DRAMA

A review of Janatha Drohiya

Gauging the lines between heroism and treason

By Dilshan Boange

On May 4, at Punchi Theatre the group known as ‘The Theatre Art Circle’ brought to life on the boards a Sinhala translation of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s En folkefiende, which translates to English as An Enemy of the People. The Sinhala production directed by Nihal Suranji was entitled Janatha Drohiya and the script is a direct translation from Ibsen’s script by Vijitha Gunaratne. While the word ‘Janatha’ translates to mean ‘(the) people’ in English the word ‘Drohiya’ in its direct translation means ‘traitor’. Therefore, it is interesting to ponder what difference of significance maybe deduced when looking at how the words ‘enemy’ and ‘traitor’ render the image of the protagonist from the point of comparing the titles in English and Sinhala.

Masked

The narrative craft devised by the director included a mock protest by masked people, complete with placards, shouting a slogan demanding the ‘traitor’ be revealed. The protest worked not as a prelude to the story but more like an overture to uplift the audience’s spirit from a point of theatricality. I thought it was a good element to get the attention abuzz before the curtain went up.

The story unfolds in a town where a salubrious public bath which has contributed much to increase the town’s tourism revenue is the subject of contention. The protagonist - Dr. Stockmann, discovers that the bath poses a health risk due to harmful waste matter released from tanneries upstream mixing with the water and causing contamination. He prepares to bring the matter to the attention of the authorities and the public to prevent a health hazard. What unfolds thereafter is the politics between the interests of the town’s civil authorities and those connected, against Dr. Stockmann, who is determined to disclose the real state of the public bath and uphold what he genuinely believes to be his civic duty even at the expense of attracting the hostilities of officials and the townspeople.

Upright

The story speaks of the ideal of how a man’s integrity and resolve to do what is right must not be compromised despite whatever adverse consequences may come his way. Standing up to the interests of a government is not an easy thing even for those who are highly respected in society as upright erudite persons who have earned the people’s goodwill. It is also telling of how the public, who can be emotive when their interests of income or gains are threatened, can forsake reason and common good, and be incapable of foresightedness.

The costumes and makeup were commendable and rendered the visual aspects of the personae credible. The stage set was of a minimalist mould and tastefully executed with sound effects that added to the narrative of events.

The acting talent on stage was overall appreciable although the prompting of lines/dialogue for actors was audible all the way to the very back row where I was seated, and the voice of the prompters was at times like a faint aural foreshadowing of the lines by the players. It was in my opinion an ineptly managed ‘logistic factor’ which created a hindrance that evening.

The story in this play by Ibsen is one that speaks critically of the modern commercialised world we inhabit. The tragedy of how public health can be compromised in the interests of profiteering comes out pronouncedly through Janatha Drohiya. On this note I must say I was pleasantly surprised to see a sudden ‘interventionist element’ thrust into the narrative when Dr. Stockmann is said to deliver a monologue, the actors disengage from their characters and create a space where the director of the play brings on the subject of kidney disease that is plaguing Sri Lanka.

However, due to the need for the play to continue and not turn the stage to a platform for local political issues, the endeavour is abandoned. I thought it was a creative interference with the story’s narrative to gain attention to a local health crisis which connects with the theme of public health in the play. With Wasantha Vittachchi in the lead role as Dr. Stockmann, the cast comprised Deepani Silva, Lalith Rajapaksha, Hansamala Janaki, Deepthi Weerasooriya, Upul Mayadunne, Amaradasa Heenukwewa, Ranjith Kavisigamuwa, Charles Roiston, Madeera Udishaani, Chinthaka Pathirana, Prasanna Manjula, Didula Karunarathna, and Dimuthu Sathsara.

Janatha Drohiya will hopefully catch on with the theatregoing public and carry forward an important message in these troubling times where issues of public health and wellbeing must be seriously taken into account by society.

This is not a play that will cater to the tastes of comedy seekers whose only purpose of going to the theatre is for laughs and to gain some relief from their daily stress. It is a play that will speak to the theatregoer who believes that theatre can compel us to see issues that affect people and humanity through art reflecting our times, and build critiques that can hopefully make us see our folly and shortcomings and find solutions for a way forward.