Play gives a peek into power games

Lucknow: How politicians manage to outsmart opposition and retain power by hook or by crook was aptly depicted in ‘Via Fursatganj’, a political satire staged by the Third Bell Repertory at the Akhilesh Das auditorium on Monday.
The play, based on a story by the same name by Balendu Dwivedi, was directed and theatrically adapted by Alok Nair.
The play began with the problem related to drinking water crisis in a village, Fursatganj, which leades to the drowning of a youth, Pareshan Singh, and his domesticated goat. However, when district magistrate Jabar Singh (played by Harshit Pandey) reaches the spot, he claims that Pareshan was drunk and mentally retarted. As elections are round the corner, the issue is picked up by the opposition parties.
Apprehensive about the outcome, chief minister Bacha Tiwari (played by Arun Shukla) asks the magistrate to “manage” the opposition leaders.
Despite all efforts, the CM loses elections but manages to stay in power by bribing newly elected MLAs.
IRS officer Asthanand Pathak, Col Shree Kumar, singer Brijesh Shandilya, writer Virendra Sarang, IG, railways, SK Singh and actor Mahendra Tripathi were the prominent personalities among the audience.