My favourite Stage Plays
[ My involvement with Stage plays as an actor, writer and director
spans a period of more than 3 decades and covers 100s of plays,
but I have selected only 15 plays from that huge list.]
1. Sathurangam - written by "Maraimuthalvan"- chosen as one
of the 10 best plays of 1960-1970 period in Sri Lanka by theatre critics.
Cast: K.S.Balachandran.S.S.Ganeshapillai.K.Kandasamy,
Maraimuthalvan,Chandrapiraba, Rohini
2. Pulugar Ponniah - written by "Varaniyooran"- commercially
most successful Tamil Stage play in Srilanka .
Cast: S.S.Ganeshapillai.K.S.Balachandran,K.Kandasamy,
Chandrapiraba,Rohini,M.K.Ragulan and Sundararajan.
3. Paasa Chumai - based on "Bilahari"s short story,
written by "Varaniyooran"
Cast: S.S.Ganeshapillai,K.S.Balachandran, Vimal Sockanathan,
K.Jesuratnam,Chandrapiraba, Saratha,V.N.Mathialagan,
S.Pararajasingam.
4. Nambikkai - based on a true story of Dr.Abraham Kovoor,
written by "Varaniyooran"
Cast: K.S.Balachandran,George Chandrasekaran,K.Kandasamy,
Chandrapiraba,Manimekalai.
5. Theroddi Magan - written by P.S.Ramiah- a grand costume
drama, with "Senthamil" dialogues.
Cast: A.Ragunathan,T.Rajeswaran,K.S.Balachandran,Sivaskar,
"Kulanthai"Chanmugalingam, Dingiri, Sivaguru, Francis(Jenam),
Chandrakala,Jeyadevi,Chelliah.
6. Naththaiyum Amaiyum - adapted from an European Play
by George Chandrasekaran,selected by critics as the best play
in S.L.B.C Nadaga Vilzha in 1992.
Cast: K.S.Balachandran,Miss.Gnanaratnam.
7. Kaladdakkararkal - well appreciated Comedy ,
written & Directed by K.S.Balachandran, on current issues ,
staged several times in Canada.
Cast: S.T.Shenthilnathan,S.Balachandran.S.Mathivasan,
A.M.C.Jeyajothy, Nilamathi, Sridhar Pitchaiappah,S.Sriharan &
K.S.Balachandran.
(Subsequently) Sothimalar Paramsothy, Mehala Thurairajah,
Dushyanth Gnanapiragasam,V.Sathiyavarathan, Anton Felix.
8. Kanavugalum Theevugalum - a sentimental play written &
Directed by K.S.Balachandran with modern stage set ups etc.
Cast: S.T.Shenthilnathan,Sothimalar Paramsothy,Ananthi Sridas,
Tharani SriRanganathan,Dushyanth Gnanapiragasam.
(Subsequently) S.Mathivasan,Mehala Thurairajah,Rathiga.
9. Thallu Vandikkararkal - adapted by K.S.Balachandran
well appreciated by serious drama goers.
Cast: S.T.Shenthilnathan, Balasingam Sabesh, Mehala Thurairajah.
Cast: Dushy Gnanapiragasam,P.S.Suthakaran, Kajenthini Selvarajah.
10.Thalai Muraigal - a play on generation gap written & Directed
by K.S.Balachandran, later made into a Television Serial by TV Ceylon.
Cast: Dushyanth Gnanapiragasam,Chiththra Felix,K.S.Balachandran,
Mast.Keerthanan Thivyarajah,V.Sathiyavarathan.
(Vocal Accompaniment-V.Thivyarajah,S.Sriskandarajah)
(Subsequently) Miss.Sitsabaieasan,S.T.Shenthilnathan.
11. Kurangu Kai Thalaiyanai Panchukalai... -
a current period play with Toronto- Colombo- Vavuniya as
background written by K.S.Balachandran.
Cast: Dushyanth Gnanapiragasam, Rathiga Sitsabaieasan,
S.T.Shenthilnathan, Amala Ambalavanar, V.Sathiyavarathan,
Mehala Thurairajah, Balasingam Sabesh, Kamal Bharathi
with several kids. (Subsequently)A.T.Gowtham
12. Innonru Veli- critically acclaimed play by T.Jeyakaran
drew very good audience response in all stagings.
Cast: K.S.Balachandran, Sumathi Ruban, S.T.Shenthilnathan/ Regi
Duleep Kumar/Senthilnathan. Staged 6 times.
13. Karoddam - a comedy written and directed by me, was
well appreciated when staged at the UTHAYAN 2001 in Etobicoke
and therafter staged six times in different venues.
Cast: V.Sathiyavarathan, Dushi Gnanapiragasam/S.T.Senthilnathan, K.Kanagalingam,
Sharmila/Kajenthini/Neera, Yasotha and G.Raveendran/Senthooran/Bapu.
At Hartley O.B.A program - Kajenthini and Senthuran acted.
At Yorkwoods C .T.A.G Drama festival - Neera and Bapu acted
14. Puthiyathor Veedu - a verse drama written by Mahakavi, staged
several times in SriLanka and Canada. Recently staged by Manaveli
Troupe for 9th ARANGADAL on 16th & 17th March 02 at Markham Theatre,
Kokuvil Hindu College O.B.A prog. on 29th March 02 and C.T.A.G program
on April 28th at Yorkwoods theatre.
Cast: Dushi, Suganthan, Anushiya, Subbuluxmi, K.S.Bala (Me)
and Mas.Sajeeban with dancers, singers and musicians. (43 in all ! )
15. Thathupillai - an adaptation of Brian Friel's 'American Welcome" . I replaced European writer and American Director with a SriLankan writer and Indian Director . A satire well appreciated by many but for few it was just a comedy. Varaguanan as Indian Director and S.Sivanesan as silent Srilankan writer did their characters marvelously. According one of the best play at 11th Arangadal on July 17th 2004.
16. Torture (Vathai)- a short play by Mario Fratti adapted into Tamil by Puviyarasu and directed by Dushy Gnanapragasam was staged twice in 12th Arangadal on March 13, 2005 and again in Vaughn city on July 30th 2005. This play about the last days of great Chilean Poet Pablo Neruda was well appreciated by serious theatre goers. Myself, Neera, Dushy and Mayuran acted in this play.
