Enchanting sounds and sights that linger

By Alfreda de Silva

Rohan de Silva, whose early musical training was with his mother, the late Primrose de Silva and the late Mary Billimoria, entered the prestigious Juilliard School of Music in New York on a scholarship from the President's Fund of Sri Lanka. There he received his Bachelor of Music degree as well as his Master's in Music. 

Rohan regularly collaborates with world class musicians, and has performed at the Kennedy Center, La Scala, Carnegie Hall and other venues around the world. He won the Best Accompanist Prize at the 1990 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and is now on the faculty at Juilliard School.

Susan Donnelly, who is a professional clown, began her performing career at the age of four in a dance recital. A student of dance, drama and voice throughout her academic life, she was a regularly featured player in both university and theatrical productions. She has performed with theatre groups around the world and taken a keen interest in theatricals in this country.

Recently appointed Clown Ambassador to Sri Lanka as a member of Clowns of America International, she has entertained, in a voluntary capacity, various groups here. These include pre-schools, schools, orphanages, elders' homes and gatherings at Galle Face Green and Vihara Maha Devi Park.

She is also a member of the Sri Lanka Magic Circle and sings with the Symphony Orchestra choir.

The expectant audience at Jefferson House awaits the programme of the evening. Ambassador Donnelly welcomes the guests.

A few minutes later, Susan's exuberant alter ego, CoCo the Clown, floats in on a wave of applause. Her costume is delightfully comic. She wears a short-layered dress of yellow, orange and blue, which features a pinafore top with a panel of chess-board checks in blue and yellow, which goes over blue bloomers (below the knee of course). Checked blue and yellow shoes and orange stockings complete the outfit.

Her hair is a mop of pale green, her eyes sparkle with a tinge of silver dust on the lids and her whitened face is set off with a red blob on her nose.

Rohan, entering into the spirit of it all, breaks into the Styne/Sondheim number Let Me Entertain You and Susan's rich, resonant voice gives it a comic twist as she glides around.

Next comes Consider Yourself at Home, which everyone, already is, because the warmth and spontaneity of the Donnellys have put the audience at ease. Sherman's I Love to Laugh, sung with gusto, and melodious guffaws, brings on the laughter from the audience, so does her singing of Bernstein's I Feel Pretty.

And now it is time for some real Clown magic. (She picks four people from the audience to stand with her and see that she isn't up to any tricks!) Included in the magic is an item with red, green, blue and yellow loops of rope in the hands of the four observers that turn to something else before any of them could even blink. 

Red, blue, green and yellow water in small vessels dries up suddenly and Susan pulls out dozens of streamers of silk rainbows to the accompaniment of loud applause. The acts come on with easy grace.

Agile movements, quicksilver footwork, witty patter and sleight of hand having aided the magic even before the four observers begin to wonder if they are actually seeing what's not there.

A highly intelligent dog in the performing area watches the show, wags its tail and barks appreciatively from time to time.

CoCo exits and Rohan takes over with a musical offering by two classical Romantics, playing such limpid tone-poems as Chopin's Aeolian Harp Opus 25, No: 1 followed by this composer's Butterfly Etude Opus 10 No: 8 and Liszt's dreamy, nostalgic Liebestraum No: 3 continues the magic of the evening on the paino.

Chopin's spirited Polonnaise in A Opus 40, No: 1 follows, and this part of the programme ends with Chopin's Ballade, Opus 23, No: 1. It has been played with Rohan's inimitable style and panache. He responds to the encore with Chopin's Minute Waltz. 

This has been a special evening's entertainment, and as we move towards the finale, Susan, who has left CoCo behind, returns as herself.

She sings the Marks song I've Gotta Be Me and gives a soulful rendition of the Moss number Saying Goodbye, with the gentle mood that goes with all farewells.

We are suddently brought to the realisation that the Donnellys will be leaving this country shortly after having carved out a niche for themselves. They have been wonderful warm-hearted human beings and many have been the friendly cultural and social evenings at Jefferson House with its easy informal atmosphere.

A buffet supper follows the programme, the evening's echoes linger in the air, and will be remembered, always.

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