Arts
Cinderella: Let the magic begin with the old and new
As children, Anushka and Natasha Senanayake grew up listening to the songs from the well-loved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Cinderella. With a background in classical music, they feel that paying tribute to this version of the musical for the fifth anniversary of their theatre company ‘Theatre Junction’ is fitting. “We feel ready to take it on this time,” says Natasha.
The wicked trio: Dinara Punchihewa, Melanie Bibile and Shalini Corea. Appearing on the cover are Devashrie de Silva and Damien Fernando and Anushka Senanayake and Gyles Dharmaratne as Cinderella and the Prince. Hair and make-up was by Wax Museum Pix by Jason Eardly
It’s an unconventional version of Cinderella, with messages on social issues and lessons on empowerment that goes on the boards at the Lionel Wendt this week. With veteran singers and a power-packed cast including Mohamed ‘Adam’ Adamaly, Melanie Bibile and Kumudini David, direction by Anushka Senanayake (artistic), Natasha Senanayake (musical) and Umeshi Rajeendra (choreography), this production is a modern take on the traditional fairytale.
“The themes and conflict are crucial to our times, not just locally but also on an international scale. There is a lot of hurt, fear and mistrust prevailing today and I feel that this play deals with such issues with depth and heart,” Anushka who also doubles up as Cinderella on some nights says.
The music for the show is the original Rodgers and Hammerstein score, with every note executed exactly as found in the original manuscript, while the script comes from the 2013 hit Broadway production of Cinderella. Anushka feels that the reason the traditional music works with a new script is because of the talent of the composers as seen by their work. “The music they have written is timeless,” she says. Overall, they feel that they have paid tribute to the classical version of the play, but have also added contemporary components to it.
Kumudini David and Eraj Gunewardena as the fairy godmother and Jean Michael
Live orchestral music will accompany the action unfolding on stage with the orchestra sitting on one side of the theatre in the front rows, so that they can give the audience the best experience possible. This means that Natasha must direct the cast while also conducting the orchestra. “I try to find a good balance between keeping alert and communicating to the orchestra,” she says, a task which she feels is made easier with experience.
Having done this at previous productions the response has been positive. “After the play when members of the audience found out we had used live music they were surprised and insisted that it could not be because the music was so good,” she laughs, referring to their previous play ‘Next to Normal’ where they used live rock music. The direction is made easier through the efforts of assistant music director Johann Peiris, says Natasha. They also have the assistance of Marlon Jesudasan (set and lights), Vishan Gunewardene (costumes) and Swasha Fernando and Mitali Perera (production managers).
Handling the choreography for Cinderella is Umeshi Rajeendra, who Anushka and Natasha feel has expertly taken actors unsure of their dancing abilities and transformed them into good dancers. “When you see them now and see how well they dance, it’s hard to imagine that they refused to dance before,” laughs Natasha. They feel that the many musical numbers which take place during the course of the play make things special. The show appeals to all ages, with the idea of magic making things even more special. “There’s a lot of magic which happens,” says Natasha.
The cast has been easy to work with, Anushka says. “The way I work is very collaborative so I need people to tell me what they think and give ideas and suggestions so that the play evolves and this cast has given me just that, so it has been an absolute pleasure working with them,” she says. “We’ve been working as one big family which happens,” says Natasha. Both Anushka and Natasha are also pleased that the cast shares in their ‘nerdy moments’, where they all discuss the music and how and why the play is written the way it is and draw parallels between this work and other contemporary (and sometimes even classic) plays.
Theatre Junction’s production of ‘Cinderella’ is on from July 28 to August 1, at 7.30 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt. Tickets priced at Rs. 3000, 2000, 1500 and 1000 (balcony) are now available at the Lionel Wendt.
The moment of truth: Damien Fernando and Devashrie de Silva as the Prince and Cinderella flanked by the other main characters
| Well loved classics by Rodgers and Hammerstein Composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist-dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II were the famed duo behind many beloved musicals such as The Sound of Music, The King and I, Oklahoma, South Pacific and Cinderella among others. | |