They say Italian men are handsome, and their ladies pretty. Ever wondered what its consequences are? Or, better still ever wondered how an Italian household works?
Well, the senior students of the Yolande school of Speech and Drama, which celebrates 50 years this year, have just about figured it out. And, they are only too eager to tell me about these crazy Italian people. So, there I sit surrounded by about 25 students – all between 16 and 22 – a lively and chatty bunch and I can't help but wonder how well they suit their characters, which, needless to say, would make the play even more interesting to watch.
Part of the Yolande school production Showcase 2008, this particular play by the senior (and more responsible) students of the school is titled Saturday, Sunday, Monday and is based on a translation of an Italian Comedy.
The story is somewhat complex and it is important that you, the audience, keep track of all these relationships in the play. The characters, the cast explains, are 'disfunctional'. "It's one big crazy family. It's highly dramatic, there's a lot of flirting and very funny," says Tavish Gunasena who plays the role of Rocco, a young boy who loves his guitar and his grandfather.
"They are disfunctional as individuals and as couples," pips in a few others. They go on to explain the plot – there's a dinner on Sunday, so Saturday is all about preparing for the dinner, while Monday is the day after the dinner, where you have to deal with all that was said on Sunday at the dinner, like for example, what happens when the whole family gets to know about the wife's relationship with her neighbour?
There would be different cast performing every night. The characters range from the husband and wife to the professionals, the lover and grandfather.
The story mainly revolves around Peppino the husband (played by Arosha Gunesekera and Viran Salgado) and his wife Rosa (played by Sabirah Cafoor and Araliya Thevapalan), who is flirting with their neighbour.
The other characters include Peppino's sister who is all for women's rights, Michelle a crazy guy, Fredrico, the lover, the emotional maid, the 30 year old son who still listens to his mother, a tailor under pressure to make a suit, the Doctor and Rafaelle, to who life is drama. Also there's the grandfather, a positive old man who is rather oblivious to the many affairs and Maria and Roberto, the only two sane characters of the play.
"We are one big family on and off the stage", a proud cast says.
And this is very important for the success of the drama.
As the school's director, Samantha de Soysa said, this is not just acting, but it's a about promoting the talents and abilities of students, interacting, learning and having fun.
There are over 220 students participating in Showcase 2008.
The night's performances includes a choral and group activity by the youngest group of students – those between 4 and 7 years, an act on school stuff, by the 7 to 9 year olds and the Tale of Trinosaur by those the 9 to 11 year old students. The intermediate group - students aged 12 to 15 will do an adaptation of Ali Baba while the culmination of the production is the seniors' act, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
Showcase 2008 will be held on August 29, 30 and 31 at the Lionel Wendt at 7pm.
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