in last year’s festival. However, this year, despite a few solid characters and performances, some audience members criticised the pacing of the play, saying it moved too slowly.

Aqib Iqbal, who was in the audience, said: “We came for a good laugh but the play got boring.”

The third performance of the day, Gor Paya Hor, was directed by Javed Bhatti and explored the worth of man and called upon the audience to respect fellow human beings. Produced by the Aeena Theatre Group Islamabad, it featured mostly budding actors who performed in the Pakistan National Council of the Arts auditorium for the first time.

The play followed Nazia Kanwal, in her role as the lead character, as she searched unsuccessfully for answers to the questions of the Sufi mysic Bulleh Shah.

Despite good sets and lighting, a lack of spontaneity in all three performances meant that the plays dragged.

Two more performances will be held as part of the festival on Monday, featuring students from Quaid-i-Azam University and Sargan Youth Group Rawalpindi.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2017