Ashish Khondker’s ‘The School for Wives’ to stage at BSA

Theatre director Ashish Khondker has brought new life to the classic French comedy "The School for Wives" (in French, "L'École des Femmes") with his Bengali adaptation. The play is set to grace the stage at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on August 27.

Originally penned by the legendary French playwright Molière in the 17th century, "The School for Wives" is a timeless tale of love, manipulation, and societal norms. 

Ashish Khondker has taken on the task of translating this classic French play into Bengali. His adaptation promises to retain the essence and humour of the original while making it accessible to a broader audience.

Theatre Director Ashish Khondker. Photo: Courtesy

"The School for Wives" tells the story of Arnolphe, a wealthy man who has carefully raised his young ward, Agnès, to be entirely subservient and innocent. He even changes her name to "La Souche" (The Log) to emphasise her lack of worldly knowledge. Arnolphe plans to marry Agnès and keep her under his control.

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However, the plot takes a hilarious turn when Horace, the son of Arnolphe's old friend Oronte, falls in love with Agnès. Unaware of Arnolphe's manipulative schemes, Horace seeks to marry her. The play unfolds as Arnolphe tries to maintain his grip on Agnès while dealing with Horace's advances.

Ashish Khondker's adaptation keeps the play's original themes intact. The play features an ensemble cast, including Muhammad Amin, Toto Timothy, Tanvir Nahid Khan, Parvez Rana, Manisa Orchy, among others.

The show will take place at the Experimental Theatre Hall of BSA from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The audience can get the tickets online.