Bold and unique theatre experience
Pix by- Dilanjan Seniviratne
It looks like the rains are going to continue throughout this week as CentreStage Productions, forecast ‘Stormy Weather’, in Colombo. At the Lionel Wendt theatre, to be precise, from March 24 -26.
Written and directed by Jehan Aloysius, ‘Stormy Weather’ is set in the late 1940’s. It revolves around the murder of Noel Richards and the subsequent investigation by a rather unorthodox inspector.
Just like most men, Noel seems to enjoy being the alpha male or the master of the women in his life. Till, of course, he is found dead, with fifteen stab wounds to his chest and neck areas.
As the nameless inspector carries out investigations, it is discovered that each of these women, in Noel’s life, seem to have different secrets and motives to kill him. However the biggest question that looms over like a dark cloud, is which of them had the biggest motive?
The arrival of the storm which features prominently in the play, doesn’t seem to help much either. The play goes along, making one wonder if Noel’s patriarchal dominance has been finally ‘mastered’ and violently subverted by these women.Could the murderess be Avanti the lover, Therese the wife, or Charmain, the sister?
The overall mood, production design and acting style of the production is inspired by the film noir or ‘dark cinema’ thrillers of the 1940’s and 1950’s, as the play was written to a non-linier cinematic narrative style.
The storm in the play also speaks of the stormy relationships between the characters, Jehan tells us.
He explains, the characters seem to want to break away from the stereotypes that they are objectified and cast as by the writer. “They also seem to want to crack the veneer and drop the facade they portray in the melodrama,” he relates.
According to Jehan, in the world of film noir, the sultry vamp, the devoted wife and the eccentric sister seem to be recognisable archetypes. In the play, these characters seem to be very conscious of the ‘constructed-ness’ of their archetypal identities and roles. And theyseem to want to escape those very archetypes.
The production will be presented as a black and white movie, set in the late 1940’s with both live action and filmed sequences produced by Video Image.
Stormy Weather was first showcased in 2009, nearly eight years ago. This time, the staging of the play is quite different, it is also tighter and the comedy element is also more prominent this time.Jehan tells us, the new cast members make it a whole new show.
“The characterisation and chemistry has been altered for both the new venue and the energy required for a more dynamic performance and contemporary audience,” he explains.
Jehan adds, the characters are archetypal and occasionally pay homage to renowned film noir characters. The new cast makes it a whole new show in fact!
“Audiences also change with time, so plays need to adapt. It’s always an organic process. I’m excited to see the new show with an audience,” he says.
The production has a generous dose of suspense, drama and occasional horror and Centrestage promises that it “is bound to be a bold and unique theatre experience for lovers of cutting-edge theatre.”
The promising and experienced cast,includes Dmitri Gunatilake, Kavitha Gunesekera, Piorina Fernando, Dino Corera, Amesh De Silva and Atira Bandaranayke.
| Stormy Weatherwill take on the Lionel Wendt from March 24 to 26. The Box Office is now open and Tickets are priced at Rs.2000/- , Rs.1500/- , Rs.1000/- and Rs.600 (balcony). |
