‘The King and I’ with the Ladies’ girls
View(s):The three bells that end a school day at Ladies’ College have always signified a happy sprint to the gates for most students. Though usually among the crowd waiting to go home, life for about 100 of the students from the Middle School has had an interesting twist of late. Fishing out a change of clothes from their bags and hastily gulping down their lunch, the girls head for practices.
The show they are preparing to stage is the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of yesteryear- ‘The King and I’.
The main cast
With a large and talented Intermediate choir with strong vocal ability on hand, the school decided to stage this musical classic. Directed by Kshama Kapukotuwa, the adaptation of the beloved story from the court of Siam, has the girls from Grades 7-9 bring to life the age-old tale of the exotic, oriental adventure of a British Governess in the service of the stern but endearing King Mungkut.
Taking the lead role of Anna, the British governess who takes charge of the King’s numerous children is Shakyna Dassenaike of Grade 9 who smiles that her biggest challenge and also the most fun was the dancing part. The choreography for the show is by Chryshanthi Dissanayake and Menik Neydorff .
King Mungkut is played by Suhithri Paranamanage who initially just wanting to dance for the play says she “auditioned for the acting part just for fun!” Otherwise involved in athletics and squash, her appearance as the lovable yet incredibly rough-around-the-edges character will be her first acting role.
A driven, slightly pompous young prince is Tiasha Kamalgoda’s undertaking. Prince Chulalongkorn’s character has only one aim, to be king. “In his head, he already is,” she discloses. Playing a young boy brought-up with the sole purpose of being heir to the throne, Tiasha feels can be challenging because “you need to think about the character constantly.”
East meets West: The King and Anna
“I would say,” Seneli Hettiarachchi smiles, “she knows the king the most,” of her character, Lady Thiang-the king’s main wife. Her biggest challenge, she shares was moving around while singing, one that she feels she has successfully overcome. The girls are under the guidance of Musical Director for the production, Beatrice Devasagayam.
“Being a part of the production shows you another culture, in another time,” says Shanya Sadanandan of Grade 9 who plays the King’s right hand man-the Kralahome who is in constant battle with Anna’s Western influence on the king – “basically I hate her for changing the king.” +
The youngest member of the main cast, Rumalki Fernando is Louis, Anna’s son. Counting herself lucky to be working with the older girls she feels the cast is close, and age doesn’t really matter. A student of Grade 7, she feels the musical is a must see because “It’s really interesting and has so many songs!”
An evening of Eastern and Western cultures awaits the audience on September 19 and 20 at the Ladies’ College Hall. From whistling through your worst fears to getting to know new friends, the girls are all set to launch you on a musical journey of hallmark tunes. Tickets for ‘The King and I’ priced at Rs. 1500, 1000 and 750 are available at the Ladies’ College Office.
-V.P.