The CIS Pirates that Invaded Kandy
By Aslam Marika
Wild pirates and pretty maidens on stage at the Colombo
International School (CIS) Kandy auditorium last month
performed to an appreciative audience “The Pirates
of Penzance” a comic musical operetta by W.S Gilbert
and Arthur Sullivan that was written in the late 19th
century for Victorian era audiences. Over a period of
more than one century it has become entertaining theatre
in many parts of the world. The CIS, Kandy theater group
led by Mrs. Malini Samarajeewa is one of the latest
to try its hand at producing it. I felt that it was
a successful effort and I for one enjoyed it.
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Ah
ha! now look who is in control!
Ramesh Perera (The Pirate King), Dilshan Karasinghe
Arachch (Frederick) and Santhoshika Smits(Ruth) |
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Look I am free!
Dilshan Karasinghe Arachch (Frederick), Ramesh Perera
(The Pirate King) |
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The proud father
Darshan Sinnathamby(Major General) with his daughters. |
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A toast to noble
friends
Dishan Karasinghe Arachch (Frederick) , Lakmal Walawage
(Samuel) and Ramesh Perrera (The Pirate King) |
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And they lived happily
ever after
Shahrazad Odayar (Mabel), Dilshan Karasinghe Arachch
(Fredrick) |
School children
in Sri Lanka are burdened by extra-ordinary demands
to cover lengthy syllabi, attend tuition classes and
sit highly competitive examinations. CIS students and
staff have to be commended for trying to achieve a balance
in learning in the wider sense of the term by devoting
time to activities such as theatre. The school has now
a well established tradition of producing a stage play
annually.
The curtains opened to a gathering of vile pirates celebrating
and cheering to the tune of “Pour oh pour the
pirates shimmy” felicitating the young Frederick,
a pirate apprentice who has come to the end of his indenture
and also the completion of his 23rd birthday. The Pirate
King, (Ramesh Perera) set the stage with his personification
of a pirate, American actor Johnny Depp style. He was
ably supported by Frederick (Dilshan Karasinhe Arachchi)
who at first, wonderfully portrayed the hopeless romantic
youngster. However, at the latter stages of the production
he lacked vigor and got a bit too melodramatic.
Young Frederick
anxious to leave for the city is accosted by Ruth (Samthosika
Smit) his nurse, who trotting across the stage with
her constant limp and viragos' mouth, always got your
attention with her presence. Ruth tries hard to lure
him for herself. But her attempts are unsuccessful as
the young lad's eyes are tantalized by a bevy of young
maidens. There he falls in love with the wide eyed beauty
Mabel (Shahrazad Odayar).
The domineering
presence of Darshan Sinnathamby who played the Major
Genaral adroitly outmaneuvers the Pirate King by speaking
to their softer side and winning their sympathy by his
false confession of being an orphan. The Pirate King
veering upon this ploy pledges an alliance with the
General only to discover later that his confession was
but a mere act of deceit. Outraged the pirates decide
to storm the city.
With the stage
lit in a Scorsese Red, the pirates enter for betrayed
revenge. This final act was brightened by subtle candle
light that enthralled you into the moment on stage.
The pirates successfully overpower the weaker police
who humorously counter-attack by their unconditioned
sense duty to the Queen!
There were a
few hick ups with synchronizing of sound, occasionally
putting you off beat and the infrequent ear piercing
scream bursting through the speakers.
This is the 10th
consecutive play staged by CIS, Kandy that has outclassed
every other school in the hill capital with there ardent
enthusiasm for theatre. Reading through the souvenir
I was amazed by the number of students and teachers
involved with the production. The costumes were a spectacle.
This effort shows how serious CIS Kandy takes the performing
arts into their curriculum of student development.
The inspiring
leadership for CIS theatre production comes from Mrs.
Malini Samarajeewa who is well known to Kandy theatre
goers. Over the years she has been a part of many school
productions, directing Good Sheppard Convent, St. Anthony's
and Trinity theatre groups.
Putting up a
performance on stage takes a great deal of time, sweat
and resources. It is sad to note that attendance at
such events in Kandy is less than satisfactory. The
potential audience for English theatre not only in Kandy
but even in Colombo is limited by language proficiency.
However, poor publicity may also be a factor that results
in not attracting the full potential audience. I decided
to write this review for The Kandy News partly in the
hope of alerting the Kandy public to such events and
what they miss out. Perhaps organizers of such events
in the future should use this local newspaper to seek
more pre-event publicity. That may have a good pay back.
Thank you CIS
for helping to keep English theatre in Kandy alive.
We look forward to your production next year.
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