Dolly’s back!

 By Senashia Ekanayake

What happens to a matchmaker who wants to be married? Dolly Lovedena is on the verge of finding out. Back with a slicker and succinct facelift, “Hallo Dolly” by Indu Dharmasena will be staged on 27 and 29 May  at Lionel Wendt.

Dolly first met the crowds in early 2004 and was initially inspired and encouraged to be written by the late Richard de Zoysa who once explored the possibility of writing a play based on Pulitzer Prize award winner, “The Matchmaker”, which subsequently found its way to the great musical “Hello Dolly”.

The original stage version was produced in the 70s with the late Richard de Zoysa as Dolly. This time around the fabulous role would be played by Koluu.  As a result of being familiar with a previous production of the play, rehearsals began early May and would be another addition to the play collection of 55 plus scripts written and 75 plus directed and produced by Indu. As all of Indu’s plays, this too would include the much required observations and references made on present circumstances.

Besides the edited script, Indu, Koluu and Gehan Cooray; the cast too has undergone changes and replacements. The 2004 cast included Delon Weerasinghe, Angela Seneviratne, Catriona Nicholas, Krys Sosa, Yohan Caius Kumaraperuma, Anushan Selvarajah, Muzackir Nadeem, Vraie Balthazaar, Shimmee Shameem, Hafsa Aroosi, Lasantha Rodrigo and Lakmal Mudalige.  

The Plot

The play’s epicentre involves middle-aged widow and professional matchmaker Dolly, who is keen on winning the attention of flourishing Nawalapitiya businessman Harendra Wanawanagedara. Harendra arranges Dolly to take his niece Ayesha to Colombo with the hopes of ending her relationship with upcoming musician Sangeeth. Dolly also learns that Harendra is also coming to Colombo to propose to Mihiri Suralowa. In the midst of all this frenzy and discoveries, she finds out that Harendra’s manager Avanka and clerk Nuwan are also planning to leave to Colombo without Harendra’s knowledge for a jolly good day of fun.

To know as to how this delirious plot unfolds join Koluu (Dolly), Abbasali Rozais (Harendra), Indu Dharmasena (Avanka), Gehan Cooray (Nuwan), Sanwada Dharmasena (Mihiri), Sanjana Selvarajah (Karen) Ruvendri Wakwella (Ayesha), Dilshan Perera (Sangeeth), Shohan Chandirum (Ruddy), Oshini Gunawardana (Araliya) from May 27-29 at 7.30pm at Lionel Wendt. The show on 28 May is reserved for HSBC Advance Customers.