When East meets West

The 'King And I', thepopular Rodgers and Hammerstein musical will go on the boards at the Lionel Wendt on June 4, 5, and 6. The colourful presentation by the students of the Yolande School of Speech and Drama, directed by Samantha Abeywira de Soysa promises to be great family entertainment.

Samantha, Principal of the school and daughter of its founder, the late Yolande Abeywira, spoke to The Sunday Times on her aspirations in producing the show.

"Memories of my mother's production of King and I, with the students of St. Bridget's in the 70s was perhaps the main reason for selecting this musical," mused Samantha. "It was one show my Mum really immersed herself in and enjoyed thoroughly. She always wanted to repeat it."

Speaking of her current production, Samantha says the greatest challenge for her is that she cannot sing. "I appreciate the music but I cannot train them in singing. Unlike a school production where we can rely on a choir, we have to train children who may project themselves more as actors and actresses rather than good singers. In addition to producing the show there is a lot of training to see to. I rely totally on the evergreen Oosha Saravanamuttu for choreography and the multi-talented Soundari David for musical direction. I have faith in their magic touch."

"I am working at a great advantage having Indu (Dharmasena) as the King," Samantha commented. "I can relax when she is there."

There are 120 in the cast from Indu down to four year olds. "We have multiplied the number of children and wives on stage to give the kids a platform to develop their skills. With schoolwork and exams coming in, a new set of children always come into prominence."

Apart from Indu, the lead roles are played by Christina Stephen as Anna, Marissa Jansz as Tuptim, and Inoka Razeen as Lady Thiang, all talented actresses. "They have been involved in previous productions and are prize winners both at our local examinations and those conducted by Trinity College," Samantha said. Then there is Thushan Hemachandra as the Kralahome, Anushka Wijesinghe as the Crown Prince and Shohan Manuel as the lover."

According to Samantha, the call for auditions brought an overwhelming response from the children. She felt it was a very good diversion for them. "We introduced mime and improvisation to some younger members of the school whether they were involved in Speech and Drama or just learning to communicate. This exercise has given these youngsters of five, six, seven, tremendous confidence. Parents tell me their children are absolutely enjoying the experience. They are so stressed with the daily school routine that this provides a welcome outlet."

"We are fortunate to be allowed the use of the St. Bridget's Convent hall for the rehearsals," Samantha said. "I am grateful to Sister Superior and Sister Principal for their magnanimous offer of the premises without which I could not have accommodated this number of children."

The Yolande School is working towards a colourfully presented, visually pleasant production in addition to acting, singing and dancing. The dancing is supplemented by Oosha Saravanamuttu's school which is providing two main dancers and a troupe. "Costumes are done by Mitabe Gunawardena who has spared no pains to deliver the glamour I am seeking," Samantha said. She stresses that the audience should remember this is a school putting on a show where the students could display their talents with confidence, and not a professional effort.

Both Samantha and Indu have taken part in Yolande Abeywira's production of King and I. Several others who took part earlier, have their kids taking part in this show, as for instance Samantha's young son and daughter. "The kids still need confidence building and practice," Samantha said. "We want to give them a fun thing where they can relax. Using this enthusiasm and comradeship, we should get what we are aiming at."

The kids indeed seemed to be having a great time. "It's interesting, exciting, a lot of fun," were the comments of the young teenagers acting as the king's wives. For some it was their first experience on stage. "We work like a team, all the time we look forward to the practices and we are enjoying ourselves very much."

" I was one of the royal children the last time I acted in King and I, with one line to say," recalled Indu Dharmasena, who plays the lead role as the King of Siam. "Mrs. Abeywira always encouraged me and I really consider her my 'guru.' It is nice working with Sammy. The play is moving smoothly. I look forward to the rehearsals and am enjoying the kids."

"I think this play is very relevant to society," says Christina Stephen who plays the part of Anna. Christina has played leading roles in productions such as Water Babies and Snow Queen. "The West trying to teach the East how to live, is what it is all about," she says. "The East also teaches the West something and East and West come to a certain understanding. The experience is very rewarding. I like working with Aunty Sammy, Indu and the rest and I have made many friends."

Marissa Jansz who plays the role of Tuptim, a gift to the King of Siam from the King of Burma, has experience in several other productions. "It is an interesting cast, some being very young. Most of them are on stage for the first time. Having to deal with students of different age groups is both taxing and interesting. Watching them adapt on stage, managing the little ones who get very excited when they miss lines. Now they are very comfortable together. They are enjoying the experience of being on stage, saying their few lines, and the glamour of the costumes. Aunty Sammy's wealth of experience is of great importance to all of us."

Inoka Razeen, another talented actress plays Lady Thiang, the head wife of the King. She finds it a lot of fun because of the young cast. "Aunty Sammy and Indu are both experienced in the field of theatre. They expect commitment and you have to give of your best. This is the first time I have a chance to sing on stage. That is the most scary part for me. It is hard work but we are all enjoying it and we are all friends. We have a common goal that binds us together."

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