Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Rats cut loose
The young stars of Methodist College are set for a lively rendition of The Pied Piper
By Aaysha Cader
I walk into an auditorium packed with hundreds of children at practice. On stage, a host of grey-clad rats are gleefully dancing and clapping to the familiar tunes of Jailhouse Rock. From among them emerges the King of the Rats, shaking an awesome-looking mace. The stage is set for a lively rendition of The Pied Piper, an operetta presented by the primary school students of Methodist College, Colombo.

The Pied Piper is one of the most popular children’s stories ever, chiefly because of its suspense. The enormous cast of around 420 students consists of 8, 9 and 10-year-olds who have been hard at practice since June. 2.

The acting is accompanied by energetic dance and beautiful melodies. “Everyone enjoys it,” says Manisha Dissanayake, who plays the Pied Piper. Her comment was echoed by the scores of townspeople who surrounded her, inclusive of the Mayor of Hamelin. The King of the Rats, Thavishi Dharmawimala quips, “I am very evil and very cruel to the rats. When they say something, I get angry really quickly. A fellow rat interjects, “The play is really cool.” The fact that they are enjoying themselves is in no doubt whatsoever.

The play is directed by Chaturika Gammampila, a past pupil of the school on her first attempt at direction. She was also the winner of the Best Actress award at the Shakespeare Drama Competition this year. The choir, comprising 94 students was trained by the primary school music teacher, while the dance was choreographed by the director and a few past pupils of the school.

The Pied Piper, an operetta in one act, will go on the boards on August 7 and 8 at the Methodist College auditorium. Tickets are available at the school office.

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