A social “safety net” is vital to ensure the smooth functioning of any society. It is important because it ensures the protection of the least well off in society; the poor, the unemployed, the widowed, the disabled and so on. It is very important for any society to have meaningful and serious debate and dialogue about how its safety net will be constructed, and about whom that society seeks to protect through such a system.

Through its upcoming production, “Cash on Delivery”, the Drama Society of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, is pleased to inform you that it will do no such thing.  Instead, what you can expect is an evening full of hilarious entertainment and outrageous fun.

Directed by Vinodh Senadeera and produced by Marlon Jesudason, the hilarious comedy by Michael Cooney revolves around the antics of a man who makes a living by defrauding an extensive and generous Department of Social Security (here in Sri Lanka, we may not be able to sympathize).

The lead character, Eric Swan, is landlord to such a large number of lodgers, that it would require a house nearly thrice the size of his own. The only way he is able to make do, is that a vast majority of these lodgers, are imaginary. Made up by the inventive Mr. Swan, they are fictitious characters, suffering from a most unfortunate combination of ailments and disabilities, all-coincidentally-unemployed, which has resulted in the local branch of the Department of Social Security (DSS) having to send a number of generous cheques to this one household. These checks are greeted by Mr. Swan, who - in keeping with his high standards of honesty- distributes them among the claimants: himself and himself only.

This happy and carefree lifestyle would have gone on just fine, if not for the visit from Mr. Jenkins-an inspector from the DSS-one fateful morning. We are taught as young children, that to cover up one lie it takes a hundred more; so imagine how many lies it would take to cover up several hundred lies. Chaos soon begins to unfold in this ordinarily quiet household, as more people are gradually drawn into the confusing web of deception. This includes Norman (the upstairs lodger-the only real one), Linda (Eric’s wife), George (Eric’s uncle), Sally Chessington (an annoying lady from the local council with a penchant for getting in the way), Rev. Chapman (the local pastor), Mr. Forbright (an undertaker), Ms. Cowper (a strict woman and Jenkins’ superior) and Brenda Dixon (Norman’s fiancée).

Confused yet?  As the proverbial saying goes, the “truth will out” on the 1^st and 2^nd of June at the Lionel Wendt theatre, from 7 p.m. onwards. Tickets and Box Plan soon to be available at the Lionel Wendt.

Print media sponsors: The Sunday Times and Daily Mirror

Electronic media sponsors: Art TV and Real Radio.