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REVIEW: Funny Money

Mar 27 2013.

To have produced a rendition that did justice to the original and to have brought home the essence of a foreign script, is something praiseworthy. Directed by Abbasali Rozais and produced by Fine Arts production, Ray Cooney’s ‘Funny Money’ took to the boards on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of this moth at the Lionel Wendt auditorium.

The play casted in both pros, like Indu and Sanwada Dharmasena and amateurs to stage. The play was presented as an amateur theatre by special arrangement with Samuel French UK.

Mr. Perkins (Indu Dharmasena) takes home a money filled suitcase by accident, only to be too excited and ambitious in the face of his nervous and restless wife (Sanwada), who opposes his plans of boarding flight to go abroad. Nevertheless a very convincing and determined man, Mr. Perkins is left to work around two sergeants, one shady and the other relentlessly dutiful, two friends (as contrary in character as himself and his wife), a drunk and stubborn wife, a taxi driver, and add to all this, strange threatening phone calls.

In an interesting and action packed stream of unfolding events, matters take a roller coaster ride as they go as planned but for a moment only to be unceremoniously disrupted all over again. Wit and luck pull through those who are up for the plan and lures the rest of them into it as well.

Needless to say, Indu and Sanwada Dharsena did their roles to everyone’s liking and played their parts so well for the long time they were on stage – in the case of Indu almost for the entire duration of the play; consistency came naturally to the duo. On the other hand the rest of the cast did a commendable job, and a good deal of hard work during rehearsals was evinced.

Abbasali Rozais and Sanjula Amarasekera in the roles of Vic and Betty Johnson, played their roles well, blending their characters well into plot and timing. Zainul Meeadh in the role of the shady detective Davenport and Yasal Ruhunge, playing the dutiful sergeant, both gave performances that were both natural and effortless.

Chalana, the taxi driver did his part to his fullest and it is a commendable job indeed for the rest of the cast that was made up of fresh faces to theatre. The cast gave a very convincing portrayal of good rehearsing and timing, coupled with sheer enthusiasm for theatre.

While it may not have been easy to master the production of a true to form replication of a renowned Ray Cooney farce, the attempt made by Fine Arts production is remarkable and admirable. Sure enough it shall be a milestone in the history of reproducing farces in the local theatre.

The humour is not always easy to imitate and have our audience follow, but this production found a great deal of the humour and understanding of the play being well transferred to local audiences. Kudos to the cast on a job well done!

Audience Comments

It was hilarious – Dinuka

I love the perverse humour. The subtle hint of perverseness was just super – Joanne

Was really impressed by the act by Mrs. Perkins (Sanwada). Being on stage for a long time she did a great job! – Tharaka

(Indu) gave a memorable performance. – Liz

Very funny play and liked it really well. Henry Perkins (Indu) did a great job. I’ve seen this before in England and these guys have done a good job of it – Michael