Mahasamayama : goes magnificent on lotus Pond

Science and myth: an interfusion:

Ishara Jayawardane

We all grew up with stories. Some of those stories told time and again became legends. Myths. Myths play a powerful role even in modern day society. Because deep in our subconscious some of us yearn for it. We live in a cynical society. But sometimes we get an opportunity to step out of this world we call reality and step into another world. A world of magic.

Cast animatedly discussing the practices.

Our world calls us to believe in science. Centuries ago our ancestors believed in magic. But sometimes, sometimes science and magic come together. Modern day technology is entwined with myth. And in short that is Mahasamayama.

Professor Ariyaratne Athugala's Mahasamayama was staged at Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre last Wednesday.

"Mahasamayama is a giant creation to take place on the stage of Nelum Pokuna. When we follow its roots we find our traditional drama culture. Historically our villagers understood this very well. However today this has been distanced from our society. So Professor Athugala, from this traditional drama culture has selected the fight between Gotymbara and Mahasona has blended this into modern day politics and culture. I'm sure this will turn into an epic production. From this a new art form will arise I think. It is similar to an Opera and a Cantata - a Sinhala opera. Another form of visual arts. This is a bit of a difficult task. A bit risky. An opera artist is someone who been seasoned in the opera field for some time. In Sri Lanka there are no such opera artists. So what we have here are people who are experienced in stage music and dance. This will be a new turn in Sinhala drama. Professor Athugala invites the next generation to produce new creations and use Nelum Pokuna. I believe these creations will become big hits. If that happens there will be a new trend in Sri Lanka. The time has come for this," said Sriyantha Mendis

Daily News also spoke to Professor Sunanda Mahendra about his take on this major production. "This of course is based on a legend, where a metamorphosis takes place as regards to two characters - One is Gotaimbara and the other is Mahasona. But the most important point is not that.

This has given way to various kinds of beliefs, rituals, attitudes where evil and good - good should dominate over evil. When a person becomes evil minded he becomes a devil. When a person becomes free from evil deeds, when he is serene and pure in his thoughts and actions he is the god. It is really a massive production as far as I can see.

Gathering from what I have read and what I feel, this can go into the making of a musical folk drama. The public response to this may not be available from this kind of stage.

Team with the stage sets.

This is a massive theatrical venture where of course a lot of people are taking part. A fine Aesthetic sense is available. Dance forms, rituals, sceneries, the backdrops, conflict of ideas, beauty versus evil, all these nuances are there. So let's see how it goes. I think this kind of thing is needed. We need a welcome variant to the existing pattern. The existing pattern of theatre is misunderstood. Because the theatre person believes - the playwright director, actors believe it should always be confined to places like Havelock Town, Lionel Wendt, Bishops College but I visualize the concept of total theatre about which I am interested. The folk theater in the village - at the village level it is the participation that matters. Members of the audience will be participants. It is more a circus theater.

These types of play are needed in order to help the foreigners to get an idea of what our theatre would have been in the past. We have a had a theatrical tradition down through the centuries Now that we have Nelum Pokuna the chances are we can once again go into the circus theatre.

That is what you call the total theatre. The director should have a good vision - how to handle the choreography, how to handle the actors, how to handle the script, how to handle the stagecraft." Professor Mahendra thus concluded.