Riotous spectacle

Colombo's theatre goers were laughing in the aisles, tapping their toes, clicking their fingers and dodging cream pies and splurge gun attacks, at the Junior Workshop Players debut production, Bugsy Malone. This riotous spectacle of lights, music and dancing, directed by none other than Jerome L. De Silva, ran to packed houses last week (February 13–17) at the Lionel Wendt. Originally written by Alan Parker, the music and lyrics are by singer-songwriter – Paul Williams by arrangement with Warner Chappell Music Ltd and administered by Boosey and Hawkes.

Set during the 'Prohibition Era,' the story revolves around the penniless boxing promoter, Bugsy Malone, who's a failed boxer himself. Loosely based on events in Chicago, Illinois at the time, specifically, the exploits of gangsters like Al Capone, this tongue-in-cheek production starred children mimicking gangsters and their molls.

As the story progresses, Bugsy finds himself caught in the middle of a gang war between the town's two Mafia Kingpins 'Fat Sam' and 'Dandy Dan' and falling for Blousey Brown, a budding young songbird who wants to be a star. The play closes on a happy note, where the two Kingpins make up, with Bugsy winding up saving the day and getting the girl!

(Pix by Shehal Joseph – more pix on www.kanabona.com)