With the well-known comedy “Well Mudaliyar, How!” written by E.M.W. Joseph 75 years ago, set to make a return, the cast sat down with the Sunday Times to share their thoughts and discuss the characters in today’s context.
The setting is the early 20th century and one of the key characters in this comedy is the Notary, played by Anuruddha Fernando. “My wife’s last wish was that my daughter becomes the Mudaliyar’s son’s wife,” says Anuruddha adding that the Mudaliyar has borrowed Rs. 30,000 from him (the Notary) and so he tries to manipulate the situation.
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| Sajith Amendra, Ashini Fernando and Brandon Ingram as Chandra, Phyllis and Freddy. |
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| Sashi Mendis, Anuruddha Fernando and Hans Bilimoria as the Mudaliyar’s wife, the Notary and the Mudaliyar |
They are the best of buddies so much so the Mudaliyar even entrusts him with the task of finding a suitable partner for his son. Seizing the chance to set his daughter up with the Mudaliyar’s son, the Notary hatches a plan. “When I say he should do something, he does it,” quips Anuruddha about the influence the Notary wields on the Mudaliyar.
In the meantime, the Mudaliyar’s daughter and the Notary’s son have been having an affair for two years which the Notary is aware of. Appearances have to be preserved at all costs and it is not acceptable for the Mudaliyar’s children to get involved with the Notary’s children, explains Anuruddha. All the Notary’s plotting and planning work to his advantage. “The play is set in its time and is very much like Pride and Prejudice – in terms of how the mother and father would behave when it comes to marriage of their children,” explains Anuruddha.
A feature of Anuruddha’s character is his use of the English language. “My English is more Singlish,” he says adding that this is a feature to look forward to as the play unfolds.
“I make the role mine and do my own thing with it,” Anuruddha says of his role which has been played by many theatre greats including E. C. B. Wijesinghe and more recently Arun Dias Bandaranaike. He adds, “I am always cast in this comic category so it is just up my street!”
Hans Billimoria who plays the Mudaliyar explains that his character is that of a pompous man. “He is like a poor man who tries to live an extravagant lifestyle with other peoples’ money especially that of the Notary’s. Matters of class and status are vital to the Mudaliyar. “It’s a difficult role to play,” he says, but he also considers it a privilege and exciting to be part of Well Mudaliyar, How!
“The Mudaliyar’s wife is a typical lady of that time, keen to get her children well married and have a say in the matters of the household,” says Sashi Mendis who plays the dominating character. Incidentally, Sashi played this role ten years ago and says it is nice to be doing it once again with a great cast. Ashini Fernando plays Phyllis, the Mudaliyar’s daughter. “I’m educated as I have gone to university and got a BA,” she says, adding “I am used to my Colombo lifestyle and when I come home for the weekend my parents have a proposal for me!” Later they find out that this person, Bandara is a crook.
However Phyllis makes use of the circumstances and tells her parents that she will agree not to go ahead with the proposal, only if they allow her to marry someone of her own choice as she is already involved with the Notary’s son, Chandra, played by Sajith Amendra. Chandra is an academic and the two have met in the university. Chandra is one who believes in doing things the proper way but his father, the Notary, does otherwise.
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| Hans Bilimoria as the arrogant Mudaliyar |
Freddy is the Mudaliyar’s son, a recent returnee from Europe having failed in his studies. Brandon Ingram takes on the role of the debt-ridden young man. Even though this is one of the smaller roles he has played it’s been interesting to see how the characters are interwoven, Brandon says.
“I don’t like to stereotype myself to anything – I have played a suicidal teenager and even acted in Japanese theatre,” he explains adding, “in any role I’ve done, there’s always a part of me in the role so it’s been interesting to play.”
Dila Weerasinghe plays Emily, the Notary’s daughter, a role she took in an earlier production. “I am a shy village lass and am someone who stitches and does embroidery,” she says of her character, adding, “There is no mother in the family so I look after the household.” The story takes a twist when they try to marry her off to the Mudaliyar’s son, “They try to sell me off to Freddy!”
Alwis, the chief clerk to the Mudaliyar is played by Pasan Ranaweera. “He handles all the underhand activities of the Mudaliyar,” Pasan says, explaining that even though he has very little stage time Alwis is involved in what is happening and helps the story to progress.
Well Mudaliyar, How! directed and produced by Jith Peiris with costumes and hair by Kirthi Sri Karunaratne and Lou Ching Wong goes on the boards at the Bishop’s College Auditorium on August 20, 21 and 22 at 7.30 p.m.
The print media sponsors will be the Sunday Times, the Daily Mirror and the Hi Magazine while the electronic media sponsors will be Yes FM and MTV. |
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