How they walked into ‘He comes from jaffna’
View(s):Duvindi Illankoon has a chat with the old, the new and the in-between who make up the cast of a timeless classic produced by Jith Peiris
Anuruddha Fernando struggles with his verti all evening. “It’ll fall, it’ll fall,” warn his fellow cast members every time he moves and considering there’s a kids party in full swing next door, that would spell disaster. As ‘He comes from Jaffna’s irrepressible Durai, Anuruddha will spend the entirety of next weekend in this traditionally ‘Jaffna Tamil’ kit so he can only hope practice makes perfect. And don’t even get him started on the thalappawa on his head!
All for laughter: From L-r, Shalini, Kanishka, Anuruddha and Shehan. Anuruddha and Michelle appear on our Magazine cover. Pix by Indika Handuwala
The cast of Jith Peiris’ ‘He Comes from Jaffna’ is a grand mix of the old, the new and the in-between. Anuruddha and Kanishka Herat return to the same roles they took on two years ago when the production was staged; Michelle Herft and Anuk Munasinghe have worked with the director before, but not in this enactment. Then there’s Shehan Wijemanne and Shalini Mathangaweeera for whom being in a Jith Peiris production is an all-new experience. What they all have in common is an undeniable love of theatre for laughs.
We meet the cast at the Bayleaf restaurant, the perfect backdrop for the early 1900’s colonial setting of the E.F.C. Ludowyk classic. The story unfolds amidst the imposing Colombo residence of Cleveland Rajaratnam as his brother-in-law from a former marriage pays him a much dreaded visit. Durai is your stereotypical Jaffna Tamil; full of well worn titbits of unasked for wisdom and an irrepressible interest in other people’s affairs. Cleveland’s wife Marion and son Raju are spectators to the drama that unfolds, as Durai’s son tries to come to terms with his mounting debt and Raju attempts to woo the feisty Kamini, while Cleveland’s soft spot for those in trouble gets the better of him.
“It’s a beautiful story of old Ceylon,” says Michelle Herft who plays Marion Rajaratnam, Cleveland’s British wife. “The play celebrates a period not many of us knew-a pre war period, when things were different.” Ludowyk has been criticised for creating the stereotypical version of different ethnicities-does that detract from the play for her? “Definitely not. I wouldn’t say he really stereotypes as such. The characters he created are ones we can identify with. With the same brush he paints these different communities living in harmony.”
Michelle finds her own character rather one-dimensional though with no subtle nuances that she can play with. Yet it’s a role she enjoys. The trick is not to read too much into Marion, she says. Marion enjoys an easy relationship with her son by marriage, Raju. “But it’s not always all roses,” says Kanishka Herat of his role. “Raju occasionally finds it difficult to call someone closer to his own age ‘mother’, so sometimes you’ll find him awkwardly calling her ‘Mrs. Rajaratnam’!” Kanishka has a rather distinguished pair of shoes to fill in this play-his great grandfather, the legendary E.C.B. Wijesinghe made a name for himself as Durai back in the 70’s. It’s nice to be part of something so close to his family’s heart, says Kanishka. “When people find out that we’re related they’ll often come up and tell me about the time he took part in this play and about how funny he was. It’s pretty nice.”
Completing the on-stage family is Shehan Wijemanne as Cleveland Rajaratnam. Cleveland is a man rather easy to gauge on first impression. “He’s a softie,” says Shehan. “He tries-and fails miserably-to project this image of a tough, no nonsense man but really, he’s as soft-hearted as they come.” This trait is not without its consequences. The play unfolds perhaps mainly due to Cleveland’s inability to say no-from Durai imposing what he imagines to be his welcome presence on the Rajaratnams to shoemaker Isaacz ripping him off on a fair few months rent. Shehan, who has mainly worked with Jehan Aloysius previously says that this role is a major change from what he’s used to. He’s enjoying the dynamics between his character and Durai; as completely different personalities they complement each other on stage.
For Anuruddha, this is the role he loves coming back to. “I love working with Jith and I’m very fond of this play. It gives you a warm feeling all over no? It’s just one of those feel good plays. It takes you back to a time when everything was all right with the world.” Bringing the iconic Durai onto the stage is easier for him than you might think. “I used to have a friend who had a father just like Durai,” he grins. “I merely added to it, the first time around.”
Reprising the role he finds himself adding improvements here and there but the essence of the character remains the same. Durai is a tough-nut and stingy to the core but he’s got a heart of gold says Anuruddha. “Where it counts, he’s the best man you could go to. The Durai’s and Cleveland’s of the world are few and far between these days. And maybe that’s what makes the play such a treat to watch.”
Joining this quartet are Anuk Munasinghe as Durai’s son Aru, Shalini Mathngaweera as Raju’s sweetheart Kamini, Chinthaka Fernando as shoemaker Isaacz and Avishka De Alwis as the Clevelands’ housekeeper Martin.
Ludowyk’s colonial classic has proved to be a hit with local audiences. Will Jith Peiris and his cast pull it off again? Find out when He comes from Jaffna goes on the boards at the Lionel Wendt from July 4-7. Tickets and box plan for the show are available at the Wendt.
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