Udayasiri Wickremaratne’s stage play turns the spotlight on media
The role of the media is one that comes into focus regularly and theater goers in Sri Lanka are often treated by way of stage plays to various points of view on the subject. In the absence of little or no introspection by the media on their rightful role, such scrutiny by way of various forums is a crying need.
Udayasiri Wickremaratne’s stage play ‘Thunsiya Heta-eka – 361’, is one such attempt to explore the television medium which is undoubtedly the most popular medium particularly among youth. The name ‘Thunsiya Heta-eka -361’ is a pun on a popular television political talk show which airs over a local channel and is known for its intense grilling of guests on the show, mainly politicians.
The aim of the play is to expose the role that the media, in this case television, plays in hoodwinking the people while professing to tell them the absolute truth and nothing but the truth.
Given the large crowd the play has attracted since its debut in May this year, it is obvious that the public love to see the tables turned on the media once in a way, even if it is a staged version. Gihan Fernando, the ubiquitous actor who has endeared himself to thousands of Lankan theater goers as well as television viewers by his versatility plays the lead role of Panditharatne and he is equally matched in acting skills by his co-actor Umayangana Wickremasinghe. Together, with a supporting cast, they take the audience through the one-and-a-half-hour play which is largely light entertainment with a few thought provoking moments sprinkled in between.
The stage is set to a TV interview room with Umayangana playing the role of anchor while Gihan is the interviewee. He is a “jack of all trades” able to comment on any subject and has a knack for singing too which brings the play to life just when the talking gets too much. The interruptions in between for advertisements are played out by different actors in the most entertaining manner while call-ins by viewers with their questions add more essence to the play.
The questions posed by the anchor carries a lot of political flavor and have been updated to keep up with the current day political developments but but all in all ‘Thunsiya heta eka -361’ falls far short of bringing the medium of television under proper scrutiny.
Most viewers would tell you that television has largely become a huge marketplace place today, a place where not only material things, but ideals and ideas are sold. From the daily dose of soothsayers to beauticians, to other experts who advise people on how they should shape their daily lives, the world of glamour and wealth that television imposes on the public has become inescapable.
While the advertisements in between breaks in the play show the ridiculousness to which advertising has grown, the discussion fails to expose the manner in which the media are as much part of the attempt to hoodwink the public as much as politicians or businesses do. What is shown is how the anchor is prompted to take a certain line in her questioning and is the pretty face used to cover the ugly side of the game, but the play does not go far enough to bring in more examples to expose the “channel”. What should have been voiced is that media organisations are by themselves businesses.
The director could have done well to go beyond what people generally know is wrong with television these days and dug a little deeper to question who really pulls the strings from behind while the public lap up whatever appears on their television screens. Some mention is also needed of the competitive nature of television today, which, driven by the hunger for high ratings, has become a dog eat dog business with little regard for ethical and moral considerations.
The time is certainly rife for more scrutiny of the media even though it could mean a backlash against those who dare do it. Unlike politicians who are at the recovering end of brickbats all the time and are quite attuned to criticism, the media generally does not take criticism well. Theater, to some extent, remains one of the few mediums in the country through which such questions can be raised given that theater still operates on small budgets and those involved still do it largely for the love of it.
While Udayasiri Wickremaratne has done well to open out a discussion of sorts, he and his team will need to do more to put the media on the spot. It’s way past the time when light hearted banter on the role of the media would satisfy the public. In an era when the media is screaming for more transparency and accountability from all and sundry, it’s only fair for the role of the media too to be questioned and theatreis a great place to start.
While appreciating the two leading actors who put in a great effort carrying the play forward and keeping the audience entertained throughout, a little more research by the director and others involved would have helped turn ‘Thunsiya heta eka -361’ into a more thought-provoking play.