Rajitha Dissanayake returns with Ape Gedara Gini Thiyaida
Four school friends who once sang in a choir and were hostellers together decide to reunite when one of the group returns from overseas. They even invite one of her favourite singers whom she has adored from her schooldays. Sounds like the start of a heartwarming play? Think again.
Unbeknownst to the others, one of them is having an affair with the singer and so matters take several unexpected turns in seasoned playwright Rajitha Dissanayake’s new play “Ape Gedara Gini Thiyaida” (Will they burn our house down?), which premieres next week.
Serous plot but entertaining: Scenes from the play (above and below)
“This contemporary story explores friendship, love and revenge,” explains Rajitha. “A completely inaccurate fiction can lead anyone or anything to disaster because of the way life is structured,” he says, commenting on social media and its impact. The play also explores the theme of mobs and the reality that invisible forces can mobilize mobs at any time.
Jayani Senanayake returning to the stage under Rajitha’s direction for the seventh time, says the play will make one ponder on the question of “who decides our lives?”
The play will feature the same realistic acting style as Rajitha’s previous productions such as ‘Weeraya Merila’, ‘Sihina Horu Aran’, and the 2019 drama ‘Jooli Mase Dawasak’. A playwright with over 25 years’ experience, his plays that focus on socio-political issues have won awards and even toured internationally.
Veteran actor Prasad Sooriyaratchi is happy to return to the stage for Rajitha for the fifth time, adding that in a country where there is little formal theatre training, working with Rajitha is an invaluable way of honing one’s acting skills. “Working under him is like doing a theatre course,” he says.
The cast is excited to be on stage next week after over 50 rehearsals over the past six months. Bimsara Premaratne, who plays Nayani, the friend who has returned from overseas, says that while the plot delves into serious topics, it is entertaining adding also that even those who usually frequent only English theatre will enjoy it because the colloquial Sinhala makes it easy to understand.
Making his debut in Sinhala theatre is Tharusha Kumarasinghe, who says that while viewers will have to come and see his character (he doesn’t want to disclose much), he feels that the message of the play is a stark lesson for us all.
The play is produced by the Freedom Theatre Group with the Sunethra Bandaranaike Trust as principal sponsor and The Studio as associate sponsor.
Music for the play is composed by Mahira Dissanayake; stage set design by Anuradha Mallawarachchi; makeup by Priyantha Dissanayake; light design by Ranga Samarakoon, costumes by Ama Wijesekara and Sureni Lenora, and stage management by Sureni Lenora and team.
Ape Gedara Gini Thiyaida goes on the boards on October 17 and 18 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7 p.m. Tickets are priced at Rs. 4000, 3000, 2500, 1500 and 1000 (balcony) and can be reserved by contacting 076-3263767 / 070-5777330 or at the Lionel Wendt from October 15 onwards from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Online bookings are available at mytickets.lk.
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