Daasa Mallige Bangalawa and Walking Path:

Two sizzling plays at the Wendt

By Anuradha Kodagoda

The Stage Theatre Group will hold two plays, Daasa Mallige Bangalawa (The House of Daasa Malli) by Ruwan Malith Peiris and Kalana Jayanath Gunasekara on July 23 and 24 and Walking Path by Jayampathy Guruge on July 26 and 27 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7 p.m.

“For the past 15 years I have been involved with theatre and this is the first time that we facilitate to showcase other directors’ work that we believe as important for the betterment of Sri Lankan theatre.

Therefore, we plan to showcase something old and something new, to stage two plays that represent the core principles upon which we were founded, and the ways in which we are evolving. As the name implies, this run includes the revival of a successful old play, and a new experimental play,” talking to Montage the founder of Stage Theatre Group and dramatist Ruwanthie de Chikera said.

Ruwanthie de Chikera is a dramatist who has experience in English and Sinhala theatre and 15 years of hard work has created a solid fan base.

“As we have a limited audience for the Sri Lankan theatre it is not easy to attract newcomers. That is one of the reasons why we decided to showcase other directors’ plays. Ruwan Malith Peiris and Jayampathy Guruge are part of the Stage Theatre Group and they had a concrete idea of what they want to do in theatre.

Therefore, we facilitated them to showcase their theatre productions and we hope to continue the trend further to bring meaningful theatre experiences for theatre goers in the country,” she said.

Montage interviewed the two directors of the plays.

Excerpts:

Question: How did your debut drama Walking Path materialise?

Answer: Initially it’s a concept I gradually developed into a stage play. As walking paths are the new culture introduced to us recently as a part of city beautification, it’s interesting to observe and study how people get used to it. I selected a few actors and actresses at walking paths in Colombo. So, Walking Path is the outcome of what we have observed and experienced in walking paths of Colombo.

Q: Walking Path is a play without words. Why?

A: Before this play I did another two short plays when I was at the university and they were also without words. I love to do plays without words. I think even in life the most complicated emotions can never be expressed in words.

I strongly believe that when we try to say something in words we restrict the listener’s imagination and try to deliver a fixed idea through words.

Through my creations I want to deliver something that I have experienced and I want to share it with the viewers. This is done leaving space for their imagination and interpretation. This is not a miming play and I do not hope to use any miming techniques for Walking Path.

Sub-culture

Q: Walking paths is the emerging sub-culture in Sri Lanka. It is accompanied with the culture of exercise, healthy living and beautification of the city. It can also be identified as an element of a developed city with cultured people. Are you against this culture?

A: No I’m not. I’m not drawing any conclusions I’m only an observer. I have used the walking path as a symbol to understand the emerging sub-culture in Sri Lanka.

How do walking paths reflect human relationships, values and society in current urban environment? How do human relationships and society, in turn impact on the sub-culture of the walking paths? What can we learn about the reality of it, through the existence of the other? These are the questions that came to my mind when and I tried to find answers through Walking Path. I hope spectators will agree with the outcome.

Q: Why did you select the theatre as your medium of expression?

A: I have been engaged with the theatre from my school days. I’m quite addicted to this medium and I have no life without it. I do theatre for self satisfaction and I have something to share with the audience.

Q: Daasa Mallige Bangalawa (the House of Daasa Malli) was produced in 2004. Are there any changes in the production when you re-produced it after 10 years?

A: There are a few changes in the script and also in the cast. But there are no major changes compared to the production in 2004.

Q: Daasa Mallige Bangalawa is an adaptation from the original Sakkram Binder by Vijaya Tendulkar. What made you to select this play and do an adaptation as your debut drama?

A: This was a collaboration with my friend Kalana. The main reason to select the play for an adaptation was the beautiful storyline of the play and we were really moved by it. It’s not merely a tragi-comedy but it brings out complicated human relationships in a very subtle manner.

There are a lot of changes in the adaptation from the original play. For example, the original play is based on a book binder and we adapted it to a fisherman. The whole story is based on low class people and the story revolves around power, sex, violence, self-centeredness and human relations.

Q: Even though Daasa Mallige Bangalawa won eight main awards at the State Drama Festival in 2004 including the best director and the best script, we hardly see any other theatre productions of you. Why didn’t it influence you to get involve more with the theatre?

A: I don’t believe that winning awards would lead you to do more plays. I don’t think awards would lead us anywhere. Only money does.

Everything in society is based on money. During the 10 years we tried to produce the play again but we couldn’t do so due to lack of funds.

Q: Why did you select the theatre as your medium of expression?

A: I loved the theatre from my school days. I met an inspirational person named Premakumara Karunarathne who taught us drama at school. For me theatre is not just a subject but a source where we can learn about people.