Ray Cooney- the master of farce- has his very own set of rules by which a good comedy should abide.
“In the beginning,” he says, “there is the plot. I’m not searching for a ‘comedy’ plot or a ‘funny’ storyline. I’m searching for a tragedy. Farce, more than comedy, is akin to tragedy.”
For one Mr. Eric Swan, tragedy seems elusive until his blissful existence- based on generous cheques sent to his imaginary tenants- is threatened by an over-zealous and inquisitive official from the Department of Social Security.
Chaos reigns, and the Drama Society of S. Thomas’ College-directed by Vinodh Senadheera- brings the tale of Eric Swan to the stage in Michael Cooney’s Cash on Delivery on June 1 and 2, at the Lionel Wendt.
“This is the first time I am dramatizing a Cooney script,” says Vinodh who completes 21 years of teaching and directing drama this year. “A farce by Michael Cooney has much the same characteristics as his father’s works; but this is something that can be said of farce comedy- it always revolves around mistaken identity, the occasional disguise and slapstick humour.”
Nevertheless, Vinodh and his cast agree that in the case of Cash on Delivery, dialogue plays as important a role as that played by the non-stop action and visual comedy associated with farce. “Miss one line,” says Vinodh, “and you’re bound to spend the next few minutes in utter confusion.”
“It is a complicated play,” he continues, “and getting the lines right can be a challenge, but the cast have adapted very well, even though most of them have never performed in a comedy before.”
Having acted in the All Island Shakespeare Drama Competition and other dramas of a more serious nature, the Cash on Delivery experience has been an interesting challenge for the cast. They juggle studies, sports and their quirky roles in the play- some of which are female and involve the process of shrinking stride length, dolling up and attempting to look feminine- an experience that appears to bring about a lot of mirth behind the scenes.
“At the end of a practice, we’re all tired out, but we keep coming back for more drama because of the enjoyment we get out of it,” comments Niran de Mel. “Its just like doing a sport, really,” adds Anushka Samarasinghe. “You put in the same sweat, the same effort, and at the end of the experience you get the same kick out of working as a team and pulling off something great.”
For Vinodh and the cast of Cash on Delivery , the biggest thrill is the experience of hearing and seeing the laughter of an audience. “The fact that the audience responds in the same way as we do to the humour in the play, is the best part of a performance for any actor or director, says Vinodh.
“I am confident,” he continues, “that the fun we have had in bringing this script to the stage will definitely be felt by the audience. “We have been slightly more laid back than usual because we enjoy the humour of the play and want to make sure the audience responds to the spontaneity of what they see on stage.
Print Media Sponsors of the show are The Sunday Times and The Daily Mirror. Tickets priced at Rs. 750, 600 and 500 are available at the College Gym and the Lionel Wendt. |
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