By Netanya Weerakkody.
Be enraptured by the fairytale magic of Cinderella, the girl by the cinders, who, with the help of her godmother and a fair amount of hope, proves that impossible things happen every day, and even foolish dreams come true. Despite the cruelty of her step family, Cinderella proves that “it’s possible for a plain country bumpkin and a prince to join in marriage”.
Cinderella (Youth Edition) is not your typical “happily ever after” story, but a reimagined version of the classic fairytale. This musical masterpiece was created by combining the elements of drama, music and dance, along with the prestige and prowess of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
Cinderella the Musical, presented by Asian International School, Colombo, will go on the boards at Lionel Wendt on 17th and 18th January, with direction by Ms. Anushka Senanayake, music direction by Ms. Natasha Senanayake, and choreography by Ms. Trisha Fernandez. Tickets for the performance are now out at the AIS Reception during school hours.
Cinderella’s magic manifests itself in numerous ways. It’s brought out through the exemplary composing and writing of Rodgers and Hammerstein, who carefully manipulated the elements of music and the power of words to reimagine the story, while still keeping the traditional soul of the story. Rodgers and Hammerstein are considered to be one of the greatest musical theatre partnerships in the 20th century, with their Broadway productions initiating what is known as the “golden age” of musical theatre, musicals including Cinderella, The Sound of Music and Okhlahoma!
The magic of this musical is brought out through the resilience and dedication of the cast, who bring Cinderella’s story to life, forming the very heart of the musical. Their constant effort amidst numerous other school commitments, balancing academics, long practices, and often few hours of sleep, embody the message of Cinderella the Musical, that “it’s possible!”.
Commenting about the theatrical magic of the show, Ms. Anushka Senanayake stated that “This production is full of magic, humour, and heart, celebrating the importance of believing in yourself and dreaming big. This talented young cast reminds us that dreams grow stronger when we believe in them together. Working with the talented students of AIS has been an absolute joy, as they’ve grown in confidence, collaboration, and creativity. Together, they have created something magical, joyful and uniquely their own.”
Ms. Natasha Senanayake commented that “I am thrilled to have collaborated with the talented young cast of ‘Cinderella: Youth Edition,’ presented by the Asian International School, on my third musical production with AIS. This journey has been filled with hard work, laughter, and inspiration, especially as we visited the enchanting music and songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein, which beautifully convey themes of hope and resilience. I am proud of our young performers and our team working behind the scenes, and I hope our production reminds audiences that ‘impossible things are happening every day!”
Speaking on the performativity of this musical, Ms. Trisha Fernandez commented that “We expect a musical to have lots of music and dance, and Cinderella certainly has its fair share of magic, but the real magic comes from the students themselves. From their over-the-top characterisation to their full voices and energetic dancing, they’ve poured their hearts into bringing this story to life. With all that passion on stage, we’re in for an incredible show!”
Cinderella the Musical continues the strong traditions in the performing arts. AIS has staged a production every two years at AIS, alternating with the school’s Interhouse Drama Competition. This demonstrates AIS’s commitment to holistic education, where students learn to balance academics and extracurricular activities, learning lessons outside of the classroom, and providing an opportunity for students to delve into the world of musical theatre and drama. As a school AIS is proud to note that many of its students have gone on to pursue degrees in areas such as stage management following their experiences in school productions.
