Arts

The Outcry at Punchi Theatre :

Psycho thriller in English theatre

The dim-lit theatre is almost bare but a piano and a couple of furniture including a rickety chair with two characters; Felice and Clare. Here Mark Hager as Felice and Hasini Somawardena as Clare at Punchi Theatre, the duo occupied the theatre for nearly an hour enacting the famed American playwright's Tennessee Williams's "Outcry" or "Two Character Play". Perhaps, it is sheer dedication on the part of the dramatic personae or able coaching of veteran director and theatre personality Namel Weeramuni, that the play happened to be one of the successful productions in contemporary Sri Lankan English theatre.

by Indeewara THILAKARATHNE

The play is woven around two characters and is about an acting company which is on an extensive tour. The story is about making a play by two characters Felice and Clare. Although Felice is, at first, seen as a person of philosophical thoughts, gradually it becomes clear that his high-flown philosophical thinking is not logical and in fact, a reflection of his self-doubt and chronic alcoholism. His relationship with co-star Clare is unnatural but in conformity with his delirious state of mind. Clare on the other hand suffers from incessant fear and is also seen a person suffering from psychiatric disorder. The play takes its cause with duo attempting to make a play and comes to an inconclusive end. The `Outcry' is a play within a play.

The `outcry' or `The Two Character Play' was first produced by the playwright in 1973. The pay was more or less, the reflection Williams's self-doubt and alcoholism and was a failure on Broadway.

It is one of the most difficult productions to emerge from contemporary Sri Lankan theatre. Given the complexity of the character Felice who is portrayed as person suffering from psychiatric disorder and chronic alcoholism, Mark Hager's portrayal was more than natural.

In a way Hager has delved into the very spirit of the character. The master performance comes rather naturally with delivery of dialogues in perfect conformity with the expression of emotions. At no time, that one may cast doubt over the true-to-the character portrayal by Hager.

"FELICE [slowly, reflectively, writing}: To play with fear is to play with fire. [He looks up as if he were silently asking some question of enormous consequence.} -No, worse, much worse, than playing with fire. Fire has limits. It comes to a river or sea and there it stops, it comes to stone or bare earth that it can't leap across and there is stopped, having nothing more to consume. But fear- [There is the sound of a heavy door slamming off stage.} Fox? Is that you, Fox? [The door slams again.} Impossible! [He runs his hands through his long hair.} Fear! The fierce little man with the drum inside the rib cage. Yes, compared to fear grown to panic which has no-what?-limits, at least none short of consciousness blowing out and not reviving again, compared to that, no other emotion a living, feeling creature is capable of having, not even love or hate, is comparable in-what?-force?-magnitude? " From the very commencement, the role of Felice which is the reflection of Tennessee Williams state of mind is a complex character demanding higher degree of discipline and understanding of complex nature of the character. One of the difficulties that the dramatic personae face in this production is the challenge of keeping the audience in suspense.

The resources at their disposal are limited; an old piano, telephone receiver, a bed and chairs. Since the action takes place in a living room of an old house, dramatic personae have to grab the audience's attention by their sheer ability to portray the characters in a manner they looked almost natural. Mark Hager and Hasini Somawardena have, perhaps, surpassed the expectations in their portrayal of the characters.

Without doubt, Namel Weeramuni has been successful in directing a play which often turns out to be director's nightmare especially given the fact that it had been a total failure on Broadway when it was produced, for the first time, by the playwright Tennessee Williams himself.

Hasini Somawardena should be commended for her brilliant performance as Clare which is, perhaps, one of the complex characters in the English theatre. The range of emotions demanded by the character is wide in scope. In terms of portrayal, both Hager and Hasini have excelled. On many occasions, the delivery of dialogues was clear and natural. To a greater degree, the dramatic personae had grasped not only the range of emotions that were to be expressed but also the subtle grammar of body language. Perhaps, it was amalgamation of these features that made the final act a resounding success.

"He moves a few steps toward the revolver, then picks it up and slowly, with effort points it at CLARE. FELICE tries very hard to pull the trigger: he cannot. Slowly he lowers his arm, and drops the revolver to the floor.

There is a pause. FELICE raises his eyes to watch the light fade from the face of his sister as it is fading from his: in both their faces is a tender admission of defeat. They reach out their hands to one another, and the light lingers a moment on their hands lifting toward each other. As they slowly embrace, there is total dark in which: "According to the director, the dramatic personae are willing to stage the play on request at a nominal cost.

The play is directed by veteran playwright and theatre personality Namel Weeramuni. Namel was also a successful lawyer in UK and also produced several Sinhala and English plays in London.

Exhibition of paintings

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Art lovers in the country will get an opportunity to view a large collection of painting exhibition titled `My Feelings', to be held at Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo on June 12, to 14. Director, National Cancer Hospital Dr. Kanishka Krunaratne will be the chief guest of the three-day exhibition which commences at 10.30 each day.

Paintist Teklan Chamara Perera said `My Feelings' will be his maiden Art Exhibition during his 15- year artistic career and expects to display about 25 numerous paintings at the exhibition.

A product of Warakagoda Maha Vidyalaya, Neboda, Teklan received his secondary education at Vidyaratna College, Horana. He thereafter entered the University of Visual and Performing Arts to sharpen his career.

Teklan started his artistic career at a very tender age of 10 years by taking part in art completions in his area and also providing paintings to art exhibitions, conducted by his school.

A resident of Anguruwatota in Kalutara District, Teklan (25 years)

said he had won several awards during his career and highly recognised a prestigious award, presented to him by Education Minister Susil Premajayanth at an art competition, conducted by the Solis Mendis Foundation in 2008.

He said he expects to conduct many more art exhibitions in outstations after the forthcoming exhibition in Colombo.

"My next aim is to conduct at least one art exhibition in a foreign country and said that he would definitely achieve that goal."

He also thanked the staff the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery for permitting him to conduct the exhibition free of charge and also the Plentium 2000 Pastel Company for supporting him financially to make the exhibition a success.

Avarjana at Jayewardenepura

"Avarjana", an exhibition of paintings by Wasantha Namaskarage is being held currently at the Medical Centre of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

(IT)

Femmes du monde at Alliance Franchaise

Femmes du monde " by Philippe Salann will be held from June 11 to 28 at Alliance Franchaise de Colombo.

Philippe Salann is from Brittany in France. A Good friend of Robert Doisneau, he became his photo printer. For his first trip to Sri Lanka he brings with him 2 major exhibitions, starting with "Femmes du monde" :

Philippe Salann will also present on July 2 at Alliance Franchaise a photo exhibition of master photographer of the 20th century: Robert Doisneau (1934-1994), "25 tirages originaux".

(IT)

Film on Lankan Tamils

Chennai, 02 June (Asiantribune.com): Leading filmmaker K. K. Bharathiraja is to make a film on the Sri Lankan conflict highlighting the plight of Tamils caught in the war.

"The film will focus on the role of LTTE... against the Sinhala regime," according to Bharathiraja, who has several hits to his credit. The script is yet to be finalised and he would be using fresh faces for the film, sources say.

Bharathiraja said that the idea for the film took shape after he met Prabhakaran during the ceasefire between 2001 and 2006.

`Asian Tribune'