The word on the Samurai Sword

by Nilma Dole

I was expecting shiny Samurai swords clanking, massive battles, warriors in olive-skin costumes and more tai chi action being revealed onstage when I went to watch 'Samurai', directed by Tracy Holsinger. However, I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted to more comical and light-hearted fun as opposed to the action drama I was expecting.

One of my friends even went to the extent of wearing something Japanese to blend in with the theme, which I will commend for good effort. The drama is based on a magical Samurai sword that grants any wish desired by the township of Onatawa, that was previously undergoing a terrible period of poverty and hunger.

The magical Samurai sword helped uplift the township but the citizens got lethargic and took the sword for granted. Thereafter, Yuki, the lad who bought the sword has to return it because the town had it for one year. The innocent Empress, the villainous ex-royal proclamation reader, the citizens and some bandit called Kung all battle for the sword.

The cast was all right but exceptionally brilliant acting was dished by Brandon Ingram who really shone in the role of Utamaro. The rest of the cast was rotated with alternating roles probably to give the others a break but it can be difficult when you wanted to see someone act and had to come on that particular day. However, Tracy told that it was a time training these young drama actors and actresses from scratch.

I daresay, the ending was abrupt and I have no idea why Geoffrey Case had it this way. I mean in the end, the warriors anyway get the sword so what was the fuss with all the citizens and the villain fighting tooth and nail just to keep their sword? Some theatregoers told me it was childish and somewhat just not what they expected.

Moreover, others thought of action and didn't really sink in the comedy story properly. In the end, it was all a dream and the last scene shows the citizens talking about their dreams and how they were bad and gasp at their state of being 'uncivilised'.

Even though I was a little confused, the makeup was unbelievably amazing with Jake Oorloff and Mika Tennekoon whipping wonders on those faces and Shyami de Silva handling the hair well. The costumes also were beautifully created with Tehani Chitty, Rukshika Fernando, Laksith Malalagama and Shazzana Hameed working on it.

The entire drama on a nearly week long run went smoothly as planned without bad weather affecting it despite being on the British Council garden that was a wonderful venue.