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    Theatre Review: #MeToo by BlankPage Productions

    Written by: Tasarunn Munir Chaudry
    Posted on: January 12, 2018 | | 中文

    The cousins tell Shanzay to not exaggerate

    Scheduled to be staged from 9th to 11th January 2018 at PACC, Karachi, the #MeToo play was put up by BlankPage Productions, in response to the #MeToo movement. The #MeToo movement spread through social media in October 2017, as an attempt to raise awareness regarding widespread violence and sexual harassment of women.

    I attended the first show, and a forty-five minute delay before the start of the play made the audience a little restless.The plot revolved around a typical desi-household, with an overprotective mother, a rather quiet and stern father and their two daughters, Mariam and the school-going Shanzay. They also have a rather comical brother, Akbar, who caused most of the lighter moments in the play. The play begins with Mariam getting engaged to her beloved, Farrukh. The initial awkwardness of the actors faded as the play proceeded.

    When Shanzay doesn’t return home with her parent’s anniversary cake, Mariam is extremely anxious. When Shanzay returns in a tattered school uniform, her dupatta missing and her shalwaar torn, her mother questions her and she reveals that she was followed and harassed by some men in the mall. The mother’s response is to scold her for being out alone, and she grounds her. Mariam protests on her sister’s behalf but her mother is unmoved.

    Mehak Aunty, a relative of the family, a minor character in the play, is representative of the patriarchal social norms of the society. She is quick to tell off some girls for dancing, but is indulgent with the boys. Similarly, some female cousins tell Mariam that harassment is not a big deal when she shows concern for Shanzay’s wellbeing. The first act drew to a close when Farrukh boasts that he also ‘teased’ a girl when he was younger, leaving Mariam shocked and disgusted.

    Mehak Aunty and Mariam conversing

    Mehak Aunty (L) and Mariam (R) conversing

    The second act shows a drastic change in Shanzay’s character, and though her mother worries about her poor grades and insolent behavior, failing to realize the underlying cause. Eventually, Mariam takes control of the situation and accompanies Shanzay to a psychiatrist, with whom she finally speaks. Addressing the audience, Shanzay explains her sense of disgust, isolation and helplessness after the episode of harassment.

    When the sisters reach home, they confront their mother and finally make her realize that she was wrong to react in the way she did. Mariam delivers a strong and impactful monologue in which she says that the question is no longer if you have been harassed, but when you have been harassed. She breaks off her engagement with Farrukh, and he’s about to become violent when Shanzay intervenes and demands that he leave.

    Furrukh and Mariam

    Furrukh and Mariam

    The intense clashes between characters were well-executed, such as the argument between Farrukh and Mariam, but however, some scenes ended rather abruptly. In the first half, musical cues were given for characters’ entrances and exits to enhance the comedic element, but they did not always suit the circumstances. Issues in the acting included expressionless dialogue delivery and actors momentarily slipping out of character. Some technical glitches occurred in sound, leading to a reduced volume as well.

    The auditorium was half-full but given it was the first day of the play, and a weekday, it was a responsive crowd. They remained fully involved in the drama, gasping audibly and applauding wholeheartedly at emotional scenes.

    The play concluded with a spoken-word poetry performance by the female cast members, recited beautifully, with all of them in perfect synch. Their performance ended with loud applause and they simultaneously unzipped their hoodies and revealed shirts underneath that collectively spelt out #MeToo.

    Elsa Sajjad, director and co-founder of BlankPage Productions, then talked about her motivation for deviating from her comedic scripts to address this serious issue. She said that the two billion re-tweets that Alyssa Milano’s #MeToo had generated, made her aware as to just how widespread harassment is.

    Considering that the play was directed and enacted by a group of youngsters, it was a commendable performance. Moreover, addressing harassment is not just a bold but a necessary move for our society. All funds generated from ticketing will be donated to Aurat Foundation.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021