Themes Overloaded: English skits fail to connect

PORTRAYAL of contemporary issues undoubtedly establishes a quick connect with the audience. But what happens when too many themes are forcibly packed into a 10-minute-long skit? The result could be close to disastrous as was seen in the performances of some of the teams participating in the English skit competition (high school section) on Day One of the state school arts festival.

- SOVI VIDYADHARAN @T'Puram

Exploitation by corporate forces and the cacophony of the visual media were recurring themes in most of the skits. The murder of young house surgeon Dr Vandana Das, the black magic-related gruesome murders at Elanthoor in Pathanamthitta and indirect references to citizenship-related issues in the country found prominence in most of the performances.