Entertainment / Events
Small theatre - high amusement
by Mahes Perera
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A scene from the play - William Rycroft, Jeremy Gittins, Amanda
Waldy
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The summer holidays farce Relatively Speaking presented by the
British Theatre Playhouse, a comedy of misunderstanding and confusion
reached out successfully to the audience judging from the enjoyable
laughter that echoed in the ballroom of the Hilton Hotel.
Written by Sir Alan Ayckbourn, whose contribution to British theatre
has been significant, the play according to the blurbs "has been a
small-theatre staple ever since its premiere in 1967" and will go on
generating laughter in the years to come.
A play in two acts and with four characters only, it took sometime
for it to get off the ground, but once that was surmounted the pace of
the wit flowed in easily.
Greg, Ginny, Philip and Sheila are caught up in confusion laced with
hilarity. To Greg (William Rycroft) this is his first love affair in
life and he wants so desperately to go to the altar with Ginny (Marianne
Oldham) who doesn't seem to be so sure.
Quite naturally since her flat reveals bouquets of flowers, her
drawers are stuffed with satin wrapped boxes of chocolates, the tell
tale sign of an expensive man's slipper, size ten under her bed, and the
ringing telephone that goes dead when Greg answers it.
William Rycroft played a convincing young man confused over Ginny's
lifestyle and determined to go see her parents at 'The Willows' and
convince them that he be given Ginny's hand in marriage.
Philip (Jeremy Gittins) and Sheila (Amanda Waldy) are the other
couple who create the misunderstanding and confusion when Ginny refers
to them as her parents.
Philip the philanderer is guilty of having a roaring love affair with
Ginny and with the pedestrian Sheila who really makes the show, the
dialogue throws the four of them at 'The Willows' into swift situations
that are packed with hilarious wit.
Finally it is left to Sheila who hasn't a clue of what is happening
to solve the problem in style and she does it with aplomb.
Sunset with Sam
 Positive in his attitude that a musician's job is to entertain his
audiences irrespective of the circumstances Sam the Man has returned to
his Sunset With Sam series at the Terrace of the Mount Lavinia Hotel.
You have a date with him on Sundays from 6.00 pm sharp, to soak in
the evergreens, the ballads of yesteryear or make a request to revive
sheer nostalgia. "The Terrace is an ideal setting for my style. It's
absolutely romantic - the lapping of the waves and the cool breezes.
I can move around and serenade the guests and more often than not
they join in with the singing. The many cosmopolitan guests are amazed
that we Sri Lankans know the songs that came from the manuscript of
English and American composers. Because of my versatility in singing
French, Italian, Spanish, German, Japanese and Korean songs I have found
that many nationalities turn up at The Terrace to enjoy themselves of an
evening, and revive past moments of friendship," says Sam.
His backing band is a group of young musicians who play the music of
the Eagles, Dire Straits, CCR as well as Top 40 hits. "But" says Sam
"they want to learn the evergreens because they say that when they are
much older this repertoire will stand them in good stead.
How true! So my repertoire for my performances at The Terrace is
balanced and reaches out to a wider audience, says the affable Sam who
over the years earned the name of 'Crusader of Sing-a-long'. As a matter
of fact on July 14, Sam will be in a Sing-a-long action for the
Cambrians at the BMICH.
MP
Concert tribute to Dr. Earle
Talented young musicians will present a concert of Chamber Music as a
tribute to the late Kala Keerthi Dr. Earle de Fonseka on June 5 at the
Russian Centre, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7.
The concert is presented by The Earle de Fonseka Trust and the
programme selected will include Haydu's Kaiser Quartet performed by
Thushani Jayawardene and Amal Abeysekera (violins), Mangala Abeysekera
(viola) and Tamara Holsinger (cello).
This Quartet which is one of the great masterworks of Haydn, famous
for the theme of its slow movement (Emperor's Hymm) which was used as
the Austrian National Anthem.
The string quartet will be a string sextet with the inclusion of
Rasika Hewage (viola) and Amila Abeysekera (cello) for the performance
of Tchaikovsky's brilliant 'Souvenior de Florence.' Other performances
at the Concert will be The Piano Trio by Clara Schumann which will be
played by Johan Pieris (piano), Thushani Jayawardene (violin) and Amila
Abeysekera (cello).
Clara Schumann lived in an era when the world was not ready to accept
a woman as an outstanding composer. Famous during her time as a pianist,
her talent as a composer is now universally acknowledged.
Kala Keerthi Dr. Earle de Fonseka played a significant role in the
development of western music in the latter half of the twentieth century
in Sri Lanka. He was the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri
Lanka from 1961 up to his death in 2000.
A mentor and guide to young musicians he enjoyed playing chamber
music, supporting young musicians in their efforts and also taking part
himself in small ensembles with his friends. In his lifetime Dr. Earle
de Fonseka conducted numerous orchestral and choral concerts, and has
played along with wellknown international soloists.
The entrance to the concert is by programme.
MP
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