Young Buddhika gets to the top
Young dramatist Buddhika Damayantha must be a happy man. Having got
to the final round of the prestigious State Drama Festival in three consecutive
years, he hit the jackpot this year. 'Davasa Thama Gevun Ne', a translation
of an American play. Murray Schsigal's 'The Typists' was adjudged the Best
Play for 1998 and Buddhika bagged the Best Director's Award.
The play also produced the Best Actor (Saumya Liyanage) and Best Actress
(Jayani Senanayake).
Buddhika, an old boy of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya showed his
talents in the field of drama while at school when he was a keen participant
in the plays organised by the school literary society and the Boy Scouts
group. In the early nineties he followed the National Youth Services Council
(NYSC) drama course.
Buddhika concentrates on translations. In 1994 he produced 'Adhipathiyage
Marana Manchakaya', a translation of Samuel Becket's 'The End Game'. It
was the year's best production at the Youth Drama Festival and collected
seven awards. The play was also selected for the final round of the State
Drama Festival.
He picked on American dramatist Edward Albee's 'The Zoo Story' for his
next production - 'Padadaya'. Having come up to the final round of the
1997 Festival, it won the award for the best translation and best supporting
actor. 'Palingurena' based on Tennessee William's 'The Glass Menagerie'
was in the final round of the 1998 Festival and again picked up the award
for the best translation. In addition the best supporting actress was from
'Palingurena'.
'Davasa Thama Gevyn Ne' has been translated by S. Karunaratne who describes
it as an effort to fill in a gap in the Sinhala drama literature. He points
out that at a time when there is such enthusiasm among young dramatists,
it is timely to introduce the works of avant-garde dramatists in the western
world, particularly what falls into the absurd category.
It's quite an achievement to reach the top with one's fourth play, particularly
in a very competitive environment. Well done Buddhika, keep it up!
A close second
'Eva Balava' (adapted from J. B. Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls') by
lawyer turned dramatist E. M. D. Upali came a close second at the Festival
having been nominated for several categories including the Best Play and
Best Direction. Upali won the award for Best Adaptation while two of its
players became the Best Supporting Actor (Sriyantha Mendis) and Best Supporting
Actress (Nimanthi Herath). Vying for the Best Actor award was W. Jayasiri.
The Best Stage Management award too went to 'Eva Balava'.
Lalitha Sarachchandra's 'Ratnavali' , Sri Harshadeva's Sanskrit epic
translated by Piyadasa Nissanka, stood out as the best in the technical
field bagging five awards. These were for Best Music (Jayantha Aravinda),
Best Choreography (Miranda Hemalatha), Best Make-up (Buddhadasa Galappththi),
Best Costumes (Lalitha Sarachchandra) and Best Stage Management (Dhanapala
Bogoda).
Priyantha Sisira Kumara's 'Maranaya Saha Kanyaviya' which was also in
the running for the best play and best direction, ended up collecting the
awards for Best Stage Decoration (Pradeep Chandrasiri & Koralegedera
Pushpa Kumara and Best Lighting (Chandana Palitha Aluthge).
Recognition
Recognition came in sev- eral ways to dramatists at this year's Festival.
Veterans in the field were invited as chief guests. They included Bandula
Jayawardena, Henry Jayasena, Sugathpala de Silva, Parakrama Niriella and
Dharmasiri Bandaranayake.
The best play at the previous year's Festival ('Deveni Mahinda') was
staged to wind up the Festival. Its director K. B. Herath was invited to
present the first set of awards.
The energetic Chairman of the Drama Panel E. M. G. Edirisinghe and his
fellow members deserve a big 'thank you' for a well organised Festival.
The innovations are welcome. Let them fit in to a format which can be continued
as a tradition in the coming years.
It was a pity, however, that all Festival plays were either adaptations
or translations. The panel should look as to why original plays are hard
to come by.
All the way to Stockholm
At least 50 paintings by renowned artist Kalasuri Jayasiri Semage will
be on display at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Stockholm from September 13 to
mark the 50th anniversary of Sri Lanka - Sweden diplomatic relations. This
is the first time that paintings by a Sri Lankan artist are being exhibited
in Sweden, thanks to the initiative taken by Ambassador Sarala Fernando.
|
