Paradip: Odia play Kanta Kanta and Bengali production Sakharam were staged at the week-long national theatre festival, Canfest, here on Wednesday.

Kanta Kanta, based on a real life story, won the audience's appreciation.

Socio-cultural organisation Canmass organises Canfest to help theatre lovers experience quality productions.

Kanta Kanta, directed by Darpa Narayan Sethi, presents a complex social theme and struggle that middle class families face every day.

The play is centred on the trials and tribulations of Rangi, the central character. With her husband's meagre earnings, Rangi has a tough time in running the household. She tries all her best to motivate her husband to explore better income options. But, it was not to be. In a tragic turn of events, Rangi unable to bear with the disturbed marital life dies of cardiac arrest.

Powerful acting and a powerful script joined hands for this stage success.

"Apart from scintillating performances by the artistes, the play touched us because of its brilliant script and master direction," said theatre enthusiast Radhakant Mishra.

Sakharam was also a crowd-puller with its theme and lively acting getting the better of language barrier.

Artistes of Prachyo theatre troupe of Calcutta staged the play with an unconventional storyline. Director Abanti Chakraborty had adapted Vijay Tendulkar's Marathi play in Bengali.

Sakharam is the story of a man, who brings home the castaway wives of others. The play deals with a character, who has evolved his own approach to life and marriage. The unconventional plot revolves around the conflict with cultural traditions. The play is centred on three main characters - Sakharam, Lakshmi and Champa.

"Superb acting added spice to the play. I read about Vijay Tendulkar's play which had triggered controversy in the seventies because of its unorthodox script," said theatre enthusiast Ansuman Rout.