The importance of pushing boundaries
Gehan Blok
The scene is suspiciously low-key for a play rehearsal. Five men sit in a row, talking, suddenly bursting into defensive anger or murmuring in soft dejected tones. Sitting in the audience is a voyeuristic experience. Hearing their stories, fears and despondence makes one wonder how one specific organ can control a man’s life.
When Identities Inc takes the stage this August, they will be answering many unasked questions in their version of Martin Casella’s “The Irish Curse”. Identities Inc made a dramatic entrance into local theatre in 2014 with sold-out performances of David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize winning play “Glengarry Glen Ross.” The group comprises some of local theatre’s already established, though young names along with other artistic personalities. Glengarry wasn’t the directorial debut of Gehan Blok but it was his first major production with Identities (of which he is a founding member).
Blok needs little introduction to local theatre-goers. His theatre roots go back to Interschool Shakespeare Drama Competitions. Known for his much relished performances as the villain of the piece, he has also taken on major roles in musical theatre and comedy.
When it comes to directing, Blok’s vision is to continually try different genres and styles. For his second time in the director’s chair, Blok and Identities are slowly surpassing the image of a production company putting on a play purely for entertainment. They enjoy their share of laughs; but Blok knew from the very beginning what sort of plays he wanted to produce. “I prefer to do drama for adult audiences” for the simple reason that it allows him to push boundaries, in terms of script and content, he says.
He knew it needed to be staged the moment he read it. “The Irish Curse” premiered in 2005 to a sold out run. It won the Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Playwriting at the New York International Fringe Festival and made its European debut at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival to rave reviews.
“What I love is the dialogue” explains Blok. Casella’s seamless writing is 90 minutes of brutally explicit, hilarious and thought provoking dialogue with minimum movement. Revolving around five Irish men living in New York, the sole backdrop is a Catholic Church basement where a priest conducts a self-help group for men.
Another arresting if not landmark feature of the play is its theme. “You don’t usually hear men talk about their insecurities” he adds. From its burning dialogue to intimate character portrayals, the play questions the often unmentionable topic of male sexuality, manhood and vulnerability along with body image.
When he first showed the script to his all male cast, it was surprisingly welcomed. “Men are very different when they are with other men” allowing audiences to see facades and emotional walls come crumbling down with each character’s confession and deep seated insecurity. It also says a lot about the young director’s style. He is upfront about the explicit content, which he does not intend to sugar coat and make subtle. Having acted in programmes such as the Grassrooted Trust’s annual V-Day, Blok was moved by the packed audience at this year’s edition. He sees the obvious risk of not reaching every possible person, but it’s a message he thinks is important. If he had his way, he would even relax the age limit, allowing older teenagers to watch. “That’s the time teenagers are going through these changes and learning about themselves.”
With only two weeks to go the cast are expectantly waiting in the wings. Controversial or not, the director only hopes his audience will go back home with an enlightened perspective. Identities Inc presents “The Irish Curse” in association with Samuel French Inc. The cast comprises of Dominic Keller, Gehan Blok, Andre Perera, Dino Corera and Pasan Ranaweera. The play goes on the boards from August 7 to 9 at the Lionel Wendt. Tickets priced at Rs. 2000, 1500, 1000 and 600 and are available at the Lionel Wendt. The play is for adults.