For an 11-year-old boy, the biggest challenge in life as of now is to hug a girl on stage.
This is the answer a slightly overwhelmed Tom (played by Devinda Goonesekera) – the chimney sweep – gave, having contemplated the question. Meanwhile, the characters around him focussed on getting into character. Ellie sat composedly on the steps of the stage, and Mr. Grimes staggered around in a drunken stupor.
This is the first impression anyone would get, walking in on the happy-go-lucky cast of The Water Babies a few minutes prior to a practice. While discipline prevails most of the time there is also a sense of pure fun and delight in what they are doing, because after all, The Water Babies is a story for the children, and the young at heart – or as its sub title suggests – A Fairytale for a Land Baby.
"From the youngest member of the cast to the oldest aged 17, Charles Kingsley's story of The Water Babies has touched their hearts and minds," states Clare De Silva, Principal of the Clare De Silva School of Speech and Drama and Director of the play which goes on the boards at the Bishop's College Auditorium on October 11 and 12 at 7.30pm.
Around 70 children of the Clare De Silva School from the ages of four to seventeen years have juggled schoolwork, sports and other extra-curricular activities for the past few months, all for the love of drama, and the magical tale they enact.
The protagonist is Tom, a young chimney sweep, who falls into a river after encountering an upper-class girl named Ellie, and being chased out of her house. There he dies and is transformed into a "water baby," as he is told by a caddis fly – an insect that sheds its skin – and begins his moral education. The story is thematically concerned with Christian redemption, though Kingsley also uses the book to argue that England treats its poor badly, and to question child labour, among other themes. In fact, shortly after the novel was written, a law was imposed which restricted young boys from working as chimney sweeps, and this mitigated to a great extent the hardships undergone by the young and dejected chimney sweeps of 19th century England.
Tom embarks on a series of adventures and lessons, and enjoys the community of other water babies once he proves himself a moral creature. The major spiritual leaders in his new world are the fairies Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby, Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid, and Mother Carey. Weekly, Tom is allowed the company of Ellie, who had fallen into the river after he did.
"For them, acting is something of a release," explains Clare. "They all lead very busy lives, and at the end of their day, having done all their activities, they end up with me on the stage and they absolutely love it! At times they are even reluctant to go home despite being tired."
Speaking to the actors and actresses in question it is by all means certain that they agree. Aside from the experience of acting, they thrive on each others company. As Senali Seneviratne (Ellie) states, "We really gel in well together."
Jihan Riza (Mr. Grimes) revels in his character. "I can really relate to Mr. Grimes' character," he grins. "I get to have a lot of fun in his shoes, and even more fun with the cast – they are the craziest, most fun-filled, undisciplined bunch you can find but they are all good friends and you will see some of the cutest kids here too!" he says, indicating the cast.
Clare De Silva has been a teacher of Speech and Drama for over 40 years, and learnt under the guidance of Irene Wanigaratne. She has taught at most of the Colombo schools. In all her experience, this has been one of the most uplifting, seeing the bonds of friendship within the cast. "While drama is a movement experimenting with the fundamentals of speech, the performers get so much more out of it; the experiences they gain and friendships they form are invaluable," she says.
Amidst the friendships formed, there are also challenges - those of balancing school work with the extra-curricular, and the challenge of improving constantly. As Jhannique De Silva (the school mistress) puts it, "one of my challenges is to be as good as my fellow actors."
The music will be handled by Beatrice Devasagayam, with Eshantha Peiris on keyboards, Dinul Wijesekera on drums, and Niroshini Gunaratne on Piano. The set construction is done by Budhi Samantha, costumes by Jojo and hair and make up by Buddhidasa Galappathi of Salon Charmaine.
Part of the proceeds from the show will be donated to the voluntary endeavours of Idiriya – a registered non-profit organisation which comprises a group of professionals promoting easy to access facilities for a wide range of disabled people, elders, pregnant mothers and wheelchair users.
Tickets for the show, priced at Rs. 100/-, 750/- and 500/- are available at the Bishop's College Auditorium, for any one interested in witnessing Tom's underwater journey to the end of nowhere.
Main roles
Tom – Devinda Goonesekera
Ellie – Senali Seneviratne
Mr. Grimes – Jihan Riza
Sir John Hartover – Nivenka Gunesekera
Pritchard – Ruwendi Wakwella
School Mistress – Jhannique De Silva
Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby – Irushi Tennekoon
Nursemaid – Nuwanthi Perera
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid – Keshadhi Kumaraperuma
Irish woman – Manori Mudalige
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