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Unconventional!
By Esther Williams
Atmospheric, highly visual theatre and fantastic storytelling; the ‘Lost Ones’ was perhaps one of the most unique and stunning theatrical productions that theatre lovers in the country have witnessed in recent times. Sponsored by the British Council, the Edinburgh Festival 2005 award winning play presented at the Bishop’s College Auditorium from April 5 to 8 is the latest production of Scottish theatre company, Vanishing Point.

The compelling story features the surreal, fantastical, comic adventure of a writer whose unusual past is coming back to haunt him. It all goes back to an incident at the top of a mountain, a class outing years before.
A group of extraordinary children at the notorious academy, St. Peter’s On the Hill, are taken on a day out by their teacher. Only one child, Theodore a.k.a Kevin comes back. What happened on that mountain? And why has it come back to haunt our hero now?

Director Matthew Lenton described how he came upon the idea. Coming across research material about two ten-year-old boys in Britain who killed a three-year old child disturbed him. Should an adult be held responsible for something he did as a child? Can we forgive a child that does wrong and to what extent is he responsible…are questions; he says that formed the bedrock of this innovative presentation.

The making of the play was certainly unconventional. “The script developed from a series of short stories, ideas, images and a subject we were interested in,” Lenton says. Brainstorming sessions with actors, musicians, technicians and sound specialists led to ideas on how scenes and images could be portrayed, leading to further improvisations until the script became refined.
“It is a good way of developing a script as actors come out spontaneously and the play becomes more imaginative than when doing it alone,” Lenton explains. Their approach is similar to that of a diver exploring a shipwreck without the security of a safety rope. “The actors create their characters and hence feel a stronger connection.”

Shadow play, music and puppetry were cleverly used. Commenting on the theatrical techniques, Lenton said that though these are techniques practised by other theatre groups, theirs was configured by members of the cast themselves through trial and error. “Lighting, effects and other interesting props and sets were played about with and incorporated into the act to make it work.”

Over the past two years, the ‘Lost Ones’ has been staged at various venues in England, Scotland and also at Kosovo and Macedonia. Although the plot remains the same, the group often experiments with different endings or changes visuals to relate better to the audience.

Modest about winning the award, Lenton thinks it was for their ensemble that they were credited, an aspect he considers most vital in telling a story. “It does reflect the spirit of the company and the cast.”

The play that appealed to both the young and the old was a fairy tale of sorts, albeit twisted - a stark mixture of reality and fantasy. The children who died on the mountain top return to retrieve what they had lost and their supernatural presence takes over Theo’s reality. Does Theodore really have reason to fear for his life or is he just cracking up as his wife Adele suspects, one wonders.

But on further reflection, the story compels viewers into exploring serious issues such as understanding the value of life; how people do wrong and do not get caught and how society perceives extraordinary children and treats them differently. Lenton thinks it is a relevant theme in this age of internet where the internet represents the whole of human consciousness. “What you do can be good or evil or at times unintentionally wrong.” However, these issues do not penetrate the surface but are always there, should viewers wish to acknowledge them.

Theo, the writes who only seems able to write his best-selling stories in the arctic conditions of his fridge is played by Sandy Grierson who brilliantly brought out how hard it was for his paranoia or guilt to leave him which in itself was his real punishment.

Each of the characters except for Sandy took on more than one role as the entire cast comprised just five with five crew members. Apparently, while each of them was not on stage they were either moving panels or controlling the lights, the snow or smoke machines, playing an instrument or helping someone change costumes. It was imperative for them to synchronize and keep the rhythm. “All of them together tell the story,” Lenton asserts, adding that “the opening of the doors was as important as acting.”

Lenton is a self-taught actor, known for his innovative ideas. “I do not repeat formulas as I think it is important to try different things.” Being confident and courageous are ingredients he believes that lead to success. “I do not like to compromise and I want to feel comfortable in knowing why I don’t want to compromise.”

The group conducted workshops both in Kandy and Colombo for students interested in theatre. One group with the help of Cath Whitefield who played both Little Lily who smoked and Mrs. Henry the neighbour, focused on practical elements of theatre, routed around Vanishing Point’s show and the creation process while another group under Sandy’s leadership dealt with the topic ‘from page to stage’. Sandy thinks that taking literature onto the stage is limiting in scope. “It needs visuals, art, music, and dance’ to make it real.”

A song of praise from Asitha
Young tenor Asitha Tennekoon will present a recital of praise and thanksgiving through song on April 22 at the Ladies' College Chapel at 7 p.m.
The programme for 'Ave Colenda Trinitas' (Hail Blessed Trinity) includes well-known classics such as Bach/Gounod's 'Ave Maria,' Panis Angelicus' by Cesar Franck and Bizet's majestic 'Agnus Dei'.

The choir conducted by Manilal Weerakoon will present choral works by Handel, Haydn, Benjamin Britten and a contemporary setting of the Ave Verum for choir. Tamara Holsinger will be the guest soloist on the cello. Accompanists for this celebration of music will be Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu (piano), Amandi Ekanayake (violin), Tilanka Jayamanne (flute) and Ajit Abeysekera (Clarinet).

A Licentiate of the Trinity College of Music, London. in both voice and piano, Asitha has been a regular prize-winner over the years in various music contests. He began singing under the guidance of Christine Perera and continued during his schooldays at S. Thomas College under choirmaster Russel Bartholomeusz. He now studies with Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu.

He made his debut as a soloist in June 2000 with the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka, having won the Concerto Competition at age 15 and has since then performed as a soloist with the Camerata Musica Chamber Choir, The Colombo Philharmonic Choir and the Cantata Singers. Entrance to the concert is by programmes that can be purchased at the Lionel Wendt theatre.

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