Celebration of theatre
Young playwright Ravindra Ariyaratne celebrates the success of his theatrical career in the new year as he stages the 800th show of his debut play ‘Balloth Ekka Behe’ and 150th show of his second play ‘Charitha Horu Aran’ at 7 pm on January 7 and 8 respectively at the Lionel Wendt theatre.
Both plays, political satires had been successful and continual both here and abroad.
“The entire successes of the two plays were due to audience. There were people who had watched these two dramas over and over again,” the playwright Ravindra Ariyaratne said.
According to Ariyaratne the biggest challenge for him to continue the play is getting dates from the cast most of whom were busy actors and actresses in television and cinema.
He was grateful to late actor Vijeya Nandasiri who played the lead role in ‘Balloth Ekka behe’. Now it is played by Dayadeva Edirisinghe.
“Both these plays are satire on existing political system. While ‘Balloth Ekka’ deals around a politician who is running away from his voters, ‘Charithe Horu Arang’ deals about two politician who forget who they were once they are in power,” Ariyaratne explained.
Ariyaratne is celebrating his 20th year in theatre in the year 2017 and is busy scripting his latest play.
“Every year a large number of professionals like doctors and engineers are created by the education system but it is a question whether any new artistes or creators of new art are born,” Ariyaratne, a student of Nakkawattne National School in Kuliyapitiya said.
There were instances where we had to enlighten children before the play was shown.
Asked about the criticism against comedy plays that they are below classical standards, Ariyaratne said comedy was part of our culture.
“Over the years our traditional art like Sokari and Nadagam were comedies and it is inherent to us,’.
“Rather than trying to teach lessons we must try to entertain people. That is why people are coming to enjoy a theatreor any other work of art,” he said.