When Sashi Mendis begins to talk about her work, it is immediately apparent that she
is passionate about it. Her face lights up when she relates that she combined her love of
working with children and her interest in drama cultivated in her school years to form her
own school.
Ms Mendis started her school 12 years ago, and currently teaches 50 children overall.
The dramatist knows she works the children hard but thinks that the time spent at the
school is one of recreation. She stages plays regularly, and is at the moment, working
with 50 juniors belonging to her school to produce ‘Fun on Stage’, which will go on
boards at the Punchi Theatre on June 30 and July 1 at 6.30 pm.
The actors/actresses are between 10 and 12 years of age and the production consists of
three plays as well as two other items. ‘Save the Humans’, by a British playwright, is
interestingly about a world ruled by animals. The humans in this story have made a mess
of life and animals have taken over. This particular play highlights the idealism inherent
in protecting rights and how it can go wrong.
The second play is a modernized and clever adaptation of the age old poem ‘The Owl and
the Pussycat’ and the last one is called ‘No, Not I’ by an Indian playwright, which has
been adapted too to include a few Sinhala phrases to bring in more humor.
‘Fun on Stage’ is meant to captivate the imagination of children and designed to be an
entertaining experience.
