Sinhabahu and Maname rejuvenated
Ishara JAYAWARDANE
With joy the mighty Sinhabahu saw his son, but when the arrow pierced
his side his love turned to anger. The much loved story of Sinhabahu is
one that we loved to hear as children and in April we will see this
drama take place in novel surroundings. Audiences can see it at Nelum
Pokuna.
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Sinhabahu |
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Maname |
Together with Producer and Director Lalitha Sarathchandra and her
band of thespians the Presidential Secretariat and the Administration of
Nelum Pokuna will bring to Colombo Audiences Sinhabahu and Maname two
timeless dramas, both the creations of Sinhala literary genius
Sarathchandra. This production will revitalize Sinhalese Drama Culture
and also set the trend of attracting producers, directors and audiences
to Nelum Pokuna.
"I have not changed the songs or dance or anything but the production
techniques I have changed a little bit.
Normally we have four or five veddas but this time we have 12 or 13
Veddas. There is a beautiful light system. I have never seen a light
system like that before. There are lots of light effects. But I will not
be using all of them because it is not suitable for the play because it
is a Nadagam and within the Nadagam style I use those techniques. So
there are old and new actors and actresses, some of them who have come
out of retirement.
Throughout all of this I have received a tremendous amount of
happiness doing a play in these surroundings.
The first day I did rehearsals on that stage I felt so happy and
thought I am the luckiest directress in Sri Lanka.
Indeed in her very own words Lalitha Sarachchandra says it is her
'duty' to carry on with these dramas in memory of Ediriweera
Sarachchandra. Sinhabahu will be shown on April 1 at 2.30 pm (school
show) and 6.30pm (public show) and Maname on April 3 at 6.30 pm (public
show).
For the last 50 Years Sinhabahu has been held in various parts of the
country, while for 55 years Maname has been held throughout the country.
The difference with this production is that it is being held without a
sound system.
In other words audiences will be hearing natural voices. This will be
a new experience for audiences, because they will be watching these
plays in a way that they have never seen before due to the technology
and the way the Nelum Pokuna Auditorium has been built.
The auditorium has 1288 seats and it has been built in such a way
that the natural voice travels. Acoustics are 100% at Nelum Pokuna which
is without doubt the best theatre in Sri Lanka. The light effect along
with the air-conditioning and seating provide for maximum comfort.
"We called Lalitha Sarachchandra as she had evinced an interest in
doing a play at Nelum Pokuna. Professor Sarachchandra enriched Sinhala
drama culture and this will be the ideal commemoration to him.
We expect a full audience. Once Nelum Pokuna becomes popular then we
will have a regular crowd here," said Manager Operation and
Administration, Lieutenant Colonel Kumara Peiris. |
