Vinodh Senadeera’s 'Playing Doctor' is an anticipated play hitting the stage this July from 15 - 17 at the Lionel Wendt. 

'Playing Doctor' follows the hilarious tale of Rob Brewster as he enlists his friends and those around him to play the charade of presenting himself as a Doctor when his parents drop in for a surprise visit. 

With the play making its appearance 20 years after the original play was debuted by Vinodh in 1996, we caught up with the cast of 8 to speak about their characters; 

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Shanaka Amarasinghe as Dr. Rob Brewster 

"He’s an aspiring writer and he’s gone to university on his father’s dime but he pretends he’s a medical student when he’s actually studying to be an English major. He’s hoping to fool his parents for the rest of his life which is not really the smartest thing to do. I’ve played this exact same role in the original play in 1996 so it’s nice to come to it 20 years later. I was 18 back then and doing this same character, now, I feel like I’ve got the nuance of the character." 

Trickiest part of playing your character: I’m the glue that holds all these mad hatters together and everything is falling apart around me and I have to keep it all together so that is quite stressful but also what I enjoy! 

Favourite line by your character: "Could be". 

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Delon Weerasinghe as Jimmy Carmicheal 

"He’s Rob’s roommate. He’s a pretty funny character, an out of work actor who is pretty much not good enough to get a role but he thinks he’s great and that there is a conspiracy against him and that’s why he doesn’t get any work (typical actor stuff!) . He’s lived off his best friend, Rob, and now he has to pay it back and he figures that the best way he can do that is to bring in patients but ends up being pretty much playing the role of all the patients!" 

Trickiest part of playing your character: The number of costume changes. 

Favourite line by your character: Where I get to scream a lot like a girl. 

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Michelle Ashini Fernando as Max Blake 

"I’m Rob’s secretary and I’m part of the whole charade so I turn into the nurse.  It’s a pretty dumb blonde kind of situation but as the play progresses I get into it and I get smarter and I get closer to Rob.  It’s pretty interesting to play her." 

Trickiest part of playing your character: the level of alertness because there is not a single moment I can switch off. I have to be bang on target all the time. 

Favourite line by your character: When Rob says 'give me that thing that all doctors carry' and I say 'Germs?' 

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Michelle Herft as Janet Brewster 

"I’m Rob’s mother. She’s very submissive at the start but she develops completely in the play. She later becomes empowered and it’s so fun and it’s just great acting in a play with my own husband!" 

Trickiest part of playing your character: Difficult with all the busy schedules but we just enjoy it so much. 

Favourite line by your character: "I’m through with balancing beach balls on my nose!" 

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Jivan Goonetilleke as Robert Brewster III 

"I play Rob’s father. He’s very hard-nosed and a typical elitist. He’s uncompromising but the beauty in this is that there is a shift in character which adds to its humour." 

Trickiest part of playing your character: Having Shanaka as a son!  Plus playing a mature role is definitely challenging. 

Favourite line by your character: "I paid for you for 8 years and now I’m here to collect!" 

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Ravin Fernando as Chuck Murdox 

"I live next door to Rob and my ex-wife is having an affair with Rob’s roommate (I suspect!) and I’m quite upset so I want to ensure she doesn’t hook up with anyone else. Throughout the play I try to find out if something is happening so I keep them apart by threatening them in all sorts of ways." 

Trickiest part of playing your character: I’m the most aggressive character in the play so trying to channel all of that is tricky. 

Favourite line by your character: "Aha!" 

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Pramukshi Kariyawasam as Maurine 

"My character is a nymphomaniac. It’s the youngest character in the play and I happen to be the youngest in the cast so it fits well! She’s naïve, frivolous, happy go lucky and always after Jimmy. She’s very oblivious to what’s going on and it’s so interesting to see how it evolves." 

Trickiest part of playing your character: Playing different roles. 

Favourite line by your character: "Nothing a sexy young man can’t cure!" 

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Danu Innasithamby as Uncle Harold 

"I’m a hypochondriac who has issues. I think they gave me the role because they suspect I’m the same! It’s interesting and he’s very over the top. I come in as a sick patient because in my head I’m sick in every level so my brother (Robert) thinks his son is the cure." 

Trickiest part of playing your character: Timing. 

Favourite line by your character: "I want this on my tomb stone." 

The play is presented by The Combined Theatre Company in arrangement with Samuel French Inc and is written by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore. "As a producer, Vinodh has given us a great line up where we have very big exposure for us to push in and we hope the crowd will come and experience this rib tickling comedy!" said producer, Marlon Jesudason of The Combined Theatre Company. 

'Playing Doctor' will take to the stage from July 15 - 17 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre from 7.30pm onwards. Tickets are priced at Rs. 1500, 1000,800,600 (balcony) and can be purchased at the venue. 

Photographs by Waruna Wanniarachchi