We take Hunuwataya round the country

THEATRE: People were pouring in even from the outstations to see Hunuwataya. We decided to give the cast a rest after the first run and so we did not take on any outstation shows immediately.

On March 27 that year (1967) we gave a special performance of the play to celebrate the World Theatre Day. The show was sponsored and organized by the Dept. of Cultural Affairs. Mr. I. M. R. A. Iriyagolla, Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs was the chief guest.

He made a short speech before the curtain opened. We had a very good house. The performance went off very well. My note book says that we were paid Rs. 1250 by the Dept and with that we paid all the actors and helpers - how much I have not noted. That sum had to be distributed among nearly 55 persons! That was the first payment made to the cast - we expected the first run to cover our expenses.

We had given the 9th performance of the play on the 3rd of April at YMBA Hall, Borella. My note book says that Dr. N. M. Perera, Vivienne Gunawardhana and several other ‘non-theatre’ people too had been in the audience. It also says that after the show we had gone to the Art Centre Club and later for dinner with Breck and Chitrasena.

On May Day that year we had given a special performance at the Chitrasena School of Dance at Kollupitiya - open air. It had rained heavily in the evening but had cleared for the show.

There being no mikes and loudspeakers we had to almost shout our lines for the benefit of the non-paying spectators standing inside the gates and beyond. It was a tiring evening. Chitrasena and Vajira were very helpful.

According to my note book we - The Actors Group had given a festival of all my plays in aid of the up and coming Navarangahala which was a project powered by three main characters - Minister Iriyagolla, Mahinda Dias and H. D. Sugathapala, Head Master of Royal Junior School in which premises the New Hall was coming up.

Hunuwataya had been performed for this project on the 9th of June, 1967 with the Governor-General - Mr. Gopallawa himself as chief guest. Minister Iriyagolla and a whole lot of important Govt. officials had been present. Mr. M. J. Perera had made a short speech before the curtain opened in which he had announced the death of Mr. Dick Dias - the celebrated Man of the Theatre - and the entire audience had observed two minutes silence in honour of the man.

Performances

The 47th and 48th performances had been held at Nuwara Eliya organized by one Miss Unantenna. My note book says - “Manel very ill with fever and flu. Managed the two shows with great difficulty. Dr. Silva, one of the organizers, was very helpful. Stay over at Mahinda Dias’ bungalow at Nuwara Eliya and proceed to Badulla. Shows at Badulla next day..”

In 1967 from March to the end of the year we had given exactly 50 performances. That would average to around FIVE shows a month - most of them performed in far away places such as Galle, Matara, Kurunegala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla. That is a very trying schedule for a set of ‘working’ men and women!

I made a lot of ‘unknown friends’ in the process of performing Hunuwataya. There were occasions when people travelled a long distance to see the play to find that the house was full and there were no tickets. Since my part came in the second half of the play I had plenty of time to saunter around near the ticket booth and in the corridors.

On such occasions at least a few disappointed spectators would approach me and ask me to oblige them in somehow. I seldom disappointed them. I would look inside the hall, ‘unseat’ some known person or persons and offer that space to the men and women who had come from afar. Or, I would provide some chairs for them in the aisles or on the sides and they would be very grateful.

A few years ago after we had given a performance at Kurunegala a middle aged couple came to visit us backstage. “It is after a long time that we are seeing you Mr. And Mrs. Jayasena.

We are very happy to see you both looking healthy as ever and acting as well as ever... You might not remember us, but we remember you very well...” The man was saying smiling broadly. I really could not make him out and I kept on looking at him. “How can you remember us Mr. Jayasena. This husband of mine is always mixing up things...” Joined the wife who was standing by.

We met you during the early days of Hunuwataya - at the Lumbini Theatre...” She added frowning at the man. Something clicked in my mind - not because I had recognized the couple, but because this statement was familiar to me. “Either you arrived late at the hall or you were unable to obtain tickets...”? I asked her.

Newly married

“We were very disappointed..” The man was saying. “Then we saw you near the ticket counter and we spoke to you..” Added the lady. “You arranged two seats for us on a side in the front and you did not even take the ticket money...” She added smiling from ear to ear.

And then she introduced two young persons - a young man and a young girl. “These are our two children, Mr. Jayasena. Our daughter here did Hunuwataya for her A levels. She did languages for her exam..” The lady enthused.

I looked at the two young faces who seemed to be a little bored with all this talk. “I understand.” Said I. “These two could not have been there at that time?” I added mischievously. “No. no. They had not even arrived at that time!”Assured the lady.

The two young persons who were only witnesses so far gave two reluctant smiles and looked at their parents as if to say ‘We are hungry’. “And what is the young man doing?” I asked the mother and her face lit up immediately. “He is on computer science, Sir. He is right now in America.

He is here on holiday.” Replied the lady - obviously very proud of her clever son. The said son looked at me to treat me with a ‘computer’smile. ‘What about the daughter?” I insisted. “She is just out of Peradeniya, Mr. Jayasena. She has taken up teaching. Does not want to do any other job!” A proud father answered before the mother could butt in.

“There’s a good girl!” That was an involuntary statement from me at which the young lady smiled sweetly looking at the mother as if to say ‘Didn’t I tell you so’..” “It is very good to learn English provided you teach it back to our children without running away to other countries..” I told her very seriously.

“And your computer knowledge..” I told turning to the young man. “Give that also to us!” I added even more seriously. At that the young man treated me with a real smile - instead of the former computer smile!

All four of them took leave of us and left the hall. How the time has flown - I told myself. How the times have changed, I thought. I felt a kind of sadness that could not be sighed away - and also a kind of contentment that engulfed my entire being.

The trips out were very pleasurable indeed although some of our boys had to rough out to a certain extent even inside a 55 seater CTB bus. They had to sit on the low stools (made for the chorus) in the aisle but they did so without complaining. Sing-songs, musical items, various debating items, instant verse, gossip, banter ... all that was there once the bus started on its way.

There were also a few inveterate cardsharpers who would prefer to huddle around a pack of cards. I had ruled out playing for stakes early enough. But it is quite possible some of them managed to play for small stakes without the actual use of money. Many are the wily ways of the cardsharper!

Dearth of singers

There was no dearth of singers. Practically all our men and women were good singers. Inside the bus too if the singing was serious, Shelton Master took over the conducting. With an unerring ear and eye he would select an individual, a twosome or a group and generally push a tune towards the party concerned and let things happen.

Thus we had very listenable singing - not just group shouting which I would just relax in my seat and enjoy ... and think ...that this was God-given indeed.

It was very seldom that ‘packets’ of food were given to the cast after a performance. It was always at some home who took pride in preparing a good meal for the artistes from Colombo.

Once we entered a house after a performance the women of the house - and even neighbours - would take possession of our girls and ply them with all kinds of questions.

They even exchanged gifts. The men folk - men of ‘indulgence’ I would say - were quietly enticed into an inner room and treated with a tot or two. A singsong was an invariable item either before or after dinner. Some of us had very serious discussions too about the latest play, film, novel or book of poems.

We would then bid a late night goodbye and leave for Colombo. Being young, it was very seldom that we huddled in our seats and went to sleep, except for an inveterate ‘dozer’ such as Wijeratne Warakagoda, and of course his beloved wife Chitra.

There would be merriment in the returning bus with song, mime, impromptu play acting etc for a good couple of hours before some were found nodding. The bus driver would take the cue and switch off many of the lights inside the bus, leaving just one or two on.

Thought of the week

My heartiest congratulations to young Nirmala Chandrasiri of Visakha Vidyalaya for her tremendous success at the Chess Championships held in Tripoli, Lybia, recently. The newspapers hail her as the very first World Champion in any sport.

My warmest congratulations once again, little daughter. We are very proud of you! And thanks to the Libyan embassy and the Sports Ministry for the help given to her to participate in this tournament. I do hope she will be accorded with fitting laurels by the State as has been done before to other champions.

I am no chess player but I am fully aware of its intellectual benefits. Nirmala says that it is like meditation. It must be when it is played over such lengths of time with such intense concentration. Chess is a game that should be made more popular and more accessible to young children of any country.

It would be far more profitable and far more satisfying for parents than sending their children to ‘elocution’ classes. In a ‘muscle oriented’ world of sports, chess would be a soothing balm for the player as well as the onlooker. Time stands still when a good game of chess is on and that is something we need so badly - for this hurrying scurrying time, to stand still even for a little while.

God Bless you Nirmala Chandrasiri for bringing such honour and dignity to this beleaguered land of ours!

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