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Satirical eye on social stigmas

Author: Premaranjith

Tilakaratne

Pages: 58

63 Group

Price: Rs. 150

Gender equality had been a topic of serious debate for many years however it is probably only a few with a witty sense of humour and the talent to write hilarious farce like Premajanjith Tilakaratne who can carry off the comedy hand in hand with serious issues in such a manner.

Through his latest play, 'Kingdom of Liars', the renowned author had gone to an extent as far as to give symbolic names to established characters in our social setting had not spared any of the leading figures of the social set up from satire.

The award winning dramatist of Wahalak Nethi Geyak had parodied gender issues and mistrust between individuals from the layers of society effectively. The story, a hilarious farce on love and politics, revolves around the characters of King pin, Dolly, Justice de Law, Major Mess, Lieman, Fancy and Richman. The names are of significant value as each of them suggest the character's strongest, or rather in this case the weakest points which contribute to the turn of events.

Though the characters are not based on any renowned figures, we are able to identify some of the traits of their roles. Similar to the satires of Roman playwrights like Plautus, the dramatist had based the plot in a fictitious location.

However it is evident that he draws his inspirations from real life experiences and news circulating around him. Deceit plays the central role in the incidents which follow and suggest the true state of the authorities who run the imaginary city of Madborough.

Backed by experience from over four decades in the field, Tilakaratne entered the drama sector in 1963 with Vagurubima, a tragic play centering on lust and discontentment. His second piece of work, Wahalak Nethi Geyak explores the relationship between a law-abiding son and a daredevil father. He made a faux pas when he adapted Joe Orten's black comedy 'Entertaining Mr. Sloane', a drama which was met with hostility by the literal elitists.

Censors banned its Sinhala version titled Thoththa Baba but former Minister of education and Cultural Affairs, I.M.R.A. Iriyagolla arranged for it to be staged with a few alterations.

Unfortunately though the play was received with much interest, criticism and brickbats followed and the play met with an untimely death. Tilakaratne returned back to tragedy and two plays, Ammai Appai in 1966 and Julie in 1977 based on the works of Swedish playwright August Strindberg followed.

He adapted the American musical 'West Side story' in 1968 and the Sinhala version was titled Kontare. In 1979 he added a modern touch to John de Silva's Sri Wickrama relating the tale of the last king of the island on behalf of the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation.

However he was not satisfied for he wished to entertain masses and noting that it is comedies which appealed to a majority, he staged two creations, Sarade Seetha and Devi, both attacking hypocrisy of the modern society run by the open economy.

'Kingdom of Liars' sees these two plays brought together into a single creation in English. With a string of absurd incidents and outrageous characters, there is no doubt that the play would keep its audience entertained till the end.

Ruwini Jayawardana

 

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