A thriller with a twist
For Javin Thomas the production ‘Blood Money’ was the first play he read with the intention of staging. Wanting a cast of predominantly female characters he finds it interesting to put on one stage, a star cast of women who not only look, but as he puts it “ are completely different people” from how they think to how they behave both on and off stage.
Javin
“Javin fits in nicely with how Silent Hands works,” shares Jehan Bastians producer of ‘Blood Money’ who is confident that the debutant has what it takes to give the audience what they want of a Silent Hands play.
Described as a comedy-thriller the play is not your typical “laugh out loud” kind of comedy he discloses. The story about a married couple with a shady past is riddled with emotion but peppered with wit and sarcasm. Javin feels that it all adds to the rollercoaster ride of intricately connected scenes that seem utterly disjointed.
The artful script and tension built up by the mystery fascinated him-“It’s how it all plays out” he shares, promising to keep the audience on the edge of its seat. Jehan feels that the time has come to expose Sri Lankan audiences to this genre which isn’t a typical who-done-it. Similar in tone to a previous Silent Hands production- The secret Life of Sherlock Holmes, he feels that it comes down to a balance in terms of entertaining an audience and treating them to something a little different to what they would expect..
The reversal of roles means Jehan is as he puts it is running around, getting things done, while Javin makes the magic happen on stage. As with any debut there is pressure involved, he admits to being a little nervous as much as he is excited. Hoping to use the nerves as positive energy to do justice to the script he feels grateful for the chance to stage a play-his first, under the Silent Hands heritage.
The cast of Neidra Williams, Shanuki De Alwis, Andre Perera, Liza De Jong and Gem will under the direction of Javin Thomas present Blood Money from June 21-22 at the Lionel Wendt. Tickets will be available at Rs. 1500, 1000, 750 and Rs. 500 for unreserved balcony seats at the Wendt.