Taking a trip to OZ
Nivendra Silva (Right) Santhush Pinto (Left)
It’s after school hours at the Asian International School (AIS) Colombo. The kids run around with their playful chatter, slowly they fill up a practice room, getting ready for a big production. For some, this will be their first time on stage, they tell us with a nervous smile.
Slowly the fantasy world of Oz takes form and the cast prepare to showcase ‘The Wiz’.
We met up with an enthusiastic cast, who promise their audience a magical journey ahead.
The protagonist of the play is a young Dorothy, who is on a quest to get back home. She’s just a small town girl from Kansas and quickly finds herself, lost in an unknown world. First up are Nethmi Gunasekera(16) and Shelina Muthumudalige (15), who portrayDorothy.
Being the lead is no easy task, according to Shelina, who has had her taste of the theatre. Aside from her lead role in ‘Annie’, a previous school production.She was also the protagonist (Saki) in ‘Kalumaali,’ a production by Ruwanthie de Chickera. Shelina has taken part in various other dramas as well and hopes to portray her experience, through her character. For Nethmi, this will be more challenging, since it’s her first production, she tells us.
Despite the challenges before them, they maintain the nervousness pushes them to do better.
Aside from the acting, Dorothy’s role is also a musical one. Both girls, explain that they’ve got some experience in that department, under their belt.
Nethmi has been singing with the ‘Soul Sounds’ choir and has also taken part in their productions, whilst Selina, who has been singing since she was 6, is now part of the Revelations choir. Aside from this they have both sung inchurch and in their school choirs. Despite the music being soulful, which makes it interesting to sing, it is also tough and this is a challenge, the duo adds.
Along the journey Dorothy makes some new friends. They are the tin man, the cowardly lion and the scarecrow. Together they continue on with one motive in mind, and that’s to meet the wizard of Oz.
Val Wedanayake (14) and Chris Christie (15), who portray the tin man’s role, tell us its a sad story. He used to be a woodcutter, until the wicked witch cursed his axe. His was a tale of love. He developed strong feelings for a girl, until the witch came around. The enchanted axe, chopped his limbs off one by one and each time he lost a limb, he replaced it with a prosthetic one made of tin. This continued, until nothing was left but tin. And despite him replacing his limbs, the tin smith failed to replace his heart, till finally he was no longer able to love the lady he had fallen for.
Together with Dorothy, the tin man, the scarecrow and the cowardly lion firmly believe that the wizard of Oz can help them. However, little do they realise that he’s faking it.
NismathThasleem (14) and Joshua Weeransingham(14) will be playing the wizard of Oz. Just like Dorothy, he’s also from Kansas. He came to the Land of Oz, aboard a balloon, which was steered off course by a tornado. He makes a living by making people believe, he is a wizard, they explain.
“We bring our own twist, to the story,” they tells us, adding that they are lively individuals and hope to bring that side to their character.
This isn’t Joshua’s first time acting. He’s is part of the workshop players and has performed in ‘Shakespeare in the Park’. Aside from this he was also part of ‘Annie.’ For Nismath, this is his first time acting. He however hopes that his good voice will back him up. “This production is the most fun I’ve ever had, he says, adding that the audience can expect lots of magic and craziness mixed together.
Shelina Muthumudalige (left) Nethmi Gunasekera (Right)
We are finally introduced to the wicked witch of the west, played by Aanya Tranchell (14) and Neisha Leanage (15). They explain that she is the only wicked witch in the land and is feared by everyone. Ironically though, this notorious character could be vanquished by even the simplest thing like water.
The pair tells us they motivate each other every day. “We play a really mean person, who only cares about herself and that’s the issue,” they tell us. The audience has to understand, the play is full of fantasy, which makes it more challenging, they explain. “However there’ll be a sense of magic in it, which we are trying to convey.”
We are finally introduced to Tehani C handrasena(14) and Shayara Gunawardena (13). Being the best of friends in school, “this will be the first time we’ll be singing alone,” they say.
They both play Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North. “She has so much sass in her and has the moves. She could go from angry to happy in the blink of an eye,” they share. Tehani explains Addaperle is more like a diva. She has lot of accent changes and tone changes, and is like the more fun witch. They feel they’re both hyperactive individuals and hope to bring that to their character
According to the two, the audience can expect a wow effect with a modern and local touch with some Sri Lankan terminology, like ‘Aney’ and ‘Aiyo’, they say.
‘The Wiz’ will be showcased at the Lionel Wendt during the weekend (Saturday 11 and Sunday 12). Tickets for the show could be purchased at the Wendt.
Joshua Weerasingham (Left) Nishmath Thasleem (Right)
Val Wedenayake (Right) Chris Christie (Left)
Aanya Tranchell (left) Neisha Leanage (Right) Pix by MD Nissanka