Director Sashane Perera and the actors Dino Corera and Tehani Chitty talk to AnneMarie De Silva about their upcoming play, ‘Lungs’  It’s the 21st century. You’ve inherited an environmental debt from the previous generation (thanks, mum and dad) and you’re shopping with your significant other when you wonder – should we have a child? We’re [...]

Arts

A stage, two characters and today’s reality

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Director Sashane Perera and the actors Dino Corera and Tehani Chitty talk to AnneMarie De Silva about their upcoming play, ‘Lungs’ 
It’s the 21st century. You’ve inherited an environmental debt from the previous generation (thanks, mum and dad) and you’re shopping with your significant other when you wonder – should we have a child? We’re not getting any younger – it’s now or never. The latest StageLight&Magic Inc. production ‘Lungs’ directed by Sashane Perera which runs from June 23 – 26 at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre at 7.30 p.m. turns the spotlight on this crucial question that most couples face at some stage in their relationship.

It begins with M and W in a shopping mall when M confronts W, asking her if she wants to have a child. This leads the couple to review the world around them, as well as their own relationship. Am I okay with the fact that my child will leave a large carbon footprint behind? Do I really want to bring a child into a world in turmoil? What about my career, my life? These are some of the challenging questions they must ask themselves.

Written by Duncan Macmillan, ‘Lungs’ was the winner of Best New Play at the Off West End Awards and the CBS Outstanding Drama Award. The play was also nominated for Best New Play Theatre Awards 2012 and for Outstanding Play at the Helen Hayes Awards, Washington DC.

‘Lungs’ consists of just two characters – M played by Dino Corera and W played by Tehani Chitty (Pictured on our cover). Earlier this week The Sunday Times caught up with the actors and their director Sashane Perera, during rehearsals.

As the world begins to spin out of control, so does M and W’s relationship. The play takes the audience on a journey from the moment M asks W if they should have a child – right through to the end of their lives. The transcendent play is driven by the dialogue between the couple and moves seamlessly over days, weeks, months and years.

Both Dino and Tehani took on the play immediately after reading it. Tehani says she enjoys the seamless scene changes and the challenge to play a character that is very different to her. Dino shared that the play is an “emotional roller-coaster ride.” They are confident that the audience will relate to the characters and find parallels between the play and their own personal lives.

This is the first time the two are working together and they have enjoyed it immensely. Tehani tells the Sunday Times that they have different processes when approaching their characters and it has been interesting learning about each other’s methods and finding a balance between the two.

Tehani has given up the 9-5 and works full-time as an actress and therapist. “I do both full-time,” she remarks with a smile. Her most recent role was in ‘Legend of the Amazon: The Secret of Wonder Woman.’ She has worked with multiple directors in a plethora of plays, along with Strategies, Floating Space and Mind Adventures.

Dino has worked with many directors across multiple plays and companies such as Workshop Players, Identities, Cold Theatre 7, StageLight&Magic (SLM), Mind Adventures, Centre Stage Productions and Floating Space. His last role was Nigel in ‘Arsikmeediya’ – a spin off from ‘Pusswedila.’ He has worked with Sashane Perera before in his production of ‘Men Without Shadows,’ by Jean-Paul Sartre, which was staged at the Lionel Wendt on February 2014, incidentally Sashane’s debut as a  director.

Compared to Sashane’s first production (Men Without Shadows) ‘Lungs’ is very raw and direct. With just two characters, minimal set and story that revolves around current issues, it is a world away from his first production. But this is a director who doesn’t like to confine himself to just one type of theatre. “For a lover of big plays, this seems like a challenge. Owning a stage for 1.5 hours with just two characters, it’s a tough ask… and I like a challenge.”

The Censor Board rated the play for an audience aged 18 years and above due to the minor use of profanity. Sashane tells us that he did not “Sri Lankanise” the play and stayed true to Macmillan’s work. He felt that he could relate to both M and W in the play and hopes that the audience will too.

Tickets for ‘Lungs’ priced at Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 800 are available at Namel Malini Punchi Theatre and www.tickets.lk

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