Let's laugh at this rotten state

By Sujit Sivasundaram

Take One: A plane full of the rich, the famous and the religious out-bound from Colombo crashes in the Alps only to land at God's doorstep. Take Two: As the Mad Cow disease rages in Europe there is dialogue between the Ministry of Hindu Affairs in New Delhi and the Swiss Embassy; the former argues for the provision of asylum to cattle destined for the slaughter house whilst the latter believes that it is ethically dubious to do so. Take Three: Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, and Fashion designer Versace are triplets reborn into a Sri Lankan family wrestling with high technology and astrology in the year 2016.

What is the connecting thread? An imagination that has run riot with our politics and current affairs no doubt. These are the plots of three pieces written by a new Sri Lankan playwright, Manuka Wijesinghe, to be performed at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7.00 p.m. this evening under the title Ticket to Heaven. Ably directed by Indu Dharmasena, the cast includes these two and nine others. Amongst the others are Pubudu Jayawardene, and Krystalita Souza.

"These are political pieces," Manuka was quick to tell me. In today's context many would shake their heads at a comment such as this and suggest that politics and drama are strange if not unsafe bedfellows. Yet this idealistic new playwright is not of them. When asked what she would say to the wary, an unapologetic reply awaited me, "Politics and art should interact. Only idiots think otherwise. Today the situation in our country is pretty pathetic and nothing ever changes no matter what is written in the newspapers. We are forced to come to the conclusion that this is our existence. I just want my audience to laugh at this state of affairs."

Manuka does not see herself entering politics professionally, like some local film stars, and became strangely pensive when the suggestion was made. "Perhaps one day," was her contemplative answer. "I am politically oriented but I don't believe in party politics. I am concerned for the well being of mankind. My ideas feed on the injustice I see around me, the empty words and lies of politicians and the three quarter faces that I see in my dreams."

Sri Lanka has a distinctive political humour; jokes about politicians arriving at the Pearly Gates are very common. Manuka says that her style draws on this background: "These pieces will not work outside Sri Lanka. I didn't think they were funny myself until two of them were performed at the British Council last year. Then the audience laughed a great deal and my eyes were opened." Amongst her unnamed characters are famous people who suffer from what she calls "the god-complex."

In conversation it was evident that "political satire" excites Manuka greatly. "This is my medium," she said. "Love affairs and divorces I find utterly boring."

But this does not mean that apolitical happenings are excluded from her work. "People whose lives are dictated by astrology and who marry on that basis really interest me," she said explaining a theme in her third offering, Karma 2016. Similarly she said talking about future ideas, "I would like to do a satirical piece on the medical profession and how some doctors seem to diagnose you as soon as you come in through the door."

Manuka currently lives half her life in Europe and half her life here. When asked what her hopes are for the next ten years she didn't think it too optimistic to list all of: "Peace on Earth, free access to roads and a better Sri Lanka." She is also working on a three generational novel based in Sri Lanka from the 1920s onwards.

She says that people who read the current affairs section of newspapers will enjoy her production. "Classifieds readers will find it boring!" So if you are one of them the Lionel Wendt is the place to be this evening. If Manuka's outspoken and imaginative personality is anything to go by it should be an interesting time out.

Gurunnanse who made his mark

Just as much as Maname changed the course of Sinhala theatre, it made the name Charles Silva Gunasinghe Gurunnanse a household word in Sri Lanka. Before he came into the limelight he was a regular performer with the famed Lavuneris Gurunnanse's puppet troupe from Ambalangoda. His task was to sing while manipulating the puppet.

Professor Sarachchandra first met him when he got down the troupe for a performance at King George's Hall in the Colombo university. While getting the puppets to dance he used to sing the relevant songs. He sang loudly at a very high pitch. He closed one ear with a finger. Dr Sarachchandra was impressed with his singing. "He sang the 'nadagam' songs to a perfect melody but too loud", Dr Sarachchandra recalled in his Life and Times.

Dr Sarachchandra spent a few days with the Gurunnanse getting him to sing in a more disciplined manner using a lower pitch. He (Dr Sarachchandra) gradually began to appreciate the melodies and tunes of 'nadagam' songs for which he tried to build an audience by broadcasting a few programmes by the Gurunnanse over the national radio (then Radio Ceylon).

Experimenting with Maname

When he selected the Chulla Dhanuggaha Jataka as the theme for Maname, his experimental drama, Dr Sarachchandra sought the help of Gunasinghe Gurunnanse who,though he did not possess any knowledge of literature, was well versed in folk theatre. He was quite willing to assist in the production. He also agreed that it should be presented with suitable adaptations to suit the times. "From the time I started writing the Maname script and throughout its production, the Gurunnanse was with me. He lived with us in our house. Whenever I told him I needed a tune to dramatise a particular incident, he would sing a few songs and demonstrate. I used to select a suitable tune", Dr Sarachchandra recalled.

He illustrated the Gurunnanse's role further. According to the Gurunnnase, the song blessing the couple (when the teacher gives the daughter in marriage to Prince Maname) was common to many nadagamas. Taking his advice, Dr Sarachchandra decided to use it in Maname in the same form. That was the memorable song delivered with much feeling and solemnity by the Disapamok Acharya (Edmund Wijesinghe in the first production) and hummed by fans over the past four decades.

And we, who were present at the Lionel Wendt on the opening night of Maname way back in November 1956, could never forget his sense of achievement in bringing an age old nadagama to town. Later when Wimal Nawagamuwa produced Ajasatta, the Gurunannase assisted in the production and composed the tunes. In keeping with tradition, the Gurunnanse's eldest son learnt the art but unfortunately he died when the father was still living. Later he taught the youngest son, Punyasena. The Gurunnanse passed away a few years back.

Senator comes to town again

By Chamintha Thilakarathna

The Senator, a theatre classic beloved of many generations will be revived on the Colombo stage by Jith Pieris to mark 50 years of Independence. The play will be staged on August 20, 21 and 22 at The Lionel Wendt.

The comedy, which is a part of Well Mudliyar, focuses on the racial issues of the time which are still applicable today.

"The play brings out the racial harmony which existed in the country," says Director Jith Pieris.

The Senator is a wealthy Sinhalese businessman, dignified, broad minded and liberal in his outlook who is also conspicuously honest in an increasingly corrupt society. His insistence on an inquiry into bribery in the public service, has become a political sensation. The government tries to get rid of him by questioning his Ceylonese Citizenship and it is held that he has not established it beyond doubt in spite of the fact that he had married a Sinhalese and his parents were Tamil.

The cast of only seven actors, has several well known theatre personalities such as Andrew David, Elson Divithurugama and Mohammed Adamally. Elson Divithurugama plays the Senator, a role he has enjoyed before on previous occasions. Tickets priced at Rs.350 and downwards are available at The Lionel Wendt theatre. It is sponsored by the Creative Arts Foundation.

The performance on the 21st will be in aid of the Animal Welfare and Protection Association which conducts free sterilisation campaigns for dogs and cats.

A Professor's distant dream

By Roshan Peiris

The little boy from Madhaya Maha Vidyalaya at Kuliyapitiya, little dreamed that one day he would become the Vice Chancellor of Sri Lanka's Open University, a pioneering distance education unit.

Professor N. Ranjith Arthenayake has been the Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka since 1994. The university is now 18 years old and has Dr. Gamini Corea as its Chancellor. The OUSL is essentially a distance teaching University offering programmes of study leading to certificates, diplomas and degrees.

Professor Arthenayake has a vision for the OUSL- to be the leader in distance education in South Asia within the first decade of the 21st Century.

"Our system of education discourages lectures, and instead works through printed, written materials supported by discussion classes audio visual materials and continuous assessment tests. Working students find it easier to follow our courses rather than lectures."

The man from Kuliyapitiya Maha Vidyalaya has not forgotten his roots. He tries to reach out to students through teaching centres located islandwide.

These centres provide facilities for counselling, collection of forms for programmes of study, registration, distribution of Course material, contact sessions, laboratory facilities, audio-visual resources, mini libraries and of course examinations. The Centres are located in Colombo, Kandy, Matara and Jaffna. The latter has been closed due to the war.

"To complete a study component equal to one credit a student needs to devote an average of 450 hours of study time. Study time means the time spent on reading, answering questions, doing practical work, attending contact sessions and preparing for examinations," Prof. Arthenayake said.

"Final examinations are held at the Nawala campus. The Professor said that audio visual aids are designed to supplement the printed material and are found to be popular with students. Students can use these resources at any regional centre. Unlike in other universities the students have very few grievances and hence not many strike," he said.

"Last year we had some trouble about not having enough facilities and that the fees charged were too high- being one third of the recurrent expenditure. The balance two thirds is given by government capital for infrastructure," the Professor said.

"Since our students commute from home after work there is no accommodation problem. Besides they feel secure since they are already working," he said.

The Professor paid a handsome tribute to his staff. "They are most committed. Unlike in other universities, not even the Vice Chancellor has living quarters. and may be they would like an upgrading of salaries. But they are the only ones who work throughout the week including Saturdays, Sundays, Poya days and public holidays. They are available to the students who are free on weekends and holidays.".

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