Get ready for an evening of laughter with Ray Cooney’s “Caught in the Net’
One man. Two wives. Two families.
Get ready for a rollercoaster of laughs with Ray Cooney’s ‘Caught in the Net’, a brilliant British comedy from the Arts Foundation of St. Peter’s College, under the SPC Old Boys’ Union on August 30, 31 and September 1 at 7 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.
Well known Peterites Jerome L. de Silva and Surein de S. Wijeyeratne are taking the helm as producer and director as they bring forth this production, the sequel to Cooney’s hit play, ‘Run For Your Wife’. This story picks up 18 years later, with taxi driver John Smith still living his double life. It is all about to come crashing down with his teenage children connecting online. The children are eager to meet, intrigued by their similarities, including their fathers’ shared name, age, and occupation.
A whirlwind of comic chaos unfolds as John, with the help of his lodger Stanley, scrambles to keep the two families apart and keep up the illusion in the most outrageous ways.
Immersed in theatre for the past 35 years, mostly with ‘The Workshop Players’, Surein de S. Wijeyeratne has previously directed productions such as “Julius Caesar’ and ‘My Fair Lady’. Eager to embrace the role as director and give back to his college, Wijeyeratne feels British comedy which relies on pure humour instead of flashy sets is a genre Colombo’s theatre audiences love.
Cooney’s plays haven’t been staged for more than a decade here in Sri Lanka and though ‘Run for your Wife’ had been done before, this sequel
is not as prominent, so it gives the director more initiative to execute the play, he felt.
Cooney’s plays usually feature a small cast, and ‘Caught in the Net’ is no exception. Wijeyeratne reflects on how ‘versatile and experienced’ the seven- member cast is, drawing as it does on different generations of Peterites. Familiar faces to the local theatre community include Shiyan Jayaweera as John Smith, Wasaam Ismail as Stanley Gardener, Sheshan Dias as Gavin Smith and Keith Wijesuriya as Mr. Gardener. The ensemble also includes talented actresses such as Piorina Fernando as Mary Smith, Jovanka Jayaweera as Barbara Smith and Janice De Costa as Vicky Smith.
The director expresses his enthusiasm in working with this tight-knit group who literally and metaphorically, play their parts by bringing their own unique styles to the production.
The SPC Arts Foundation formed to nurture and expand arts and music at St. Peter’s College, has been instrumental in reviving and supporting these streams for the next generation. With the groundwork laid through drama workshops, participation in interschool Shakespeare and drama competitions, and the revival of the traditional interhouse drama competition after many years, ‘Caught in the Net’ serves as a fundraiser to continue the growth of drama and music at St. Peter’s.
For the director, “humour is great from a theatre point of view, because you receive feedback.” The laughter and joy that is generated by a good comedy play excites Wijeyeratne, and we should “expect the unexpected”, as there are many twists and turns in this play, he assures.
Tickets for ‘Caught in the Net’ ranging from Rs. 1500 (Balcony) to Rs. 5000 will be available at the Lionel Wendt box office from August 23.
Searching for an ideal partner? Find your soul mate on Hitad.lk, Sri Lanka's favourite marriage proposals page. With Hitad.lk matrimonial advertisements you have access to thousands of ads from potential suitors who are looking for someone just like you.