‘Tharawo Igilithi’, veteran playwright Lucian Bulathsinhala’s extremely popular stage play in the 1980 and 1990s has made a comeback after ten years as a novel production.
First staged in July 24, 1981 at Lumbini Theatre, Colombo, the play became immensely popular among the Sri Lankan theatre lovers and made shows around the country to packed audience.
The first cast included Vijaya Nandasiri, Neil Alles, Jayalath Manoratne, Jayasiri Chandrajith, Rodney Warnakula, Anula Bulathsinghala, Padmini Divithurugama and Lucian himself.
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| A scene from the first production |
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| Rodney and Mercy in Tharawo Igilethi |
The overbooked play however failed mainly due to the cast which left it. Soon “Tharawo Igilethi’ made the second coming with some new faces and was first staged at Nuwara Eliya on April 25, 1982. Once again the popular play went around the country with its evergreen 11 songs like ‘Made Lagina Tharawan’ and ‘Sobawade’ under the musical direction of late singer and musician Visharada Gunadasa Kapuge. The cast that joined for the second production was U. Ariyawimal, Saman Bokalawala, Mercy Edirisinghe, Jackson Anthony together with Rodney Warnakula, Anula Bulathsinghala and Nandasena Hewage who were in the first production. With continuous performance for more than fifteen years and with many shows the play finally came to a halt in 1999.
“Tharawo Igilethi would never make a comeback for the benefit of the present generation if not for the new producers Bandula Ekanayake, Channa Fernando, H. D. Premasiri and Bandara Eheliyagoda,” Lucian told with gratitude to the new producers.
The latest production is played by Harsha Bulathsinhala, Sumith Rathnayake, Niroshan Wijesinghe, Indika Jayasinghe, Piyumi Shanika Botheju, Randima Thilini Perera, Anura Bandara Rajaguru, Ferni Roshini, Mahesh Uyanwatte, Gamini Samarakoon and Rodney Warnakula who was there from the first show of Tharawo Igilethi.
Incidentally the return of ‘Tharawo Igilethi’ with its popular music direction also coincides with the sixth death anniversary of its music director Gunadasa Kapuge.
Behind the screen in the new production are Newton Gunasekara handling stage management, Upali Herath the stage setting, Swineetha Subasinghe as the costume designer, Jerome de Silva as the dance choreographer, Nimal Rajapaksa as the make up and Susantha Nanayakkara and Rohana Hewawitharana in charge of the art direction.
The new music arrangements based on Kapuge’s original composition were by Harsha Bulathsinhala.
Bandula Ekanayake, Channa Fernando, H. D. Premasiri and Bandara Eheliyagoda on behalf of ‘Serenity Creations’ have produced the play.
‘Tharawo Igilethi’ will be staged at the BMICH on April 30, in Galle on May 16, in Negombo on May 31 and in Hanwella on June 23. |
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