Colombo Calling - a play from Sri Lanka by Cristina A. Bejan

Having recently received a PhD from Cambridge, Karthi returns to Colombo for the first time in twenty-two years. He comes to settle family affairs as his mother lays on her death-bed in London. His male cousin, Shahan, is a loud, vocal Sri Lankan with a very strong Tamil identity, and Shahan's sister, Thushanti, is Colombo's most famous and desired party girl. Shahan works for an American NGO set up...
Having recently received a PhD from Cambridge, Karthi returns to Colombo for the first time in twenty-two years. He comes to settle family affairs as his mother lays on her death-bed in London. His male cousin, Shahan, is a loud, vocal Sri Lankan with a very strong Tamil identity, and Shahan's sister, Thushanti, is Colombo's most famous and desired party girl. Shahan works for an American NGO set up post- Tsunami through which met his New Zealander girlfriend, Molly. Karthi's aunt, Varthini, has difficulty accepting Karthi's family's rejection of their homeland, her own children's erratic behavior and the extreme changes happening in Sri Lanka due to never-ending civil war, natural disaster and international humanitarian intervention. Facing discrimination and racism even as a visitor, Karthi learns what it means to be Tamil in 2006 Sri Lanka. Setting: Colombo and Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.
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Colombo Calling - a play from Sri Lanka

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Character Information

NOTE: It is of crucial importance for all actors to use the correct accent appropriate to their character. Extra characters in scenes (e.g. Colombo Airport, Zanziba) can be portrayed by the actors not in the current scene. Random Dancing Guy at Zanziba, Armed Security Guard in Batticaloa and Passport Control Agent can all be played by the same actor.

  • Karthigesu (Karthi) Tissainayagam
    25,
    South Asian
    ,
    Male
    British, Cambridge PhD, Tamil
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Varthini Balakrishnan
    50s/60s,
    South Asian
    ,
    Female
    mother of Shahan and Thushanti, aunt of Karthi, Sri Lankan, Tamil
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Shahan Balakrishnan:
    27,
    South Asian
    ,
    Male
    cousin of Karthi, Sri Lankan, Tamil
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Thushanti Balakrishnan
    23,
    South Asian
    ,
    Female
    sister of Shahan, cousin of Karthi, Sri Lankan, Tamil
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Molly Brown
    25,
    White
    ,
    Female
    New Zealander, girlfriend of Shahan
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Lasantha
    27,
    South Asian
    ,
    Male
    Shahan’s best friend, lawyer, Sri Lankan, Sinhalese
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Claudia
    late 20s/early 30s,
    White
    ,
    Female
    Lasantha’s German girlfriend
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Doctor Igor
    40s/50s,
    White
    ,
    Male
    Doctor for Medical Relief International in Batticaloa
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Prateek
    20s/30s/40s,
    South Asian
    ,
    Male
    Doctor Igor’s assistant, Sri Lankan, Sinhalese
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Random Dancing Guy in Zanziba
    20s,
    South Asian
    ,
    Male
    male, 20s, Sinhalese
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Armed security guard in Batticaloa
    20s/30s/40s,
    South Asian
    ,
    Male
    Sinhalese
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Passport control agent at the airport
    20s/30s/40s/50s,
    South Asian
    ,
    Male
    Sinhalese
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Imurj - a collaborative art and music space (featuring Seema Kukreja, Raleigh, NC)
    ,
    2018
  • Reading
    ,
    Kennedy Center - Page to Stage Festival (Washington DC)
    ,
    2016
  • Reading
    ,
    Teatrul Foarte Mic & Museo Cafe (featuring Maia Morgenstern, Bucharest, Romania)
    ,
    2008