Arangadal - 10th Festival of Theatre and Dance

Organised by Manaveli Performing Arts Group
Date: March 09, 2003; 12.30 Hrs and 18.00 Hrs.
Venue: Markham Theatre, Ontario, Canada
Date: March 29, 2003; 18.00 Hrs.
Venue: Humanities Theatre, University of Waterloo

Since its inception in 1996, Manaveli has staged thirty one plays, which have been hailed by the Tamil literary world as path breaking. Manaveli has also introduced well-known English and other language playwrights, such as Eugene Ionesco, Anton Checkov, Samuel Beckett, Jean Janet and Vaclav Havel, to the Tamil audience.

The Five Plays at 2003 Festival

"Lone Tree" (Thani Maram ) Dance


Malini Pararajasingam


The first performance is Thani Maram (Lone Tree), in which the classical Tamil dance Bharathanatyam takes a new meaning and mode. A solitary three hundred year old Cedar tree symbolizes the spirit of nature. The grand tree bears silent witness to a cruel humanity's gregarious consumption of earthy resources. The dance is directed and performed by Malini Pararajasingham, a well known classical dancer.


"The Pushcart Peddlers" (Thallu Vandikkaararkal)



Murray Schisgal

Thallu Vandikkaararkal is a Tamil adaptation, by K.S. Balachandran, of the English play 'The Pushcart Peddlers' by New York playwright Murray Schisgal. First produced in 1979, 'The Pushcart Peddlers' is a comical look at learning to survive in a new land. In his Tamil adaptation, K.S. Balachandran has taken the liberty to adapt the language, names, and references in the play, so that it centres on Tamil immigrants from Sri Lanka to Canada. This play is directed by Dushy Gnanapragasam. Dushy has acted in many dramas, both in Canada and Sri Lanka, but this is his debut as a director.

"My Grandpa's horse" (En Thaththaavukku Oru Kuthirai Irunthathu)


Chelian


The third play En Thaththaavukku Oru Kuthirai Irunthathu (My Grandpa's Horse) is directorial debut for Suganthan, who has acted in many plays produced by Manaveli. This play is a satirical treatment of colonial mentalities that still rule many minds of our society. While carefully dissecting the internalization of colonialism and its manifestations, the play also exposes our (Tamil) own racist attitudes towards fellow communities. The play has been scripted by Cheliyan, a poet, writer and playwright, whose scripts have been staged in both Canada and UK.

"Going Home" (Oor Poukku)

'Oor Poukku' (Going Home) is scripted by Cheran, a well-known face in Tamil literary circles, and directed by K Navam, who has directed a number of plays. This play is a parody on the lives and nostalgic fantasies of the Canadian Tamil diaspora. It questions the choices of dispersed people when peace returns in their homeland. Would they leave everything in the adopted land, say "Adieu!" and leave for their original homeland? Or, would they become "homeland tourists" by spicing up their nostalgia with recent tours and visits?

" Arbitration" (Paakha Pirivinai)

N. Muththusamy
N. Muththusamy, a distinguished writer from India, has scripted Paakha Pirivinai (Arbitration), which is a satirical play about the influence exerted by certain powerful nations over developing countries. The play is directed by R. Sivaratnam, who coordinated the theatre group, Kaalam.