Cash on delivery!

Looking forward to be entertained after a hard day’s work or for that matter after a hard week’s work? Well, of course a farce would definitely cure the tensed and tired soul of anyone, wouldn’t it? That’s why S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia has decided to cater to the drama lovers a farce namely ‘Cash on Delivery.’

The play does not contain the slapstick element alone that adds lustre to comedy but especially the confused and twisted plot. This play is a work based entirely on its story itself; therefore the slightest word and the very establishment of the drama play a major role in the development of the story. This is a challenge to both the actors as well as the audience. While the actors do make sure that every single word of the script is spoken to be clearly understood by the audience the crowd themselves should pay attention to the lines spoken to get the story, for if not it would be utter confusion.

The students of S. Thomas’ College have put in an effort of almost two months to ensure that they could entertain an audience by this challenging script. The institution has been acclaimed of its high standards in theatre from its Drama Society’s very inception in 1872. Over the years it has produced plays of a vast variety; such as comedies, tragedies, history and musicals. This year’s comedy is also for sure to be an entertaining performance. The cast contains of experienced performers as well as certain new comers of who all have come together to put on board a marvellous play of laughter simply due to their sheer passion towards theatre.

There is nothing easy when putting a show together. It is not only the performance that counts but the amount of effort put in behind the scenes in making it all a success. The cast has not only been actors but also coordinators of the show.

This is what drama is all about, and S. Thomas’ trains students not only to act but to also organize the event as well. From finances to advertising and ticket sales are mostly done by the ten actors, with the able assistance of its producer Marlon Jesudason and the director, the multi faced thespian – Vinodh Senadeera, both of whom are products of the College; which in its turn proves that the school produces professional men of the field.

The cast says that it is not at all a simple task to put on a good show of a full length comedy. It demands a lot of effort and commitment. Instances of fun among the cast at evening rehearsals, in going shopping for the necessary props, costumes and alike and also for production work such as publishing of posters and finding sponsorships, etc. all add flavour to the making of a memorable performance. It is all enjoyable and is indeed part of the package, though how much tiring it would be.  

To give the readers a glimpse of the story, it can be said that it solely centres on the act of defraud. Eric Swan (because of whom the entire play and its confusion occur) begins to deceive the Department of Social Security (DSS) when he loses his job with the coincident arrival of Mr. Thompson’s cheque from the DSS. The fictitious Mr. Thompson who is Eric’s former lodger is then being used by Eric to grab all the money sent for the former tenant, whose absence at the residence is not known by the department.

Eric is backed by his uncle who provides him with the necessary documents to claim the benefits. He is then visited by Mr. Jenkins of the DSS to be consulted in regard of his household’s benefit load. Meanwhile Sally of the council’s Family Crisis Department arrives with Mr. Forbright at the residence with condolences (the reasons better not be known by the reader, but to be found out). But the situation of an ignorant wife of the whole swindle can indeed cause chaos, couldn’t it? And the story moves on with Norman (Eric’s upstairs lodger) getting unwillingly involved in the act, with his marriage to his fiancée – Brenda just a few days away.

The play reaches a climax of utter bewilderment, dragging as much as possible people astray and into absolute complexity. The situation becomes so deteriorated that the swindler’s wife consults the local priest to counsel her husband’s supposed oddity – which too must not be told of any further, but to be found out. Eric cannot go on in the act of fiddling, and things turn out to be chaotic and unsolvable with the arrival of straight forward and inconvincible Miss Cowper (the head of the DSS).

Well, does it all sound so confusing? Yes, it does! And yes it is! It turns out to be absolute chaos with slamming doors, dead bodies, bald-faced lies, mistaken identities and men dressing as women. There is havoc in the Swans’ residence, and the Drama Society of S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia has got together to put it all on stage.

So, if you missed yesterday’s show, be there at the Lionel Wendt theatre today at 7.30 p.m. to witness this riotous farce of total bafflement. Grab your tickets from the Lionel Wendt theatre or the College gym. Tickets priced at Rs. 600 and 750 (box plan), and Rs. 500 (free seating – balcony). It is assured to be another great performance of positive entertainment and uncontrollable laughter.