Fists raised around a symbolic figure. Angered voices fighting for their rights. “We want higher wages, down with injustice.” Cheered on by Anjalay, the historic figure who died in 1943, the labourers stand up to the colonial master. Timidly at first, before exposing themselves to the police assault. Even if the end of the story was known beforehand, the jury of the National Drama Festival, English section, evidently appreciated its social and political connotations.

Anjalay, written by Paynee Padayachy and performed by Professor Basdeo Bissoondoyal College of Centre-de-Flacq was awarded the title of Best Play in the English section of the National Drama Festival yesterday. Transformed into an avenging goddess, nothing could divert Anjalay from her course. Not even an exaggerated version of Lagane, the master with his eyebrows and moustache coloured in deep red.

Accompanying her throughout, was the heady rhythm of the ravanne, lightly accented by the cracking of a whip. A stage prop, which left its mark on the arm of one of the extras. Behind the scenes, he later revealed he had been hit for real. “He always sleeps during rehearsals,” one of his mates jokingly told us. “He’s just been woken up on time for the final.”

<B>Juicy Creole phrases</B>

The vocally demanding role of Anjalay earned Natasha Ramsamy the award of Best Actress. A title, which comes her way after only three months’ rehearsal and a maiden participation in the event. She shares the title with Deborah Ramtohul, from Dunputh Lallah SSS in Curepipe, whose rendition of Popova, the conceited widow of Anton Chekhov’s The Bear caught the eyes of Quisnarajoo Ramana, Ramesh Bunsropun and Dharam Seewoochurn.

The Russian classic came second out of the three plays short-listed for the final. Meera Ramsaha, in the role of the raving Smirnoff, went back to Dunputh Lallah SSS with the consolation prize for Second Best Actress. Their adaptation of Chekhov kept the audience entertained with its addition of Céline Dion’s evergreens and juicy Creole phrases to describe Popova’s charm.

Yesterday’s program also included a performance of The Unhappy Return by La Comédie Mauricienne. Staged by Raj Gokhool, this emotional plot about an estranged father, who makes his final appearance by dying in the arms of his only son, won Aldo Nunkoo the trophy for Best Actor. La Comédie Mauricienne, which was set up four years ago, mostly performs in hotels because “the local public is not profitable.”

According to Bhismadev Seebaluck, chairman of the English Drama Committee 2004, the “high standard” of the three plays is a pleasant departure from past editions of the festival. And even if the audience had to cope with a vast array of accents, some boring parts, the lack of spontaneity and sense of rhythm, the efforts shown by both college drama clubs and talented amateurs is deemed encouraging by the organisers.