Xtrappergus & Christmas Magic is a holiday song and dance extravaganza for the family especially produced and written for the approaching Christmas season.
Possibly one of the more notable aspects of this show is that the first half consists of a play written by a 12-year-old and promises to rekindle hope and belief in the most cynical of people, while the second half consists of song and dance routines on the Christmas theme.
For the young playwright Tera Jayewardene, Christmas is synonymous with belief. Xtrappergus is a story quintessentially about Christmas and the ability to believe. The play consists of two original songs, also written by Tera, and is a colourful blend of song, dance and drama.
“It’s a child’s story from a child’s perspective. The children can relate to it very well,” smiles director Nafeesa Amiruddeen, over the clamour of children preparing for rehearsals.
“It’s such a simple concept developed with quite a bit of complexity. We’ve shaped quite a bit while staying within the framework,” she explained. Viren Beruwalage (10) and Rahel Gunaratne (10), both members of the cast, both feel that Christmas has dawned even before the season has begun because of practices, while Rashwin Fernando (14) adds that the play is must-see during the festive season.
Aishwarya Jayasingha (12) explains that her character, Danielle, is very girly, and glories in all things materialistic. Danielle is one of four siblings around who the play is centred upon. The plot unfolds rapidly through a whirl of colour and song and tells the story of how the children attempt to make Danielle, their sceptical sister, believe in the magic of Christmas.
“It’ll tell you about Christmas, and if people watch it, they too might believe in it,” says Aishwarya. “It’s very jazzy,” smiles Zahabiya Adamaly, who plays the part of one of the elder siblings, adding that the learning process during the play has proved to be extremely insightful, giving the cast numerous interpretations about the season.
Xtrappergus & Christmas Magic is directed by Nafeesa K. Amiruddeen and choreographed is by Surekha Buell. The vocal direction is by Rapti Fernando and the show also features Danceworld School of Modern and Jazz Ballet and Vocal Essence School of Singing. Proceeds from the show will be donated to the Cancer Transit Home, Maharagama.
Xtrappergus will go on the boards on December 13 and 14 at 7 pm, at the Bishop’s College Auditorium. Tickets for the play can be obtained at the Commons Coffee House, 39A, Flower Road, Colombo 7. For more information about tickets please contact 0722 405260. |
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