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| Wednesday, 24 December 2003 |
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Mangala excels himself by Irangika Range Mangala Senanayake's "Miss Yulee" will go on the boards at the Tower Hall Theatre in Colombo at 6.30p.m. on December 27. An enormous responsibility lies on a person who directs a stage play, teledrama or film because he has to bring out the best in his cast. As a result, an efficient director is always in demand. Mangala Senanayake, is an energetic and young stage drama director who is determined to make it to the top. Born in Anuradhapura, Mangala had his education at Nochchiyagama Vidyadarsha Vidyalaya, where he improved his dramatic skills by acting in Bandara Rathnayake's "Minisek Saha Mawak" and "Udukaya".
In order to gain academic qualification, he gained entry to the Institute of Aesthetic Studies University of Kelaniya. During that time he took part in B. M. Padmasiri's "Hathweni Duva" and G.M.D. Upali's "Methanin Maruwenu ". He launched his first stage drama," Eheth" at the Inter Faculty Drama Festival of universities in 1981. This was very successful and he won several awards for the Best Producer, Best Playwright and Best Actor. New ideas The initial taste of success in stage plays urged him to come up with new ideas. After graduation he became a full time drama producer. He successfully directed Irata Adhana Sappayo in 1985, Aan Aarvo a comedy and Uthuru Saluwa in 1990. Irata Adhana Sappayo won him the award for Best Producer at Awards Festival.
Later he concentrated on producing stage plays for children. Thus "Magul Keema" was produced in 1996. It won many awards, including those for Best Producer and Best Music. While experimenting with the theatre he produced ten short stage plays each running into five or seven minutes. Plays were based on folklore and Jathaka stories. The short plays have been staged islandwide. As a teledrama actor Mangala has acted in Nalan Mendis's "Doo Daruvo", Bertram Nihal's "Isurugira", Susil Gunaratne's Parevi Dhenuva" and "Hansa Dadayama". Mangala's contribution to drama was noteworthy when he was attached to the Youth Services Centre. Later he joined the National Institute of Education to popularise Drama and theatre in schools. At present he serves as a lecturer in Drama and Theatre at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies, University of Kelaniya. Veteran dramatist Mangala's latest venture in theatre is "Miss Yulee" adapted from veteran dramatist Degusti Strindburg's play.
"Miss Yulee' is topical even today although it was first staged in 1970. He said "Miss Yulee" is a psychological play produced creatively. "Miss Yulee" was translated by Vijitha Gunarathna. The cast include Jayani Senanayake, Sumith Rathnayake, Lakshmi Dhamayanthi, Asela Ranga Deva, Nalaka Genendra, Asanga Sampath, Inoka Shayamalee, Priyanka Bhamunage, Niluka Liyanage, Ishani Athukorela, Niluka Tharanganee, Priyanka Gunarathne, Ajith Rohana, Shantha Premathilake, Thushara Jagoda, Thushitha Laknath and Chaminda Moragoda. Choreography is by Ariyarathne Kaluarachchi, music by Tharupathi Munasinghe, stage decor by Lionel Bentharage , costumes by Pradeep Chandrasiri, lighting by Chandana Aluthge and Palitha Aluthge, make-up by Bhanu Prasanne, stage management by Rathnayake Marasinghe and publicity managers are Nalin sampath and Sunil Madhagedhara. |
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