Priyankara receives feathers
By Panchamee Hewavissenti
[email protected]
Priyankara Ratnayake is a senior lecturer of the Department of Drama
and Theatre and Image Arts of the University of Kelaniya. He took a day
off from the busy environment of his department to talk about his second
creation `Thatu Ewith’ which is to be staged at Lumbini theatre, on May
17 at 7.00pm and 18 at 4.00pm/7.00pm. Priyankara produced `Thatu Ewith’
after a five year’s pause of ‘Oedipus’ in 2002.
What is this `Thatu Ewith’ about?
This is a translation of Spanish drama called ‘The House of Bernada
Alba’. It is very interesting and I feel that it is every woman’s story.
The story depicts strikingly a family of five daughters with divergent
qualities and a grand mother who are dominated by a mother. Five
daughters fight against the mother’s dominative and arbitrary demeanour
and try to go in search of their own freedom. Suppressed sisters always
fight with one another.
There is a concealed character in this drama , a young chap to whom
when the mother longs to give one of her daughters in marriage all five
daughters fall in love with. When the mother proposed one of her
daughters to the young boy , he falls in love with another one of five
daughters whom other infatuated sisters become envious of.
This story amply shows envy, hostility, frustration and clamour. When
the breach of the peace in the family occurs, the bond of the family too
fractures. Thus the whole family is affected by the mother’s pungent
authority and ultimately one daughter commits suicide. Thus the family
faces a tragic predicament.
Similar examples can be found abundantly in society . This story also
shows how an individual influences a small community. This world can
neither be an abode only for women nor for men. It is for both male and
female. That is the rule of the nature. If someone tries to break the
rule, he will be in trouble. That is ironically depicted using only
female characters.
You have taken only female characters in this drama. But Gayan
Randhira plays the role of the grand mother. Why did you think of
choosing a male to a female character?
The grand mother - Maria Yosopha is a rigorous, boisterous and a
belligerent type of a character. I preferred a male because a male would
better act than a female and also the grand mother a female that
resembles more of a man. I think at a glance no one could identify that
a grand mother’s role is played by a male.
You have added more music, dance, humour and entertainment to
‘Thatu Ewith’ which are not seen in the original Spanish drama, ‘The
House of Bernada Alba’?
Yes. Music, dance, humour and amusement are not seen in the original
drama, but I added those things on purpose so as to be commensurate with
the Sri Lankan audience’s taste and the deep message of the drama to be
given in a much lighter way. Because people come to theatres to be free
from their busy engagements and enjoy themselves.
Do you think ‘humour’ is an essential feature of a drama?
I agree with the fact that ‘humour’ is an essential feature of a
drama to a certain extent. A drama should not be full of vain humours.
Facetious parts in a drama grab the audience’s attention and are able to
make them laugh. There are many dramas produced only for humour and they
are hardly able to convey any beneficial message. A successful drama
consists of a little bit of humour as well.
Ancient Greek dramas had a vast spectrum of audience. When a drama
was being shown, the audience of every category from the king down to
the beggar used to throng at theatres. Unfortunately, today we are
hardly be able to find houseful theatres. What do you think the reason
can be?
The reason is that, producers haven’t identified what the audience
need. They produce dramas according to what they need. A drama should be
first delivered to the heart and through that people use their brain to
relate the message. When the drama lacks amusement and if it is full of
gibberish incidents people are reluctant to watch them and perhaps are
unable to comprehend the in - depth meaning of the drama.
Another reason is that tele dramas and films are available in
abundance in society. People are attracted to them in a great deal.
Likewise the economic conditions of the people too matter a lot. They
can watch tele dramas at home free of charge. They need money to go for
a stage drama. Also the support of the media for stage drama is minimal
compared to tele dramas and films.
Even under such circumstances we have a good audience for stage
dramas. When this ‘Thatu Ewith’ was first shown in the university people
from outstation came to watch it.
Don’t you think it is a challenge to make stage dramas under such
circumstances?
It is a double - edged razor. We have to carry experiments in a drama
itself to identify the audience’s preferences. A good stage drama
producer should never let the audience be taken away from the drama and
yawn in idleness.
Have you been able to get adequate profit by making stage dramas?
I never expect a huge profit out of stage drama. Actually it is hard
to make money from stage dramas. I have merely been able to cover up the
production cost of the drama. I do stage dramas solely because it is a
subject I teach at the university and to get a satisfaction.
What is the trend for fine arts in contemporary youth?
Quite satisfactory. Lot of students choose fine arts as a subject at
the university. I have students who have done their basic degrees in
Medicine, Engineering and Law and they have selected drama and theatre
for their Masters and post - graduate studies. I think the reason is the
high calibre performance of our old University students.
A university student gets the chance to act at least in three classic
dramas at the university. They are well experienced and qualified. My
students have won awards for their performance. They have excelled in
drama and theatre and that is a good example for others. |