‘The Music’s Always There’: Old favourites for a loved one
Mary Anne David: Paying tribute to husband David through song. Pic by Ishanka Sunimal
Mary Anne David or “Aunty Mary Anne” as she is lovingly called by her students, past and present, is one of the most famous names in Colombo. A voice coach with 50 years of teaching experience, some of the country’s most popular musicians and singers have trained under her.
On October 25, 26 and 27, Mary Anne David will present ‘The Music’s Always There’, a concert which is also a tribute to her husband Andrew who passed away two years ago.
Just this August, Mary Anne and her former student Mark Thrimawithana presented ‘Those were the Days’, a touching tribute to the spouses they both lost. The show which was scheduled only for August 31 was held again the following day, September 1, since tickets sold out immediately after being released.
Andrew David was a well known thespian of yesteryear and talented singer and he and Mary Anne fell in love while performing in the hit musical ‘Oklahoma’, decades ago. A few of his favourite songs, including a number from ‘Les Miserables’ will be performed by Mary Anne’s students, including those who trained with her in their young days, like Mark, Shrimanthaka and Christo.
Mary Anne believes her shows are a favourite with the audience, because they can engage with the show and its performers, in this case the ‘The Young Merry-An Singers’, and can even join in the singing if they want to.
“I do a different concept of show and people love it,” said Mary Anne. “I don’t have the lights in the auditorium switched off and there are no curtains, so a lot of training has to be done so that the performers enter the venue in a proper, orderly manner.”
Most of the songs included in the concert are classic melodies that Mary Anne learned from her parents and her husband.
“I’m a little old-fashioned,” she says, “I love pop music, but I like the older pop songs better, and the old songs that my parents sang at home. I actually cater my concerts for all those over the age of 50 years, that is my target audience, because most of the older generation, can’t handle bright theatre lighting and very loud music.”
“I even have the old-fashioned sing-along with the concert for my older audience members. They love to sing the classics, like ‘Oh Danny Boy’ and ‘Tiptoe through the Tulips’.”
The show will be held from 7.30 p.m. onwards at the Lighthouse auditorium of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies in Horton Place, Colombo 7. Tickets priced at Rs. 2000 can be bought at Noteworthy, No. 4, Maitland Crescent, Colombo 7.