“Punchi Andare” features ammended stories of the well-known Andere’s childhood. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the sharp and intelligent Andare, he was and is to today believed to be the court jester from King Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe or Rajadi Rajasinghe’s court. He is remembered for all the ways in which he outwitted people, even the King himself! This play is bound to keep the audience laughing with the assistance of song and dance, which make this performance even more flamboyant than it already is. The melodies for this play has been composed by Yashodhara.
“Dewa Wasthraya” proves to take on a much more ominous mood when compared to “Punchi Andere”. It can only be described as ‘comedy with a twist’ in which things are not as they appear to be. With Banuka Manoratne’s music compositions in this play and his contribution as music director for both plays, not a thing can go wrong.
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“Punchi Andare” and “Dewa Wasthraya”
Kusumsiri and Yashodara have yet again combined their many talents to create two new exquisite plays, “Punchi Andare” and “Dewa Wasthraya”. The traditional commencement ceremonies for each play were held on 4th of October 2009 and 31st of January 2010 respectively, but the lucky members of the audience will be able to view and experience both on the night of Saturday the 11th of September at 2.30pm and 6.00pm at Drum theatre, Dandenong, Melbourne.
Kusumsiri Liyanaarachchi and Yashodara Sarachchandra have acted in many reknowned Sri Lankan plays such as “Maname”, “Sinhabahu”, “Raththaran”, “Elova Gihin Melova Aava” “Mahasara” and “Naribana”; Kusumsiri has written and directed several short plays and children’s plays in Sri Lanka that received national awards.
They even began the ‘Cultural Circle’ workshop in New Zealand before coming to Australia where they created The Sri Lanka Ranga Nikethanaya of Australia (The Sri Lankan Performing Arts Centre of Australia). But, no matter how many dramas they add to their never-ending list or how high they climb the ladder of success, in our eyes they will never outdo the contributions and impacts they made as our teachers and mentors. These new plays really provide a sense of what they help all of us kids achieve.
So without further ado, let’s get a sneak peak into “Punchi Andare” and “Dewa Wasthraya”.
“Punchi Andare” features ammended stories of the well-known Andere’s childhood. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the sharp and intelligent Andare, he was and is to today believed to be the court jester from King Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe or Rajadi Rajasinghe’s court. He is remembered for all the ways in which he outwitted people, even the King himself! This play is bound to keep the audience laughing with the assistance of song and dance, which make this performance even more flamboyant than it already is. The melodies for this play has been composed by Yashodhara.
“Dewa Wasthraya” proves to take on a much more ominous mood when compared to “Punchi Andere”. It can only be described as ‘comedy with a twist’ in which things are not as they appear to be. With Banuka Manoratne’s music compositions in this play and his contribution as music director for both plays, not a thing can go wrong. This features a much smaller and dare I say, older cast.
The cast involved in both plays are as follows:
Thilini Ranasinhe, Wasundara Opanayake, Hasini Ilangarathne, Nevin Walpola, Randu Walpola, Nimashi Palpola, Manjitha Wijesinghe, Nethma Mallawa, Nuwan Ranasinghe, Kasun Munasinhe, Manisha Gamage, Thilan Gamage, Kasuni Padukkage, Dimithi Kasthurirathne, Dilisha Walpola, Lakshan Walpola, Kavinda Munasinghe, Sammani Senarathne, Janani Munasinghe, Janani Senarathne, Madura Bandara, Nilushi Jayarathe, Janani Kurukularathne, Vinuki Mallawa, Amanadee Desanayake, Dilitha Wijesinghe, Tharushi Fernando, Thishara Kasthuriarachchige, Isini Buthgamuwa, Tharusha Peeris, Deumi Bannahake, Ayangi Kumaranayake, Shehan De Mel, Archana Athlage, Nilinika Pashanna, Dihini Liyanaarachchi, Kavithi Kurukularathne, Dayananda Wimalasiri, Chinthaka Samarakoon, Prasad Wijayabandu, Prasanna Kurukularathne, Wasantha Muthumala, Susantha Wijesiri, Ama Siriwardane, Dineshka Jayakody, Thusitha Dasanayake, Rathna Gurusinghe, Kanishka Rajapaksha.
Supin Bandara is participating as the lighting designer and technician while Indika Ferdinando is contributing his expertise with drums.
In my biased, but non-the-less truthful opinion, the best things about these plays are that they do not discriminate against their audiences, and so no matter how old or how young, be ye girl or boy, Sri Lankan or not, you are guaranteed to love these thoroughly entertaining plays which will leave you with a theatre experience never to be forgotten!
RANDU WALPOLA
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