Arts

Harry Potter..er.. Potta

Indu Dharmasena's comedy, Potta  Harry featuring wizards, voodoo and the `Sorcerer's Balls' is scheduled to go on the boards of the Lionel Wendt once again - with a host of changes.

Inspired by the world famous Harry Potter, the play is a farcical fantasy that will undoubtedly keep the audience in fits of laughter. While the first Harry Potter book is all about the 'Philosopher's Stone,' Indu's Potta Harry revolves around the 'Sorcerer's Balls' instead.

This showing of Potta Harry - scheduled for August 20, 21 and 22 - will feature the missing mace in addition to the events that happen in the country being included right until the day of the opening - the script will be updated throughout to reflect current changes and issues.

"There will be constant updating according to what happens on the local scene right up to the day of the show," says Indu.

This time around, a number of new faces will be featured and roles will be reversed. George Cook - with his experience as a newscaster - will be the narrator and the audience is also in for a special treat - Krys Sosa will be singing! Not forgetting the dance item by Rohan of Rumours guaranteed to have the audience spellbound.

Indu plays Harry, Dayan Dias Abeyegunawardene plays Brown Sugar, Priyanka Holsinger plays Tittle Tattle and Thulitha Piyasena plays the eccentric Arty Culture.

The rest of the cast comprises of Keshanee Gunawardena as Misty, Michelle Herft as the beautiful Grey Cloud, Nelum Goonetilleke as Princess Purple, Hafas Aroosi as Tulip, Seshandri De Silva as Rosa Petals, Katrina Gunasekara as Orange Peel, Gehan Cooray as Blue Sky, Anushan Selvarajah as Yellow Saffron, Graham de Hoedt as Red Chili and Abbasali Rozais as Green Peas.

So why is Potta Harry being featured once again? Says Indu - "I couldn't do it properly last time. There were a lot of problems such as members of the cast falling sick, the lights and set person falling and breaking his leg, the set not being finished on time and having to make do, and the special effects not working. Also, there were certain characters I had in mind but some who were here from the start fell ill and were not available for rehearsals and couldn't play the characters I had in mind."

"Harry Potter is so popular and I was into it as well. Since everyone was going on about it, I thought of doing Potta Harry. Initially when I started, my computer went on the blink. When I tried it for the second time, I changed the plot. This time there are a lot of changes and constant additions."

The storyline runs thus:

Potta Harry thought he was an ordinary orphan until two cousins, Rose Petals and Orange Peel appear out of nowhere and inform him that he is a wizard and that he is from Voodoo. Since his late father had been the unanimously elected Governor of Voodoo, he is persuaded to return 'home' to continue in his late father's footsteps.

Blue Sky, the Chief Wizard of Magical Finance, Green Peas, the Chief Wizard of Magical Power and Energy Red Chili, the Chief Wizard of Fishing and Planting and Yellow Saffron, the Chief Wizard of Defence against the Dark Arts, his uncle, Brown Sugar, the Chief Wizard of Interplanetary Affairs and his aunt, Grey Cloud, the Chief Witch of Witches Affairs are all trying very hard to win him over. Even her Enchanted Highness, Princess Purple Rain is after him.

With Tittle Tattle Headlines, the Chief Witch of Information nosing around for "first hand information" and Arty Culture, the Chief Wizard of Cultural Magic obsessed with providing entertainment and the vivacious Misty warning him to return to earth before it is too late, Harry discovers he maybe in mortal danger.

But why are they all after him? Where does the 'Sorcerer's Balls' fit into all this? Make a date with Potta Harry and find out!

A joint effort...

By Risidra Mendis 

It is not very often that a painter and a sculptor decide on holding a combined exhibition. However, for Francis Perera, Dhammika Anuradha and Mahinda Dissanayake two painters and a sculptor, the idea of having a joint exhibition was not considered unusual. The two well known artistes, Perera and Anuradha and sculptor Dissanayake will join hands this year to display a wide variety of unusual and innovative paintings and sculptures.

Perera the well known painter is known for his oil on canvass paintings. "I bring down my water colours from USA and Germany," said Perera.

According to Perera, he was inspired by nature when painting his subjects. "Most of my paintings include rivers, streams, waterfalls and wildlife subjects. When you talk of wildlife most people think of elephants. My paintings include all types of animals that are of interest to the public," explained Perera.

Perera is also known for his mural paintings that are among some of his famous creations. "I took an interest in art during my school days," said Perera who was fortunate to get an opportunity to work with S. Lankathilake and G. S. Fernando for eight years and held his first exhibition at the Samudra Art Gallery. Perera has also won many awards including the Presidential Award for his paintings.

Winner of the Presidential Award - Anuradha is the youngest among the artists participating in this exhibition. Anuradha uses the latest techniques in water colours to paint some of the most picturesque sceneries in the country. Some of his paintings include bullock carts, typical Sri Lankan village scenes and subjects related to nature.

Anuradha started his career as a painter from his childhood and derives much of his inspiration from the beauty and serenity surrounding his country. The scenic beauty of nature with its trees, brooks, rivers and wildlife depicted in the form of water colour paintings by this young artist.

Anuradha continued to persue his interest in art with M. D. S. Goonathilake and Perera from whom he learned the finer points in painting. Anuradha held his first exhibition with Perera at the D. S. Senanayake Library, Kandy.

Having won many merit awards during his school days, Anuradha is well known among his viewers as one of the most talented young artists in the country.

Dissanayake is a well known sculptor. However, this is the first time Dissanayake will exhibit his work at an exhibition. According to Perera, Dissanayake uses natural products derived from trees in the jungles. Dissanayake is a creative artiste who uses his imagination to bring out a variety of innovative products using only the natural products from nature.

The exhibition of paintings and sculpture will be held on August 19-21 at the National Art Gallery from 9 a.m to 6 p.m.

Rock Fest 2004 - The mega rock competition 

Rock music and originality in Sri Lanka has been a buried and hidden treasure. A treasure that was kept buried by a narrow minded music industry in this country that steadfastly refused to acknowledge originality and this genre of music. This shortsightedness caused untold damage and a huge setback to an entire industry as most of the bands - as talented they were - stuck to perform cover versions of other artistes; songs without developing their song writing talents.

All seem well on the surface so far as the bands restricted themselves to a few pub gigs a week belting out cover versions to satisfy the customers' demand - which in turn was formulated by the songs heard by them played over the different media. But when faced with an international music competition, they are at a standstill as they have nothing of their own creations to offer. It is obvious to anyone that it would be ludicrous to attempt to play a cover version of another band in a forum such as an international music competition.

This year such a demanding situation has dawned. The International Music Centre (IMC) representative of the UNESCO and United Nations funded World Federation of Music has been assigned the task of selecting a rock band to represent Sri Lanka at the World Music Festival in Vienna in the year 2005. To make this task a reality the IMC has planned to host Rock Fest 2004, a mega competition involving all the rock bands in the country with own material that could be promoted internationally. The competition will involve the final selection of five rock bands from all the rock bands expected to participate. As a grand finale to the Rock Fest 2004 competition, these five finalists will be featured in a mega event on October 2 at the BMICH Western Garden. The winning band will represent Sri Lanka at the World Music Festival in Vienna and will also receive a cash price of Rs. 75,000. First, second, third and forth runner up bands will receive cash prices or valuable gifts related to music.

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