It's all about rituals
By Ruhanie Perera
Enter Ariyawathi, the village gossip. Al-most at once she begins one of
her trademark narratives, one gets familiar with through the play. The
stories are got "first hand" from so-and-so's somebody else who just happened
to mention it to her source and are always, quite naturally, about someone
else's "private" woes, which seem to have just the right whiff of notoriety.
Her opening tale is a tragedy. The nose that smells a good story a mile
away, now smells the kerosene of what is dismissed as a bottle-lamp accident
and suspects there is more to that story. This has happened, according
to Ariyawathi, "All because of the dowry. Dowry is very important.... But,
who can prove? Kitchen accident, no."
With that introduction 'The Ritual' begins. Written and directed by
Jehan Aloysius, 'The Ritual' is set in rural Sri Lanka and traces the life
of Kalani, who although married for two years is without child and as a
result has to bear not just the berating of her mother-in-law Karunawathi,
but also the insults of the gossiping villagers. When she finally finds
herself with child, it seems as though life (and her mother-in-law's attitude)
just might change.
As the title of the play indicates, it revolves around many rituals
associated with the major themes of the play like marriage, child bearing
and dowry burning. In addition to that, rituals involved in cooking and
eating (be it guzzling mango pickle or having a cup of tea) that are part
of daily living add to the play by giving it a touch of the familiar. Jehan
also brings in kolam and thovil theatre as interludes, so that the play
takes the form of a kolam maduwa.
Tracy Holsinger, Avanti Perera and Anushka Pereira take on the roles
of the three leading women Karunawathi, Ariyawathi and Kalani respectively,
while Jehan Aloysius, Vishvamithra Ahangama, Shanaka Perera, Ranga Sovis,
Rasan Amintha and Michael Jayawardene make up the rest of the cast.
The British Council together with CentreStage Productions presents 'The
Ritual' at the British Council Garden on April 5, 6 and 7 at 7.30 p.m.
Tickets priced at Rs. 150/= are available at the British Council Arts Office.
Adult audiences are encouraged as the play contains explicit language. |
