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| Sunday, 18 August 2002 |
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by Vimukthi Fernando He appreciates the fact... Nelson Mandela in a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tyronne Fernando (Consultant) and Sisil Gunasekera (Director) has congratulated the efforts of Sri Lankans in depicting his life story and the struggle of the South Africans in a play.
Unbelievable? But true... that is the essence of leaders, sages and saints. An international hero, whose 27 year jail term won him the Nobel peace price and world fame. At 83, he is still an active figure, more so in fact than any popular person ever was. He is Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa and the spiritual figurehead of the anti apartheid movement - the living legend of our times. Tribute had been flowing his way in many a form - and citizens in this small island nation can also be proud of one such attempt by an ardent follower of Nelson Mandela, whose efforts in bringing out the essence of Mandela's character resulted in a script for a play.
It is a dream come true... for Sisil Gunasekera, of course. For "Mandela Mandela" his dream production will come on stage on August 23, 2002. The play is produced and directed by Gunasekera in the Sinhala and English media simultaneously. It is "the first time that a character of a living hero will be depicted in a play", says Gunasekera. He hopes to hold the 100th show at the African shores, "probably with Mandela himself as the Chief Guest." Mandela a unique character, is a great inspiration to a country such as Sri Lanka. A man who stood up for his rights and for equality Mandela is a "unique personality in this century", says Gunasekera, himself a household name in the Sinhala theatre. It was 23 years ago he entered the theatrical scene with 'Guwan Karanam' his debut production. And this time, behind the stage, assisting Gunasekera's efforts are Tyronne Fernando, Minister of Foreign Affairs in building up Mandela's character, Premasiri Khemadasa with music, Ruwan Bandara Narasinghe and Athula Pathirana in script writing.
The cast include names popular as well as talented and the specialty is the inclusion of diplomats from the foreign missions in Sri Lanka. Sanne D. Kaasjager, second secretary of the Royal Netherlands Embassy plays the role of F.D.W. Klerk, while Vimalendra Kumari plays the role of Winnie, Mandela's former wife. And who depicts Mandela? Vasantha Moragoda of Neighbour Talk fame, has the honour. The premier show of "Mandela Mandela" will be staged at Elphinstone Theatre, on August 23, 2002 at 6.30 p.m. A second show will be staged at the same venue on September 13 and thereafter at the Lionel Wendt and Bishop's College Auditorium. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
"I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else's freedom,
just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The
oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity. When I
walked out of prison, that was my mission, to liberate the oppressed and
the oppressor alike", said a man of his ideals, which secured him a
jail term lasting closer to three decades. A man who believed that
"If people learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes
more naturally to the human heart than the opposite. Man's goodness is a
flame that can be hidden but never extinguished...." A man who
'walked the long road to freedom' and noted that he "dare not
linger" for his "long walk is not ended".
