The magic or realism: It’s yours to pick
Will the slipper fit? (Left to right) Devashrie de Silva (Cinderella), Melanie Bibile (wicked stepmother), Dinara Punchihewa and Shalini Corea (the stepsisters)
Who doesn’t know Cinderella – the fairytale about the girl ill-treated by her stepmother and stepsisters who yearns to go to the ball and is magically transformed by a fairy godmother. Here’s a different take – the 2013 adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella which was performed on Broadway brings in modern messages of self-empowerment and political systems and it is this version that Theatre Junction will present this month at the Lionel Wendt.
It’s all different and engaging, say the cast of Theatre Junction’s Cinderella who have been rehearsing for a little over two months now under the watchful eyes of artistic director Anushka Senanayake, music director Natasha Senanayake and choreographer Umeshi Rajeendra.
“The play has every ingredient of theatre in it. It has music, acting, dancing, magic, live orchestral music, the stage craft and costumes. It’s like an asterisk, it’s a kid’s story with an adult dimension to it,” explains Mohamed Adamaly (Adam), who plays the role of Lord Sebastian adding that it appeals to people at different levels.
“It will appeal to the younger ones because it’s Cinderella so it has all the pomp and pageantry and the dresses, but I think it will appeal to the adults because there’s an adult’s touch to it,” explains Melanie Bibile, who appears as the wicked stepmother. Melanie has faced a rather unique challenge with this production. “I usually do the softer roles. It’s the first time I’m doing a ‘rude’ role, it was difficult at first but I think I’m doing it quite well,” laughs Melanie.
Eraj Gunewardena plays the roles of Jean-Michel and Sebastian in the musical. Jean-Michel is what he describes as a revolutionary while Sebastian is the Lord Chancellor – someone who advises Prince Charming. Eraj feels that director Anushka’s style of working is great. “She won’t have rehearsals for a long time – but her rehearsals are really productive,” explains Eraj.
“You would expect a fairytale where the Prince saves the girl but this is a two way thing. The Prince is also struggling with finding his identity and Cinderella is also saved but she also in return helps save him,” explains Devashrie de Silva, who takes on the role of Cinderella. “It’s not the classical version of Cinderella that we all know – it’s an updated, realistic version,” says Eraj. “Simply said, people can interpret it the way they want to,” adds Devashrie.
Adam, who directed a production of Hunchback of Notre Dame when Anushka was in school at Ladies’ College, finds himself in an interesting position – in this production, he is here as an actor and Anushka is directing. “It’s nice to have the roles reversed,” he says thoughtfully, adding that because Anushka is very professional he has learnt a lot from her. Devashrie and Eraj have also had to adjust to different roles with this production. “We took part in ‘Next to Normal’ last year. That was a very different storyline; it was very intense and serious. The shift from that to this is very interesting,” says Devashrie.
Prince Charming and Cinderella: Damien Fernando and Devashrie de Silva
We get to learn a lot of new things like to waltz and dance,” says Damien Fernando, who plays the roles of Prince Charming and Jean-Michel. Gyles Dharmaratne (who also plays Prince Charming) does not like to say if he is better at acting or singing, but admits that he likes singing a bit more.
Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters are Dinara Punchihewa and Shalini Corea. “I think people see the typical stepsisters in the Disney versions but we’re very different from that; we have our own identities, and there’s more depth to the characters,” explains Dinara Punchihewa, who plays Gabrielle.“I’ve always been really scared of singing solo so that’s a challenge for me,” says Shalini Corea, who plays stepsister Charlotte.
A lively Kumudini David walks in, laughingly demanding why no one has spoken to her. “We’re the funny ones… I am the fairy godmother and this is my show,” she proclaims in jest. “This fairy godmother doesn’t just appear and make dreams come true, she actually empowers,” she says. The other character in the ‘we’ Kumudini describes is Lord Pinkleton, known by everyone in the cast as Pinkie. Pinkie helps Sebastian run things smoothly and is always welcome, explains Harin Amirthanathan, who takes on this role.
Devashrie and Adam both feel that the orchestra is an important feature of the play. “It makes everything come alive so much more,” says Devashrie. “There are many surprises,” she adds, explaining that the plot takes a lot of unexpected twists and turns.
Theatre Junction’s production of ‘Cinderella’ goes on the boards from July 28 to August 1. Tickets priced at Rs. 3,000, 2,000, 1,500 and 1,000 (balcony) will be available from Monday at the Lionel Wendt.