Check Point the Play
Last bus story was a Good one man show! Actor handled the Transitions very fluidly. Although there wasn’t enough gum to pass around.
Loved how the Orphanage/Training_Center was depicted and the symbolism of the Colpetty scene. Auction was an interesting idea, but dragged a wee bit at the end. My friend Boycy suggested a Counter on the back drop for the no of Tamil/Sinhalese or GoSL/LTTE.
The forum was brilliant. The sheer nature of starting something that you wont know how it will end is mind boggling. Although the Characters know their limits well before us, it upto the Audience to set up confrontations in a way that will lead to a Resolution. I felt that the audience was stuck to the traditional school of thought and failed to accomplish the goal, not that it was a must. Although I’m curious to know what means led to the Resolution on that “fateful” day. I’m happy that although we didn’t reach a resolution a Conflict within a conflict was pointed out, that being the plight of People like Rajive(an) the Tamil Married to a Sinhalese sandwiched between two Hard Liners. I thought he played his part brilliantly and didn’t stray for his Characterization, although the audience was begging for him to slip towards a one side. Hat’s off to you mate!
Shanaka (also being called Rambo by Prakash the possible LTTer) was found out of sorts at one solitary point when he said he doesn’t like “JVP and JHU” but continued on his war path, it’s difficult to find such war mongers who don’t support the above organizations. Although an interesting point was that he never actually said he likes war, and wants to finish this off through war. Maybe I’m contradicting my self then, but leaves us something to think about. Maybe we should have provoked him more, on how he wants this to end.
All in all GOOD SHOW!! Worth every Penny!! (the best way my little vocabulary can describe the play, rather than getting into all posh posh words)
Chaar~Max 2.0 
Chaar – it’s unfortunate that you chose to interpret Jagath’s character as a war monger. Neither he nor Prakash were. It’s difficult to imagine a surgeon at the army hospital being an advocate of war.
It’s dangerous to overlook the subtleties of Jagath’s character. He felt a personal betrayal from someone he respected (Prakash). He draws a clear line between terrorists and tamils, i.e. – he has no grouse with his brother in law at the outset on the basis of his ethnicity. He raises some very real concerns of the Sinhalese people – and this was done very deliberately.
You say yourself that he never promoted a military solution. In fact his only plea was that Prakash stop his military strategy – which Prakash never apologised for.
I think Jagath’s character was marginalised by a lot of audience members as a hardliner because they saw a lot of themselves in him.
His concerns in the stem were not racial, they were security and filial concerns.
Each to his own interpretation, but we must not exclude the other side of the story.
As I said mate, I was wondering whether I contradicted myself towards the end, at the realization of you actually didn’t call for war.
It was a very fine line, and was very easy for “unintelligent” buggers like me self to stray a bit.
🙂
Being open to different viewpoints (as opposed to the ability to speak) is clearly a sign of intelligence my good man.
Thats called “Open Mided” mate. Anyways let have a big “row” over this the next time we bumb into each other. 🙂