Metikaraththaya
Yet another premiere of a play
presented by the Janakaraliya Drama and Theatre Arts institution will
take place at the Elphinstone theatre on August 11. It is an adaptation
of Shudraka’s Mrichchakatika, a Sanskrit play translated by Piyadasa
Nissanka, directed by Parakkrama Niriella’s Metikaraththaya. Regarded as
one of the earliest Indian plays written in Sanskrit, Mrichchakatika
(the little clay cart) is a Sanskrit play written by Shudraka in the
second century BC.
 The main story is about a young man named Charudatta of Pataliputra (Patna),
and his love for Vasantasena, a rich courtesan or Nagarvadhu.
The love affair is complicated by a royal courtier, who is also
attracted to Vasantasena. The plot is further complicated by thieves and
mistaken identities, thus making it a hilarious and entertaining play.
This newest addition to the Janakaraliya drama series will be
performed at its mobile theatre next year at provincial level.
The cast includes a glittering line-up with some names such as
Jayantha Muthunathi, Suneth Shanthapriya and Maliniti Kumari. Executive
produycers of the drama are Amita Weerasinghe and Dilip Rohana while
music direction was by Sumudu Mallawaarachchi. |
