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| Sunday, 31 March 2002 |
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'Amara Gee Sara' thrill audience in Dubai by Upatissa Tennakoon
On 15th March, 2002, in a rare salubrious evening in Dubai at Al Nasr Leisureland, we were waiting impatiently for the curtain to raise on 'Amara Gee Sara'. Instead to the tune of a Sri Lankan traditional music, Pandith Amaradeva was ushered into the auditorium in a procession led by a Kandyan dancer. After the lighting of the traditional oil lamp by the dignitaries and Pandith Amaradeva himself, the proceedings commenced. following a thunderous applause, maestro, Amaradeva, in his acceptance speech, praised the organisers the way the proceedings began. The two hour musical fiesta was started with his usual rendering of Sarasvathie Abhinandana' song. What followed was that serene and melodious flow of music which has thrilled millions of his fans over the decades. Popular songs such as 'Wasanthaye Mal 'Pile Pedura', 'Pera Dinayaka Ma Pemkala Yuwanthiya' 'Min Dada Hee Sera', 'Sannaliyane', 'Sasara Vasana Thuru' 'Shantha Me Re Yame', 'Rathna Deepa Janma Bhoomi', etc were sung. There was rapturous applause when his wife, Wimala joined to sing 'Goyam Kethe Geethaya.' Speaking occasionally in English he declared, "I am like a fish and the audience and the critics are the ocean, the water without whom the musician cannot exist." Emotions ran high when Pandith Amaradeva sang songs such as 'Sasara Vasana Thuru' and 'Rathna Deepa Janma Bhoomi.' No one could resist the temptation to sing along with this great musician when he began the ever popular oldie, 'Shantha Me Re Yame'. Everyone in the audience sang the song with him. The stage was exquisitely created by two Sri Lankan artistes working in Dubai depicting ancient architecture of Sri Lanka. The show was organised by Frico International. It was a meaningful experience for everyone who gathered and was a great pleasure to be with Pandith Amaradeva that evening. During his tour in the Emirates, in an interview to the local newspaper 'Gulf News.' Pandith Amaradeva stated, 'My best creations will be produced tomorrow. There is always tomorrow.' We are all waiting.
Yamato - to perform here
The troupe of ten drummers - five men and five women - will perform for the public on Monday April 8 at the John de Silva Memorial Theatre, Colombo. Passes for the public will be available at the John de Silva Theatre from April 1-3 between 10 am and 6 pm. Co-sponsored by the Japan Foundation and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka, Yamato's performance in Sri Lanka comes after a lapse of almost six years since any Japanese professional artiste performed in Sri Lanka. Yamato has given more than 800 performances in the past years and have toured extensively. In 1998 Yamato took part in the 'Edinburgh Festival' fringe and was awarded the 'Spirit of Fringe' because all their twenty three performances were fully sold out.
'The Ritual'- a new form of theatre by Mahes Perera
The blurbs call it 'Something outside the ordinary'. Jehan Aloysius writer and director of 'The Ritual' says 'I'm creating a new form of theatre using indigenous forms but not romanticising it'.....The play in itself is a learning experience for all theatre lovers who no doubt will appreciate its impact, when The Ritual is presented by Centre Stage Productions at the British Council Garden on April 5-7 at 7.30 pm. "This is something I've wanted to direct for a long time. Colombo audiences have got too used to comedies and musicals and I have been part of that. But the thing is there is very little focus on new writing in Sri Lanka and we have to promote new writing which I'm trying to with the Sinhala theatre. I've conducted workshops with Tower Hall. I find there are too many translations in the Sinhala theatre. Too many Western plays. So with 'The Ritual' Centre Stage is promoting and creating a new form of theatre rather than go into the commercial pre package. This is in the style of French theatre or Warehouse theatre where you are looking for small audiences, very rough in Peter Brooks sort of language, rough theatre that has a very direct impact where you feel something a little bit stronger" expresses Aloysius. "The Ritual" came about as a partnership with the Arts Repertory Theatre of Bangalore and Royal Court Theatre of London who were looking for theatre that uses the indigenous forms and this is Jehan's first Centre Stage Production. Centre Stage focus on young people and its aim is to foster their skills in all forms of theatre. How confident are you that the actors chosen will bring out the essence of the play? "The casting was tricky. I chose certain characters and certain actors because I felt they were versatile in that they will be able to grapple with the language as well as bring the rural situation on to the Colombo stage. Over articulating had to be avoided. We had to be natural using the tones, the lilt, the rhythm of the Lankan speech. Centre Stage is promoting a post colonial response. I had to create a colloquial language that wasn't the usual middle class language. And it was important not to lose out on the metaphor of Sri Lanka because it is impossible to create a rural situation. The lead roles are played by Tracy Holsinger, Avanthi Perera, Anushka Pereira and Vishvamitra Ahangama. They are meaty parts, all set in the kitchen - the hub of activity where the cooking is done, the grinding is done the eating is done - that's where the family meets. For this open air setting how are the sets been tackled? "We are building it with mud walls. The setting is in the form of a psuedo kolam maduwa and the audience will be sitting in the round. The set is going to be an unfinished set, not perfect to show that there are nooks and crannies, cracks through which problems in the family seep out and the outside force seeps in." The Kolam dancers according to Jehan Aloysius are 'dopple gangers or mirror images of the characters on the stage.' The connection with the main characters is through the costumes as well certain gesture traits. The mask characters are tragic comic characters who carry the play forward and are not used as dancers. In this his first production for Centre Stage Jehan Aloysius who has enjoyed rave reviews for his many acting roles, is endeavouring to break the boundaries of the audience and actors and create a new form of theatre much needed in Sri Lanka.
Akalanka releases debut CD Seventeen year old Akalanka Serasinghe, a student of Royal College, who was awarded 'The most popular upcoming singer of the island' at the Madhurasanga 2001 festival will launch his debut cassette on Saturday April 6 at the Navarangahala at 6 pm. The collection of songs on the CD were composed by leading Sri Lankan composers and includes his popular Jeevithe Pudumai and Degodathala.
'Gotta Sing Wanna Dance' "The Voices in Harmony" an extremely talented and versatile student choir will present a musical extravaganza 'Gotta Sing Wanna Dance' at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on April 9 and 10 at 7.15 pm. The show is directed by the accomplished soprano Ruwani Seimon Seneviratne. The musical extravaganza will include medleys of songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber's well known musicals as well as from Grease. The younger singers will perform songs from Sister Act, Little Mermaid and Oklahoma. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
An evening with meastro Amaradeva has always excited me and the most
recent one was no exception. I had made a decision long time ago. Whenever
it's possible and wherever I live, I will be there in the audience to
listen to Pandith Amaradeva. For he is our premier musician and national
treasure.
The 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between Japan and Sri Lanka will be celebrated with a fabulous performance
by the world famous 'Yamato' as part of their Asian tour.
