How to kill the dragon in you

A message for all times:

by Aditha Dissanayake

I remember listening to Henry Jayasena recall how he searched high and low for an actor to play the part of Lancelot when he produced Makara, (The Dragon) for the first time in 1973. He had spent many a night, wide awake worrying over the problem.

He was living in a rented house at the time and one fine morning a gentleman had come to him bringing a note regarding the house from his landlord. Introducing himself as a friend of the landlord the visitor had simply handed the note over to Henry Jayasena, and walked off.

Awestruck Henry Jayasena had stared at the retreating figure and after a good five minutes of speechlessness exclaimed "Here is Lancelot!".

Today, more than thirty-four years later, the role of Lancelot, thus played by Dharmasiri Bandaranayake has been assigned to a relative new comer in the arena of the Sinhala theatre.

In Jayalath Manorathne's production of the play which will go on the boards at the Elphinston Theatre on November 21 and 22, 2007 the role of Lancelot will be played by Jagath Chamila.

Dispelling the assumptions of many critics that Jagath will not be able to match the breath-taking performances of Darmasiri Bandaranayake, Director Manorathne says the young actor is doing his best to give his own interpretation to the character of Lancelot and may surprise the critics with a brilliant portrayal of the wondering-do-gooder Lancelot, in the days ahead.

"We have to change with the times and even though Jagath will not portray the same Lancelot portrayed by Dharmasiri, his own interpretation is bound to be equally good".

Set in an imaginary time when dragons walked the earth, Manorathne believes the politically charged play written by Russian playwright Yevgeny Schwartz, which was translated by Henry Jayasena as Makara is a play for all times. "The themes discussed in Makara are perennial" says Manorathne.

"There are two kinds of dragons found anywhere, at any time in the world. One is the political dragon commonly known as a despot. The other is the dragon within ourselves".

Rooted in folklore and fairy tales the satiric and mocking message conveyed through the story of a town ruled by a conquering fire breathing dragon, according to Manorathne, can be interpreted as a battle between truth and myth, the good and the bad.

With no changes in the script, the story can be seen as a warning to everyone of the human tendency to reach 'dragonhood' when there are no checks and balances to limit power.

However, although the message may be rather explicit at the end, Manorathne assures that it will be delivered so entertainingly that the evening will be appropriately delightful.

If your tastes in the theatre include the political, cloaked in the guise of the fantastic and make-believe, then you are bound to enjoy an evening with "Makara", the latest offering from the circle of the "80 Group".

Makara will be staged at the Elphinston Theatre Maradana on November 21, 22, at 6.45 p.m.

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