Arts

A memorable evening with talented children

Potpourri - A collection of plays and performance poems:

by Ranga Chandrarathne

If it would have been a drama, Potpourri would be yet another name with a fading memory of an evening spent in rather dim-lit Punchi Theatre. However, the evening turned out to be a novel experience, revisiting colourful moments of childhood.

As well-trained children stole the show, perhaps almost all the spectators walked down memory lane evoking their childhood with fairytale character such as Snow White, Cinderella, Alice and Persephone and Seasons.

Throughout the performance, it was evident that the children thoroughly enjoyed playing diverse roles on the stage before a large audience. Different pieces and performance poems were included in the programme so as to ensure the participation of all the students.

Although this may lengthen the performance which actually ran into two hours, the audience consisting mostly of parents of the children as well as spectators representing cross section of the population, enjoyed it without dosing off, on their seats.

A striking feature of the production is the presence of improvisation in most of the items including Poems of Sound and Movement, Once Upon a Time where the characters of diverse stories come on the stage as if to disturb the narrator, rendering a novel interpretation to old stories. For instance the character Cinderella prefers to call herself Cindy, a shorten form of her name.

Though satirical in outlook, Punchi Raja explores bankruptcy on the part of rulers of the land. For instance, Punchi Raja who is pre-occupied with his physical appearance, in fact, is a short man. He incessantly tries to grow tall and in the process, is being cheated by a shrewd men.

It is here that children, though primarily taught in English, demonstrate their ability to speak in Sinhala.

Other items such as Befriending Bertha, Once Upon a Time, Scientist Meet Fish, Fairytale Beauties and Persephone and the Seasons were both entertaining and educative for the children as items have been taken from diverse sources including Greek Mythology.

The story behind the performance is as interesting as the stories themselves. According to Shashi Mendis de Costa, most of the items were born during drama class.

The students have written them and most of the plays are based on sessions of improvisations with the students.

The poems that have been used for Poems of Sounds and Movement should contain 'Sound Words' and 'potential for movements'. Some of the senior students who took part in 'Magic Land', earlier production by Sushi Mendis, have also taken up different roles in the performance.

All most all the children have been proved good actors and actresses in their allotted roles. It is indeed a delicate task to train children belong to different age-group in a collective exercise given the different degree of their abilities and the credit should go to the Director of the Potpourri, Shashi Mendis.

A higher degree of perfection maintained throughout the performance could be attributed to dedication on the part of children and the Director of the performance for arduous rehearsals that would have fine tuned the cast.

One of the fascinating features of the performance was that it provided much-needed exposure to the students. Most of the items of the performance not only brings about children's innate aesthetic abilities but also demonstrated their capabilities in organisation, team work and ability to speak in both English and Sinhala.

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A Teledrama with a different theme

Antharjana Minisa:

by Ranga Chandrarathne

Antharjana Minisa, the latest teledrama by Jayantha Ranawaka to be released soon would be a novel experience for viewers as it is woven around a science fiction like plot. However, it is on another plain, deals with complex human behaviours and man's craving for fame, money and also foul play and jealousy.

The story unfolds with a chance birth of a creation as a result of a strange genetic experience carried out by scientist Jackie Weeratunga. Subsequently, on news it was revealed that the creature had escaped from the laboratory and Jackie has been admitted to hospital and is in a critical condition.

Meanwhile, scientist Stephan Lankeshwara, a widower who lives with his daughter and a servant in his late wife's ancestral house, who is a brother-in-law of Jackie, tries hard to steal the details of the secret experiment. Stephan attempts to coaxes Tony, boyfriend of his daughter into getting involved in the venture. On failing, he solicits support of an underworld gangster Toraja.

The ape-featured anima undergoes rapid changes in the evolution process due to hormone reactions. The story turns twists and changes and ends with Stephan having to pay for his sins. Through the episode the villagers learn the potentials that modern technology offers.

One of the significant features of the teledrama is that especial effects have been used to create certain scenes and a lot of researches have been involved in the production of the teledrama, from scrip-writing to shooting.

Though the story is on a scientific theme, it reveals human nature. This will pave way for teledramas with a different theme rather than confining it to stereo-type plots set in middle class families.

Script writer Jayantha Ranawaka should be commended for attempting to change the course of the contemporary teledramas in Sri Lanka and the notion that serious themes can not be explored through the medium.

The teledrama is script-written and directed by Jayantha Ranawaka and special effects and art direction is also by Jayantha. The cast includes Joe Abeywickrama, Tony Ranasinghe, Nitha Samaranayake and Bandula Vithanage.

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Shani in concert again

Once again the Alliance Francaise de Colombo has invited the Internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan pianist Shani Diluka Abeygoonaratne who lives in France to perform on November 3 at 7 p.m. at the Bishop's College Auditorium.

Born in Monaco, impregnated in two cultures Sri Lankan and Monagasque, Shani is considered by the Press as one of the greatest of her generation. Selected very young due to a programme initiated by Princess Grace for exceptionally talented children for music, and at ten years of age was presented on the mid day news programme on the French National Television FR 2 showing her musical skills.

At 12 years she gave a solo recital during the first half of a concert with Helen Grimaud at the Acropolis in Nice. Mr. Laurence Foster proposes her to study at the Julliards School in New York.

Premier Prix and the final Diploma with felicitations and first named in the Acadamie Prince Rainier 111 and with the identical results at the Conservatoire National of Nice and the Prestigious Conservatoire Superior of Music in Paris.

Here her excellent results enabled her to be selected to the 3rd Cycle or the highest achievement awarded by the CNSMD.

Today feted for her International success from Rome to New York, from Paris to Tokyo, and invited by the most prestigious Festivals such as Roque D' Antheron (4th consecutive year.) The Young Master series at the Concertgebau, Festival Chopin de Bagatelles. The International festival Davos, The Folle Journee Tokyo, Bolbao Nantes, etc. etc.

Shani is also Laureate of such prestigious Foundations Such as Wilhelm Kemph, Natexis, Prince de Pologniac, Yamaha and CIMA. In 2003 she was selected by the International Piano Foundation of Como where only six of the worlds most promising Pianists are chosen, and presided by Martha Argerich.

Shani has received recognition and been selected to work with some of the World's best Professors and Pianists among them, Murray Peraiah (chosen to appear at Salle Gaveau), invited by Maria Joao.

Pirez, to Belgais, Pressler to Bloomington, and with Chrisoph Eishenbach, and Leon Fleisher (with whom Shani works regularly).

Further she has collaborated with acclaimed composers of today, Kurtag, Lacherman, Rhim and Montavani (whose music was presented as a World Premier together with Eric-Maria Couturier).

Her registration of a Mozart Sonata by Radio France Music was aired on 150 national radios around the world such as the BBC or the ABC of Australia, and of Canada to name a few.

Shani will also be the opening piano soloist of the 2008 season of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monaco with Laurence Foster as conductor.

Her first disc with Mirrare, and Harmonia Mundi (February 2007), The Grieg Concerto and the Lyrical pieces received prestigious awards and rave critics internationally!

The rare Choc de la Mond de la Musique, selection France Music, RTL D'OR (RTL Gold), Coup de Coeur Harmonia Mundi, 5/5 Diapasson, Choice of ARTE which selected it as the disc of the month.

Her future engagements with Prestigious Chamber musicians such as Quatour Berg, and Tallisch, and her collaboration with Quatour Mogdliani and quatour Ysae shows the esteem she has with them.

MP

Water exhibition of paintings

Water, an exhibition of paintings by Teranza Sandapati Wickramaratne will be held from October 27 to 28 at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery.

The entire exhibition is on the theme water which is the foundation of life and the development of many civilizations. Here Artist tries to display infinite moods and his attitude towards environment.

RK