Archives

Merry Wives of Colombo : 
Drama focusing love and jealousy

Well-known dramatist Indu Dharmasena's latest drama " The Merry Wives of Colombo", a hilarious comedy promising light entertainment will go on the boards at the Lionel Wendt, on the 9th, 10th and 11th of May at 7.15 p.m. Saturday the 10th show is presented by Lofac.

Inspired by Shakespeare's "Merry Wives of Windsor", Indu's drama deals with, love, lust, trust and jealousy.

Drama is woven around John Sabagadara who considers himself an authority on women, thinks the rich and neglected "Merry Wives of Colombo' are easy prey.

He sends love letters through Sandra, to both Nigel Kahapituwa's wife. Tammy and Rjive Alewathura's wife, Madhu, with the intention of making the wife the key to their husbands money. The two wives being good friends, compare the letters and are furious. They plot and plan with the help of a few friends to teach him a lesson.

Upeaksha who enjoys creating trouble on the pretext of being concerned tells the two husbands about Sabagadara and the letters. Nigel doesn't believe her but Madhu's husband Rajive who is the possessive type, gets jealous and is out to kill old Sabagadara.

So can the merry wives of Colombo while having fun with the obnoxious John Sabagadara and the insanely jealous Rajive, prove that they are not just fickle and empty headed women? Will they get the better of the men?

Angie Seneviratne brings to life the mischievous, fun loving Sandra who loves playing practical jokes. The talented and versatile Krys Sosa plays the inquisitive trouble maker, Upeaksha, a doctor's wife. Marissa Jans who played the role of Mistress Ford and tied with Nazima Kamardeen for the best actress award, when SBC staged "Merry Wives of Windsor" and won the inter school Shakespeare competition in 1994, plays Tammy, one of the wives pursued by Sabagadara. Chanella Fernando who made her debut on state in Indu's last production, "Set for Murder", plays the other wife, Madhu.

The lovable Girly who owns a popular restaurant "Girly's" is played by non other than Kolu himself. The randy old John Sabagadara MP is played by Michael Holsinger. his secretary cum sidekick Bandhu is played by young Gehan Cooray. Indu plays Madhu's jealous and possessive husbands Rajive, while George Cooke plays Tammy's husband, Nigel. Their loyal friend Mahesh, who is also a hypochondriac is played by Dayan Dias Abeyegunawardene. Young Saliya Silva the local Shaggy will perform "Strength of a Woman" on stage and Rohan of Rumors will keep the audience entertained with a colourful fusion dance. The rest of the cast consists of Danu, Mal, Mumi, Fawzia, Shardha and others.

Indu asks her spectators not to miss this fun filled hilarious comedy that should keep the audience in fits of laughter right through the evening.

Indu's previous drama " set for murder " a comedy thriller - inspired by Agatha Christie was staged last month.

*********************

Last Man Standing at Majestic

Last Man Standing, an action packed thriller starring Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern and Christopher Walken is screened at Majestic Cinema from May 9 to 21. Based on renowned director Akira Kurosawa's film Yjimbo, the Last Man Standing is about a mysterious stranger who wanders into a small Texas town pralayzed by a bloody tuff war raging between two Chicago based mobs.

John Smith(Willis) is a gun for hire, a man faithful only to his own code of honor, who seems to have neither a past not a future. In prohibition-era Texas, Smith drifts into dusty Jericho, a lonely border town home to two deadly gang illegalyy bringing booze into the country from Mexico.

In a climatic showdown, Smith faces off against both gangs, vanquishing his enimies in a hail of gunfire. Absolved of all blame by the law, Smith leaves the now peaceful town, driving off into the Texas desert, once again a man with no past and no future.

The film is written and directed by Walter Hill (48 Hrs, Hard Times, Wild Bill).

*********************

Wekande Walauwa at the 56th Cannes Film Festival

The veteran film maker Dr. Lester James Peries', film Wekande Walauwa (Mansion by the Lake) has been selected for the 56th Cannes Film Festival to be held from May 15 to 25, 2003.

This is the fourth time Dr. Lester James Peries' film recognised for the Cannes Film Festival, the others being Rekava (1957), Baddegama (1981), Kaliyugaya (1982). As an honour to the veteran film maker the Wekande Walauwa (Mansion by the Lake) has been selected out of competition, where only six films are selected under this category, this year.

In recognition of his great service to cinema and for inspiring a whole generation of Sri Lankan film makers by laying the foundation for a serious national cinema and shaping artistic film culture in the island Dr. Peries was invited to be a member of the official selection Jury (feature films) of the Cannes Film Festival in 1982.

Rekawa, his first film gained wide international critical acclaim, at prestigious film festivals like Edinburg and Karlovy Vary and at Cannes. Georges Sadoul, the influential French film critic, called Rekawa "a model of poetry and honesty". His third film Gamperaliya (1963) was recognised as a superior work of cinematic art, and won the Grand Prix (Golden Peacock) at the International Film Festival of India in New Delhi. He has also been the recipient of the Sarasavi Film Festival Rana Tisara Award. Further he was bestowed with an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Colombo in 1985.

In 1992, the Republic of France made him Commander of Arts and Letters in their Legion of Honour, and the President of Sri Lanka presented him with a lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 on the 50th anniversary of Sri Lankan cinema. In 2000 he received a lifetime achievement award at the International Film Festival of India held in New Delhi. The Mansion by the Lake speaks of Buddhist upper class family in the late nineteen eighties. The cast comprises Malini Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya, Vasanthi Chaturani, Sanath Gunatileke, Paboda Sandeepani, Irangani Serasinghe, Senaka Wijesinghe, Asoka Rodrigo, Nuwan Liyanage, Ranjith Rubasinghe and Elson Divituragama.

Meanwhile, a short film Vide Pour L'Armour (Empty for Love) a production of young Vimukthi Jayasundara also has been selected for the Cannes Film Festival in the short film category. He has been a resident at Le Fresnoy, Studio des Arts Contemporaries in France since 2001.

At present he is also a resident at the Cinefoundation, the organising parallel of the Cannes Film Festival, which is providing accommodation to 6 film makers and assisting them in bringing to fruition their project for a first or second feature film.

Jayasundera's first short film Land of Silence will also be screened at the festival.

The jury for the short films and Cinefoundation comprise Emir Kusturica, President (Director-Serbia-Montenegro), Mary Lea Bandy (Chief Curator at MoMA-United States), Zabou Breitman (Actress, Director-France), Ingeborga Dapkunaite (Actress-Lithuania) and Michel Ocelot (Director-France).

*********************

MALINI - A tribute to a great actress

Life is a feast you seize
Your face that embodies
Glowing smiles you bloom
With simplicity, charm
You are born with.
Prides of shades, you know not
Malini, that's great, you inherit.

Like the moon, in the orient
You shine among stars
Yet, you are the actress of ours
Of life, no matter what character, it is,
You inject life to it
Being the greatest of all stars, yet the actress
Of the kingdom of filmdom of this nation.

Namel Weeramuni

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager