‘King of Nothing’: An ode to male victims of patriarchy

Written and directed by Aamir Nawaz and performed by Hassan Raza, play enthrals audience at Alhamra

I never imagined a standing ovation for just one actor playing multiple characters as the stage is adorned with countless shining stars too often. The norm changed for me after receiving news about a monologue. Now, what is a monologue? The otherworldly talent of performing individually on stage for 70 minutes. How far would a man go to capture the constant fluctuating attention of an audience? Far enough to bust his guts for the performance, I suppose.

The event took place at Alhamra Arts Council, Lahore, on December 22 as numerous friend groups filled in, heightening my expectation and senses. It had been a while since my gaze had encountered a banner flowing with the intense air.

The actor’s enormous figure portrayed multiple scenes yet to be disclosed. Stairs guided the eager audience to hall two as each mind filled with the scent of nostalgia. The lights dimmed as more people poured in through the threshold, searching for seats with a suitable angle.

Aamir Nawaz, the brilliant writer and director stepped onto the stage to share a few words regarding the monologue. The final announcement echoed through the walls, “Ladies and Gentlemen, The King Of Nothing!”

The goosebumps rose, sending shivers down our spines as the lights switched from a soft tone of yellow to intense violet. A jolly-looking man appeared on the stage with a darkish grey coat and a muffler. The monologue began, intriguing the audience further as everyone clapped to encourage the performer. Now, what was the performance about, you might ask.

The satirical gestures appeared as direct jabs to the deep-rooted misogyny breathing its last. Let’s consider this article an ode to the unmatched portrayal of a damaged man by the brilliant Hassan Raza.

‘King of Nothing’ is a road to realisation, accompanied by a thorn-filled past as the character’s best friends. Who could be the closest peers to an average man with a sowed toxicity? Lost love, selfishness, stupidity, cowardliness, and a deep pit of loneliness. He befriends it all and reaps the deadly seeds he sows. The character considers himself as ‘happily unmarried’ because of his hurtful and unnecessary bluntness, symbolising the deep-rooted toxic masculinity, causing the emergence of bitterness. He believes, “I am not married anymore because I know how to speak.”

The monologue, first performed in Turkmenistan in 2019, took Lahore by storm with its excellent enactment. The heart-wrenching performance was choreographed by Gulshan Majeed, while Imran Nawaz took charge of the background music with songs such as ‘Can’t help falling in love’.

The theme song was composed by James Douglas from Germany, perfectly depicting the shifting scenarios which had the audience on the edge of their seats. The light direction injected itself into my consciousness, amplifying my pulse rate as my heartbeat quickened, beautifully accompanying the scenes.

My dictionary refused to release a word worthy enough to explain the magnificent performance by a group of exceptional human beings. To the team of Maas Foundation, we hope Lahore received your Oscar-worthy monologue well and the people are looking forward to the gems of Pakistan engulfing the world with their eminence. ‘King Of Nothing’ now rules our hearts.