An absurd tragi-comedy!
Actors:
A Director of a play
A Manager of a theatre
Act 1
Director: Can we book a date for a show?
Manager: What is the play?
Director: It’s a translation of an English play.
(Silence)
Manager: So, it’s a Sinhala play?
Director: Yes.
Manage: Sinhala plays don’t get a good audience here. Why don’t you try a different theatre?
Director: No, I want to show the play here.
Manager: But we don’t have dates.
Director: What do you mean?
Manager: The theatre is booked for the entire year.
Director: So, not a single day is available?
Manager: Some weekdays here and there.
Director: Can I see the book to see what dates are available?
Manager: (with emphasis) No!
Director: Why?
Manager: It’s not in the book.
Director: Okay, then, how do you know?
Manager: I told you there are no dates.
Director: Then, can you please show me the book?
Manager: NO!
Director: Didn’t someone file a formal complaint against the lack of transparency in your bookings?
(a month later)
Manager: There are 3 days in July. Do you want them?
Director: Give me a couple of days, I’ll check with the cast and crew and let you know.
(After 2 and a half days)
D: We would like to book the dates in July.
M: Can you pay today?
D: Yes, I can send someone in an hour.
The Director calls the Manager the entire day. No response. He answers in the evening.
M: There is someone else interested in booking the theatre for 5 days.
D: So?
M: I have to give them priority.
Moral of the story: Perhaps the Lionel Wendt Theatre could save everyone a great deal of time by simply advertising that the venue is reserved for an inner circle of approved patrons—mostly from the English theatre—and school concerts. If hotels can say “Foreigners only,” why not “English theatre only”! And did someone say “postcolonial?!!!”
kanchukadharmasiri.info 