Jehan Aloysius' Reality Show:

As real as it gets

by Anuradha Kodagoda

'Reality Show', is another ground breaking, experimental theatrical performance written and directed by Jehan Aloysius and presented by Centerstage Production. The play is all about performances and performers.

An experiment in several levels, 'Reality Show' was initially staged in November as Jehan's first ever Sinhala drama. Much appreciated by the Sinhala audience, it was selected to represent Sri Lanka at the 17th Bharat Rang Mahotsav International Theatre Festival in Delhi, as well as the parallel festival in Goa in February this year.

Buoyed by the success he now brings the rich experience of an experiment gone just right to the English speaking audience, literally his bread and butter.

Jehan explains the plot of 'Reality Show' as group of actors receiving messages to come to an abandoned theatre for what they imagine will be an audition. "The voice that calls himself 'The Director' forces them to perform their darkest secrets on stage and the story evolves around these lines," he says, adding that most of the stories that had chosen for the performance had been something he'd experience personally, experienced by the cast or told to him by others.

"Reality Show has many recurring themes which include the 'construction' and destruction of identity in its many forms, as well as the symbiotic relationship between the performer and their audience.

These stories are presented using a variety of theatre techniques and narrative devices," he elaborates.

'Reality Show' is an outcome of a combination of structured workshops and theatre techniques which inspired the multiple drafts of Jehan's original script written in English and translated into Sinhala for the Sinhala performance he did a few months ago.

As a strong believer of realistic acting , which is not just parroting lines, Jehan always trains his actors to know what they are saying and why they are saying it. "I want my actors to know why they say each and every line of the play and gradually I mould them into the characters which are in the script," he explains.

The stellar cast includes Sean Amarasekera (Phantom of the Opera), Dmitri Gunatilake (Phantom of the Opera), Damien Fernando (Rag - The Musical), Chalana Wijesuriya (Men Without Shadows), Feroze Ahamed (Men Without Shadows) and Niren Ranasinghe (Phantom of the Opera) as well as talented newcomers Yasas Ratnayake and Udani Perera.

The show features lighting by Thushan Dias and music composed & performed by Jehan Aloysius. The show is more suitable for adult audiences due to mature themes and language.

The Box Office opens at the Lionel Wendt from 15th May.