Charitha Atak:

A comedy at its best

by Husna Inayathullah

The maestro of comedies Wilson Gunaratne has updated his latest creation Charitha Atak political satire to give viewers a stress free evening. The comedy had indeed the power to keep the audience in fits of laughter from the beginning to the end.

Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh.

Humour lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others and helps you grounded, focused and alert.

With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surrounding problems enhancing your relationships, supporting both physical and emotional health.

Wilson Gunaratne portrayed eight characters with his versatile team at the Bishop’s College auditorium recently.

Charitha Atak revolves around an aircraft which has been grounded for the past 63 years, unable to be airborne due to the obstacles to the development programs of the country and it gives a clear picture about opportunities, time-servers and inefficient bureaucracy.

Clue

The play gives a clue to the pilot and his crew members that if the appropriate well-designed plans could be implemented, the “Dreamland’ Aircraft could be airborne to make a successful and a comfortable journey for the passengers who have been looking forward to a comfortable and a safe journey.

Internationally acclaimed actor Gunaratne’s newest creation has been updated with the current issues.

He is a genius at word play. He is also a master of the spoken language and has about him a suave urbane wit which comes only to a person who has read and travelled extensively, and who has the ability to utilise all the experience to his advantage as an actor.

His mimicking of certain politicians and the Italian professor who comes as the seventh character in the play is commendable. His task of portraying eight characters and creating Charitha Atak is mainly to enhance the dignity of the country. As the play flows the viewers would agree that what the ‘Dreamland” aircraft needs to be airborne is unity, peace and harmony.

Charitha Atak portrays the political scenario of Sri Lanka.

Reason

The audience enjoyed the updated version with the appropriate changes and that was why the play was not dull or uninteresting. The play was very well received by different strata of society and the audience said that it was an excellent comedy, designed for everyone to enjoy. The play is of international standard. It’s a play for all generations, today and tomorrow. Gunaratne is very intelligent and observant and keeps himself well informed of current trends, thereby bringing out a lot of originality in the situation, which most often becomes ‘big hits’ for him.

Gunaratne’s performance of eight characters was of a very high standard and his penchant for humour is of international standard. There was no double meaning or any unsavoury language used in the roles he played.

There was no doubt that he has an abundance of talent and confidence in playing eight characters, which he portrayed so competently and in a professional manner.

The task of portraying eight characters with eight voices is a big challenge.

The script was written by Gunaratne and Chandratilak Gunaratne.

The cast includes Wilson Gunaratne, Gamini Hettiarachchi, Keerthi Bandara, Harry Wimalasena, G. Chandrathilak, Premaratne Thennakoon, Kasun Chamara, Suresh Wettasinghe, Lanka Wijesiriwardane, Indunil Seyathgedara, Janaka Wasantha Kumara and Suranga Perera.