Reinventing MACBETH

Ravibandu brings Shakespeare’s renowned work of art to Sri Lankan oriental ballet:

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Stars, hide your fires,
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
The eye winks at the hand; yet let that be
Which the eye fears,
when it is done, to see.

(Act I scene 4)

There is no doubt that one of William Shakespeare’s best known plays of all time is his shortest tragedy, ‘Macbeth’. The play was written between 1603 and 1606 and is based on the theme of lust for power and the betrayal of friends.

This masterpiece of theatrical production has been adapted for opera, film, stage and screen throughout the years and had entertained many a crowd through the years.

After four centuries the well-known percussionist, Ravibandu Vidyapathi, had reinvented the brutal but thrilling work of art to fit the contemporary sensibilities to take form of an oriental ballet.

The ballet is said to possess a 90 per cent Oriental Sri Lankan style and is highly symbolic like the Japanese Noh plays or Kathakali dance drama of India. Yet it will take a modern approach, influenced by Sri Lankan traditional dance forms.

Being the son of Somabandu Vidyapathi who was renowned for his stage decor, costumes and paintings, Ravibandu had grown in an artistic environment. He learnt dance under Chitrasena and soon took up to making strides of his own with his imaginative creations.

His ability to churn out new projects without deviating from the traditional form helped him carve a niche in the world of dance.

Ravibandu started his own ballets with Thunvenna in 1994 and followed it up with several others.

He had composed five full-length ballets up to date and a large number of dance miniatures and a few short ballets on a variety of themes. Most of them were based on Western and Eastern Classics.

According to the celebrated dancer the idea of forming bringing the timeless tale in the form of an oriental ballet had been burning in his mind since 1986, almost 22 years ago. He had to put the project aside since he had to concentrate on other productions but his innovative and creative mind never let go of its grasp.

“The characters in the play are highly dramatic and the theme is quite suitable for the dance medium. It speaks about the hidden thoughts of people and how far they would go to fulfill their greed for power,” he pointed out.

‘Macbeth’ the oriental ballet is altered to suit the dance medium. Ravibandu will be playing the role of Macbeth while his wife, Samanthi, will portray Lady Macbeth. Dancers of Ravibandu - Samanthi Dance ensemble: Ranjith Priyanga, Ajith Amarasiri, Saranga Abhayasinghe and others will also contribute to the play with the roles of Duncan, Banquo and the three witches.

Interestingly, a dagger dancer will personify the imaginary dagger that Macbeth sees in Act II scene one.

The play will end on a slightly different note with nature bringing death upon the protagonist. According to Ravibandu these changes had to be made because some parts of the original is too detailed for dance.

“The purpose of ballet is to create aesthetic feelings in the audience by means of music and body movements. We use body language to relate the actions and story,” he explained adding that Kandyan dance is his forte and that it possesses the most suitable dance movements to portray certain movements and actions.

Pradeep Ratnayake, Sri Lanka’s gifted sitarist handles the music but sitar music will not be included in the ballet.

“Music is important to bring out highly dramatic situations. Classical instruments like the flute, the French horn, clarinet, string instruments and local drums will provide the music.

The costumes and make up will be highly stylised and a few characters will be wearing grotesque masks. ‘Macbeth’, the oriental ballet will be staged at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on July 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. Sri Lanka Telecom and Rupavahini will sponsor the event.

‘Akna’ an exhibition of Ravibandu’s dance photography by Indika Fernando will be held at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from July 18 to 20.

Pradeep scores as music composer

Many know the sitar to be his forte but with the music for ‘Macbeth’ Pradeep Ratnayake is once again going to prove to the public that he is well versed in all spheres of music.

He had earlier composed music to Ravibandu’s ballet Thrushna.

“It was challenging task to compose music for a renown play like ‘Macbeth’. We wanted to bring out the Sri Lankan identity of the ballet even through the music. We did not want the audience to be reminded of any other version of the play that they have seen earlier.

The only Indian instrument that I have used is a bamboo flute.

The rhythmic cycle of most of the other creations is 4/4 rhythms but I have used the rhythmic cycles of 7/8 and 5/8 for the oriental ballet,” he said adding that the music was carefully composed while considering each scene.

Artistic materialism

Materialistic objects have been a necessity for human beings throughout history. This aspect in life inspired 13 youths to experiment with the art and put together a display of fundamental aspects of art. These individuals who are students of the University of Visual and Performing Art will hold a visual art exhibition at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from July 11 to 12.

According to scholars literary as well as conventional material are essential for art. Culture or all human activities are manifestations in materialism.

A variety of material objects have been used to compile the exhibits along with a number of installations. Many objects that have not gained recognition as being artistic have been used in an innovative and imaginative manner.

Combine paintings, installation, paintings, collage, sculpture and photography along with plywood, cement, cloth and nails have been put together to create works of art with depth meaning.

RJ

Two exhibits to be presented at the exhibition

Nirmala Nirosha

A minute’s fame leads to zest for movies:

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

One glance at the picture and many Sri Lankan television viewers will be overcome with the feeling of familiarity. Nirmala Nirosha Subasinghe, 26, made her debut into the limelight with a commercial alongside upcoming young actress, Ureni Noshika, and popular young vocalist, Malith Perera. She acted a small part in the commercial “Minute Maid Orange”, popularly known as the Renu Hapena Rasa advertisement.

Her next stop was in a visual for the song Avihinsaka Nethu Viyaru Lesin sung by Susantha Ranasinghe and penned by Bawantha Prasad. This she followed with another visual of a song, Amal Fernando’s Punchi Kavikari.

Her introduction to teledramas had been unexpected as it was only while she was waiting for a bus that she happened to catch the eye of an onlooker who introduced her to many renowned directors in the field.

“Her name is Christine and she had many contacts in the teledrama industry. I was studying accounts in a class in Maharagama when I met her,” Nirmala explained.

It did not take long for her innocence and fresh burst of talent to shine through and she was soon offered a role in Wasantha Moragoda’s teledrama Kaluwara Eliya which starred many new faces.

“I had to portray a role of a girl who is going to a tuition class. There were only a few veterans included in the story but they were very helpful to us. They gave us tips on how to face the camera and the best way to do justice to our roles,” she said with a hint of gratitude.

She also gave life to a character of a doctor in Chamika Perera’s teledrama Suwanda Mata Dee and is expected to take on a role in Wasantha Moragoda’s Alawantha Asalwasiyo. Her maiden movie ‘Dynamite’, directed by Louis Vanderstraten, is being shot in a number of locations in Colombo these days.

“I haven’t made up my mind to choose acting as my profession when I stepped into the field but now I have developed a strong bond with the creations. I simply love the work and atmosphere on set,” she said adding that her profession is related to beauty culture.

She manages a beauty salon named “Salon Moonlight” in Weligampitiya.

“Since I am a beautician, I have been offered to work in that angle in the field as well but I have not accepted an offer....yet!” she says with a smile while adding that one of her future goals is to make it big in both sectors.

“I would love to act the role of an immature village girl but I am willing to try my hand at any role which I feel is suitable for me,” Nirmala said. She is the third child in a family of five. Her favourite actors are Vijaya Kumaratunge and Malani Fonseka from whom she draws her inspiration. She expressed her thanks to Christine, Donald Jayantha and all those who had helped her in her path to fame.

Byways Long and Short

‘Byways Long and Short’ a collection of Sinhala poetry by Tanuja Dharmapala, has been translated into Tamil and English.

This collection of poetry which include Tamil and English poems will be launched at AGKO Centre (Blackpool) Nuwara Eliya on July 12 at 3 p.m. Minister of Justice and Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation Dilan Perera will grace the occasion. This is the first time that collection of Sinhala poetry has been translated into these two languages in Sri Lanka.

Professor Sunanda Mahendra had done the English translation while the Tamil translation is by Saminadan Wimal, Senior Lecturer of Jaffna University. The line drawings, which were inspired by this collection, are by Shantha K. Herath.

A composition of music, which is based on the poems, included with a recitation, is done by Kapila Poogalaarachchi and Nelu Adhikari. Manubandu Vidyapathy will create a choreographic piece inspired by the poems and that piece is based on the same musical composition. A collection of photography, based on the poems created by Sudam Gunasinghe will also be shown in video film format.

All these different art forms will be in a fusion to create a new dimension in cultural understanding and art appreciation. Among the contributors to this special event are those from the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities.

The collection of poetry will be launched among the Sinhala and Tamil communities in the Uva district with special guests. The event is open to all art lovers of Nuwara Eliya.

Janakaraliya at Moneragala

The Janakaraliya Drama Troupe that performed drama and theatre programmes in the Hambantota District and Thambuththegama Educational Zone during the recent past with the assistance of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, is making preparation to hold their next programme in the Moneragala District.

A Jana Karaliya drama festival is scheduled to be held at the ‘Janakaraliya Mobile Theatre’ assembled on the Royal College Grounds of Moneragala from July 5 to 21 for schoolchildren and the public of the locale. Dramas to be staged during the festival are; ‘Charandas’ - which bagged nine awards at the ‘State Drama Festival - 2006’ in both Sinhala and Tamil mediums, ‘Seethambarapataya’ (Script - Mangala Senanayake), ‘Andara Mal’, ‘Makaraksha’ (Translation by Cyril C Perera), ‘Upan da’, ‘Kalpanthaya’ and two children’s dramas ‘Dev Lova Gamana’ and ‘Soru Evilla’ (Script - Sumith Samarasinghe).

In addition to Drama Festival ‘Drama and Theatre workshops’ will be held for the teachers and schoolchildren within the Moneragala District with the view to enhance creativity and upgrading artistic and entertaining skills of teachers and students.

‘Janakaraliya’ theatre art programme will be directed and administrated by Parakrama Niriella, H.A. Perera, Dilip Rohana and Ravindra Mapitigama.

Talent shines through at the ‘National Drama Festival 2008’

Sanjeewa Upendra (best actor for W.S. Wijesinghe Lee Harvey Oswald) and Anuradha Perera (best actress for Chamika Hathlahawaththa’s Hari Apooru Dawasake)	M. Thusyanthi (best actress - Tamil- for R. Kensal’s Or Iravu)

The presentation of awards of the ‘National Drama Festival 2008’ jointly organisede by the Department of Cultural Affairs National Drama Panel and Sri Lanka Arts Council was held at the BMICH recently. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena graced the occasion.

Around 13 Sinhala stage dramas which were chosen for the final round took to the stage at the John de Silva theatre from June 2 to 14. They included Api Dethenaka, Anh Dewpura, Jana Mithura, Panchali Nadagama, Palamu Dadayama, Punchi Palingu Rena, Mama Thawama Panapitin, Lee Harvey Oswald, Wariyapola Sumangala Hamuduruwo, Wes Muhuna, Sehesi Danawwa, Hari Apooru Dawasak and Thatu Evith.

RJ

[Stage dramas at Lionel Wendt]

Nari Bena and Jayasa saha Lenchina

Two famous dramas of the late Dayananda Gunawardena, Nari Bena and Jayasa saha Lenchina will be staged on July 13 at 3.30 p.m. and 7.00 p.m.

Produced in lyrical Sinhala folk style, the ever popular NariBena with its varied content of drums and bamboo kolam, staged throughout the past four decades has been and continues to be acclaimed by viewers around the country.

Jasaya saha Lenchina is a drama based on an age old masked play. Though the play, steps out of the Kolama tradition by making it more dramatic, it still includes the spirit of the Kolama through its lively music and expressive dance forms.

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Maamai Baanai

Veteran musicians Rohana Baddhage and Bandula Wijeweera together started the ballad musical drama Maamai Baanai over two decades ago.

This became very popular on stage and went to almost every village in this tiny island. Maamai Baanai came to stage far back in 1981. The duo became very popular among the spectators and reminiscent few of their songs as Mage Raththaran Helena and Kulagedarin Dummbara Kandu Watiye.

More than 300 shows were performed till 1996. Maamai Baanai will be back on stage with new features ushering to the today’s trend at Lionel Wendt Theatre on July 11 at 3.30 p.m. and 7.00 p.m.

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No Return

Award winning contemporary playwright and director Rajitha Dissanayake’s most recent theatre endeavour ‘No Return’ will be staged on July 12 at 3.30 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. ‘No Return’ is a compelling original play in which the hero returns home on completing a PhD at a foreign University with the hope of offering his services to the nation. On joining a State bureau that controls vital State information he soon discovers that there’s a price to pay for questioning the system and for defending the public right to information.