Everyone will recognise someone on stage!
Gehan Blok first developed a palate for theatre in 2005, when he was chosen to play Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream while schooling at St. Peter’s College. Under the guidance of Jehan Bastians and Neidra Williams, the young boy blossomed from a newcomer into an accomplished actor, leaving school and joining acclaimed casts including those of Steve de la Zilwa and Jerome L. De Silva to gain a quick reputation for his ability to fit well into whatever role was thrust his way.
Gehan Blok: Involved in drama since 2005
While he was often cast as the archetypical villain (partly thanks to a set of impressive eyebrows, perhaps), Blok has also portrayed serious, complex characters in plays such as Mountain Language, The War Reporter and Widows. Earlier this year he played the weak willed Sorbier in Men Without Shadows. “I’ve been blessed to work with a diverse, talented set of directors and casts,” he says. “It’s given me the opportunity to experience theatre from all angles.” From comedy, to satire, musicals and the darker, more complex productions Blok has taken on roles that challenge him as an actor. Now, in making the transition to his first fully fledged directorial debut, he has enough experience to take on the role with conviction.
When Identities Inc. (a theatre group formed by Blok and a selection of dynamic young regulars in the field) presents David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross two weeks from now they’ll be bringing to life one of the best scripts written by Mamet, says Blok. “The writing is so concise and compact-there’s not a line out of place.” The play, about four real estate agents pushed to their limit in a cut throat, scheming office and their merciless management is sure to strike a chord with the audience. Blok read the script some time back and watched the film version as well. Both inspired in him a keen desire to see this magnificent piece of writing on a local stage.
Having obtained the script from Samuel French, Inc., he contacted the Censor Board before doing anything else for the play veers heavily toward mature language and content. Once approval was received, the team at Identities began their work. Readings, the assembling of the cast and crew and deciding which role best fit who were the initial calls to be made. A cast of eight were chosen; Dominic Kellar, Shanaka Amarasinghe, Rajiv Ponweera, Andre Perera, Dino Corera, Niren Neydorff, Miranga Ariyaratne and Hans Billimoria. “Everyone gets along really well,” smiles the director. “We’ve got this Whatsapp thread that we use to communicate, poke fun at each other and share funny stuff everyone finds on the internet. They’re so easy to work with given the big names and they all take direction really well.”
The director and cast sat together to figure out what each character’s backstory would be. “These are characters that you can relate to,” he says. “Everyone’s going to find someone on stage that they recognise as themselves, or someone they know.” This ability to portray reality as it is with little fuss and dramatisation is perhaps the play’s greatest strength, says the director. “All of it sounds incredibly authentic, which is important to us.”
He finds a great support system in his crew, he beams. Together with a talented team Blok directed the first trailer for Glengarry, marking the group’s first film production as well. In staging a play that is as humorous as it is dark, Blok hopes that their audience will appreciate the thought and enthusiasm of both the cast and crew who’ve given their free time so willingly to ensure that their first production is a stellar one. “This is a story for every man or woman who has worked for a living,” he says simply.
Glengarry Glen Ross goes on the boards at the Punchi Theatre in Borella on July 17, 18, 19 and 20. Tickets are available at Quickee.lk