Arts

Rally Round the College Flag

Thomian Musical Extravaganza:

A show which has brought the entire Thomian family together. A bi annual show which began in 2003, under the direction of Jith Peiris, has since then been an important event where students display their musical talent be it in either song or dance.

Jith, who is no stranger to the theatre and to the Thomian family, brought a pot pure of talent in varied forms and styles. The second Rally Round was held in 2005.And well its here again this year 2007.

Yet another Rally Round Musical Extravaganza performed solely by the present student population of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, with the exception of Dayan Fernando and Wishanth Wijesinghe who are loyal old boys of the college.

The show this year features songs only from Musicals/ Broadway, TV and Film songs. The wide range of music has enhanced the students to appreciate varied styles of music and different genres.

Guitarist Dhanushka Jayaneththi

Pianist Bagyani Benedict

The children which range between the ages of six to seventeen, have under gone serious rehearsal routines since March, and is now ready to let the curtains up on a magnificent show never to be missed by all. The one and a half hour performance by the Thomian Family will make all present to be clapping and singing lustily all those famous songs of the past( and not so past).

The production is designed and directed by Vinodh Senadeera, who is the head of Performing Arts at STC. Vinodh has been responsible for many Thomian productions of the college for the past 15 years, and has made sure that all those taking part have a great time on stage.

When selecting songs for each age group, he kept in mind the child's suitability to perform a song. After much deliberation he has come up with a selection of songs from the most loved media of all time, TV, Screen and stage.

The Kindergarten students will bring to life songs from the well loved current Children's TV programme- Barney. Well when doing a show of this nature one cannot forget the loved songs from Walt Disney films for the lower school, and the middle school come alive with songs from Broadway such as Oliver, Oklahoma, The Fantastic'.. And so on' the seniors will take you through the French revolution in song when they render a medley from the greatest of musicals ? Les Miserable and a medley of songs from the greatest Films ever.

The fun does not end there. For those of you in the audience... you too will be part of the spectacle? you too will join in the production to render some favourite Film songs? and the magic of Rally Round does not end there?. The college quadrangle will be illuminated lavishly to make you sit and enjoy your dinner on the quadrangle with more surprises?

The production is designed and directed by Vinodh Senadeera, Produced by the Parent Teacher Association, sets are by Nimal Bulathsinhala, Lighting and effects are by Imran Pakeer Saibu, Choreography is by Mohan Sudusinghe, Costumes are by Sharmila Fernando.

Tickets and Box plan is available at the College Gym, Janashakthi.Media Sponsors are Yes FM, MTV, The Daily Mirror and The Sunday Times.

The Show goes on board on the 25th, 26th 27th May and June 1st, 2nd and 3rd. at the College Hall at 7.30 p.m.

Ayalegiya Sitaka Satahan (Off track thoughts)

Memoirs of a literatus:

by Ranga Chandrarathne

Tissa Abeysekara addressing the audience- From left Prof. Sucharitha Gamlath, Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara and Pandith Ashoka Karunarathne

Ayalegiya Sitaka Satahan (off track thoughts), a memoirs of Tissa Abeysekara, a veteran film and literary personality, was recently launched at the National Library Auditorium.

The book, a collection of articles on diverse subjects which are interlaced with memoirs of the life and time of the author, has been hailed as a compendium of knowledge by Prof. Sucharitha Gamlath who delivered the key note address at the launch.

Although the book is titled Ayalegiya Sitaka Satahan (off track thoughts) with a rare wall painting of a labyrinth symbolizing the off track thoughts of the author, it virtually sequenced the little known history of Colombo and its various locations, some of them by now have become bustling suburbs such as Nugegoda, Maharagama and Kotte where the author resides.

According to Prof.Gamlath, the book offers valuable insights not only into the life and times of Tissa Abeysekara but also into the evolution of arts and culture in the post-independent Sri Lanka where the cultural resurgence movement commenced in search of Sri Lankan identity.

Especially he mentioned about some instance where words have been invented and coined to expressed author's ideas. However, those improvisations were done in perfect harmony with Sinhala grammar and in a way enriching the Sinhala vocabulary.

Tissa Abeysekara

Prof. Sucharitha Gamlath enlightens the Nation on gross abuse of Sinhala Language.

It is obvious though the author himself described the articles he wrote over the years were off sprang thoughts, the ideas and opinion expressed by him on diverse subjects ranging from history, literature to the music and diverse forms of art, shows not only his vast knowledge spread over a wide arena of subjects but also his insightful observations on diverse themes.

Prof.Gamlath affirmed that the book traces the expanse of the contours of the ancient kingdom of Kotte to the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa era. He also acknowledged the authors? mastery of language and use of idioms that further enriched experiences. The author has also used indigenous expressions and language which is extremely readable.

Art is a medium which penetrates the human nature and interprets the world in its realistic perspective and with his power of observation and perception, the artist analysis the diverse subjects that almost cover the universe.

The artist also develops the contemporary diction by refining the language and perhaps, in some instances, adding and coining words to enrich the expressions and idioms of the language. In defining an artist the author cited an age old Sinhala idiom "Every genuine artist is an earthen wear bowl similar to that used by Buddha that flows against the tide. He is a spiritual-being who is crucified for the sin of challenging the order.

Every artist is a universal citizen who supersedes all the divides in his quest for truth. He is a lotus that blossomed onto the purest blue sky and to the warm rays of the sun, being emerged from stenching mercy water". (P296).

Prof. Gamlath, in the course of his speech, lamented the present deplorable state of Sinhala language which has been vulgarized at the hand of some immature and ignorant lyricists.

Speaker W.J.M Lokubandara, who highly appreciated the work as a master-piece of literature, stated that it may be prescribed as a text book. The launch was attended by large number of literati, artists and media personnel.

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