We were promised an evening of riveting theatre and ‘Encounters’, two deeply sensitive plays directed by Nafeesa Amiruddeen from May 14-17 at the British School Auditorium turned out to be just that- an unforgettable evening of high-class performance, where every syllable was well enunciated, audible and delivered with passion and panache.
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| Ranmali and Adam in
The Waiting Room |
Both plays were equally good - equally great, I should say - and only the hardest of hearts could have failed to be moved by the enthralling storyline and the brilliant acting.
Praise indeed, but then again hardly surprising when one considers the cast - Mohammed Adamaly who played both Paul in The Waiting Room, and Andy in Love Letters; Ranmali Mirchandani who portrayed Harriet in The Waiting Room; and Tracy Holsinger who characterised Melissa in Love Letters.. All three are undoubtedly among Sri Lanka’s finest thespians within the English theatre.
Anyway, let’s begin at the beginning...
‘The Waiting Room’
Starting off the double-bill for the evening was John Bowen’s masterful play, The Waiting Room, where the bitterness of love lost was the central theme of this well-written 35 minute production.
The set was minimalistic, typical of a waiting room in a government establishment - sparsely furnished, not quite clean, yesteryear’s magazines and a noticeable layer of dust everywhere, even on the dismal wall-mounted picture which served as an opportune backdrop to play noughts and crosses when bored out of one’s mind! Into this drab scenario walks Harriet (stylishly portrayed by Ranmali) - immaculate, smart, confident, arrogant, cynical, impatient. She is presently joined by Paul (could this long-haired wimp really be Adam?) who is a complete antithesis. Imagine our surprise when we realise that both these characters, who seem to be polar opposites, have been lovers of the same man!
The fiery dialogue that ensues when this comes to light had me sitting on the edge of my seat, transfixed, curious, and entertained. The play reflects on their unique relationship and in doing so it explores a myriad of human emotions and conflicts. And just when I was ready to pause awhile and ponder on what exactly these two were doing in the same place at the same time, all is revealed... A mortician wheels in the body of the lover for identification!
John Bowen has a knack for storytelling - unexpected, moving and real - and the two outstanding actors who played their part with absolute conviction, were able to capture it all sensitively in this suspenseful triumph.
‘Love Letters’
The concept behind A. R. Gurney’s sensitive romantic comedy, Love Letters - which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize - seems simple enough. After all, two people sitting on stage reading the letters they have written to each other from age 7 until death-do-they-part, does not sound particularly dramatic. However, in the hands of Gurney, this correspondence between two friends - Melissa and Andy (played to near perfection by Adam and Tracy) - spanning six decades, becomes a passionate exploration as they grow up, miss each other, and discover the power of words. Their lives and loves take almost opposite paths but their enduring friendship survives all and evolves in a way that brings them back together.
The acting was so subtle, funny and clever, that it was hard to believe that the entire audience sat in hushed concentration throughout. The play required the actors to age fifty years over the course of two hours - and I am inclined to think that no one other than Adam and Tracy could have pulled this off so effectively. The power of the script is in the connection that the two make without ever looking at each other. They talk, and they react, and the skilful delivery of words do the rest - which only goes to show how a powerful script needs very little physicalisation to succeed.
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| Tracy and Adam in Love Letters |
Love Letters is reputedly one of Gurney’s finest works, and as he takes us along a journey through the characters’ emotions, we soon realise that underneath its simplicity is an energetic and thought-provoking story of dizzying emotional power - the type of funny, intimate, poignant and touching love-story that leaves a sizeable lump in one’s throat..
‘Respect’ to Nafeesa Amiruddeen under whose meticulous direction we were treated to the very best of Adam, Tracy and Ranmali. In both plays which were superbly directed, she was able to capture the mannerisms of these upper-middle class characters with grace and dazzling economy. Careful attention to detail was given in the portrayal of these characters. Hats off to all those involved in The Performing Arts Company - and here’s looking forward to October
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