Winning streak

As we drove in through the tall gates, and proceeded along the winding driveway, passing one colonial building after another complete with long corridors and spacious, orderly classrooms, only one word resonated in my head – discipline. The juniors walking in single file, the reverent singing coming from the chapel and the respectful way in which students spoke to their teachers, impressed me even more. And it was probably this level of discipline and sincere commitment that helped Maris Stella College, Negombo, to proceed to the finals and emerge the winners of the All Island Inter School Shakespeare Drama Competition, 2007, (Boys) held on June 17.

Performing Merry Wives of Windsor, the school bagged three of the awards, with Udara Ahangama (17) playing the role of Falstaff, being awarded the Best Outstation Actor Award, with both Lakshan Perera (17) who played Mistress Page and Shaveen Fernando (17) playing Mistress Ford, sharing the Best Outstation Supporting Actor award. Udara was also nominated for the All Island Best Actor award, and Lakshan and Shaveen were nominated for the All Island Best Supporting Actor award.

Meeting up with the talented cast members on a busy school day, I tried to get a feel of the experience of their feat, and what helped them get there.

"The experience was fantastic, and we worked really hard since March, starting with a workshop that helped us familiarize ourselves with the play.

Falstaff is a hilarious role, and it was tough playing a drunken old man and keeping the comic element going throughout the play. Playing comic roles are a bit harder to play, because you have to keep entertaining the audience throughout," says Udara.

Playing female characters for the first time, doing justice to their roles was definitely a challenge for both Lakshan and Shaveen. "Initially, it was very hard to get into the roles. Our characters had to keep playing pranks on Udara's character, Falstaff, and it is definitely hard to play roles that have a comic element in them," said Lakshan. "Because you have to balance between making the audience laugh, and making sure you don't overplay," added Shaveen.

All three guys went onto extend their thanks to their directors Marissa Jansz and Delon Weerasinghe, as well as their teacher-in-charge Ms. Nirmala Wijedasa. "The guidance given by the directors right from the start was amazing. And we definitely couldn't have done it without the strength and support given by Ms. Nirmala," said Udara, speaking for the entire cast.

This being the school's eighth year at the competition, Maris Stella College has been awarded Best Outstation School on four occasions, this being the first time they won the overall competition. The cast was made up of 12 members, with the youngest being in grade 7. "The support rendered by Brother Mervyn Perera, our principal, was an essential part of the boys' success. He has been extremely supportive, and made our job so much easier," said Ms. Wijedasa.

So having won the Best Outstation School award on many occasions, what made them go on and win the All Island award this year? "I personally feel that as a school, they have grown in confidence and this is obviously a big part of their success. But it is the strength of their acting is what carried them through. We wanted the cast to shine as actors, not wanting a big "performance," but rather be big as performers. And as always, you learn as you go along, so the experience of previous performances have helped," said Marissa.

Next up was my meeting with their counterparts, once again from Negombo. Ave Maria Convent who went on to win the All Island Inter School Shakespeare Drama Competition, 2007, (Girls) held on June 16. And once again, it was the same level of discipline and commitment visible, in every aspect of the school and its students. Performing Macbeth, the school walked away with a combined award for Best Actress, with Udani Perera (18) who played Macbeth, and Himaya Fernando (16) who played Lady Macbeth sharing it.

And what was the experience like? "I have been playing male roles all along, so it wasn't anything that different! But the role of Macbeth was a different experience all together, with it being an extremely complicated role. As an 18 year-old girl, it was a major challenge playing this complex man, with his many inner turmoils," said Udani. She went onto add that they were introduced to the script, line by line, so that they could get into the character, and so playing this role, with its many faces, gradually got very interesting.

For Himaya, it was a different ball game altogether, as she, according to her teachers and fellow cast members, is an extremely gentle person by nature. And so playing the role of Lady Macbeth was a huge challenge. "At first I thought I can't do it, because the role is so unlike my personality, and I thought I wouldn't be able to carry it off. But with the support and encouragement of the directors and teachers, I slowly got accustomed to her nature, and it became very interesting," she said with a smile.

Their directors Chamath Arambewela, Sashane Perera and Zainul Mahas, according to the girls, had been amazingly supportive and helpful in getting the best out of them. "The directors, along with our teachers in charge, Mrs. Anoma Fernando, Mrs. Shereen Gomes, Mrs. Udari Karunanayake and Mrs. Dilki Thissera, have given us their fullest support, and we couldn't have achieved this without them," said Udani. "Our parents have been a great encouragement as well," added Himaya. According to the girls, the experience didn't just entail the theatre aspect, but fitness training as well. "Our directors, in order to make us fit for all the male roles and action on stage, put us through some extensive physical training, which was both fun and tiring, and was definitely a new experience for us!" said Udani.

Ave Maria Convent has taken part in the competition for the last eight years, and have won the award for Best Outstation School, twice, with students winning the Best Outstation Actress award thrice.

The principal Sister Chandrika Perera went onto say that she was extremely proud of her students, not for defeating students from other schools, but for their own achievement. "We always try to choose a play with a big cast so that the maximum number of students can take part, and we also encourage the younger girls to participate. "We encourage our students to take part in state and private competitions so that they can mingle and compete against students from various backgrounds, and learn from them, as well as contribute to improving healthy competition among students," she said.

And finally, what contributed in making this cast go on to accomplish their feat? "It was basically sticking to the basics that did it for them. We didn't spend a huge amount on lights and costumes and so on. It was basically focusing on acting and characterising. And this was an extremely dedicated group of people and it was highly rewarding working with them," said Chamath.