Fairytale Magic on Stage – Asian International School Presents ‘Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella – Youth Edition”
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By Netanya Weerakkody
On the surface, Cinderella is a standard “happily-ever-after” narrative about a young girl who finds true love, realises her fairytale dream of marrying the prince, and escapes the clutches of her cruel stepfamily. However, Cinderella (Youth Edition) is a much more complex story than a damsel in distress being saved by a handsome young prince.
At its very heart, Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella – Youth Edition is about the impossible becoming possible (maybe with the help of a little magic!). By adapting the original fairytale, the story inspires youth to be kind and have courage, and to have hope no matter how seemingly impossible the situation may be. The youth edition of Cinderella is considered to be particularly relevant in today’s society, proving that despite the persistent horrors of the world, faith, hope, kindness, courage and resilience can make even the most improbable things come true.
With direction by Anushka Senanayake, music direction by Natasha Senanayake, and choreography by Trisha Fernandez, Cinderella’s story came to life on 17th and 18th January at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, presented by the students of Asian International School (AIS). Through the expertise of the directors, a group of around 50 amateur children were brought to Broadway level. Through careful and precise manipulation of technical and musical theatre elements, combining the arts with technology, the magic of Cinderella was brought to stage, and an extraordinary world was created for the audience to step into.
On both nights, the audience stepped into a world of soft purple and pastel blue hues, exquisite grandeur of costumes, a harmonious and resonant sound, unbelievable flawless transformations, elegant sets, and a very nuanced, captivating performance from the entire cast. Past productions of AIS, including Rock of Ages and Fame Jr. have delved into the genres of rock, glam metal and contemporary pop, which are constant areas of music and dance explored at AIS. Producing Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, therefore, was a fresh experience for students at AIS, as the musical explores the world of classical music, ballet and ballroom dancing.
Within the course of 4 months, the young cast brought soul to the script, integrating their own unique characters with the personalities of the characters they personified, creatively interpreting the dialogue to breathe fresh life into the story and giving the story its own twist. Their dedication, resilience, hard work and faith made the dream of a successful, sold-out show come true, embodying the message of the musical.
The cast’s individual humour, charm and styles engaged the audience, where they shared in the humour of Oscar Hammerstein’s witty writing and experienced the passion behind the interactions between characters, where each role had significant impact on the storyline. The cast explored Richard Rodger’s prodigious compositions, broadening their horizons to learn how to sing classical music, and how to bring the classical world of this musical to life through sound. They also explored new dance styles, including ballet and ballroom dancing, learning how to be graceful yet strong, while being able to support vocally.
From a technical perspective, the backstage crew, sounds and lights team were the “fairy godmothers and godfathers” of the magic experienced on stage. Lights and sounds complemented every transformation, making it seem all the more breathtaking. The crew handled set changes, props and costume changes, making sure that the show ran smoothly, and making it seem that everything did truly happen by magic.
It took a devoted circle and a little magic to turn this dream into reality. At the centre of it all stood the Principal of Asian International School, Mr Harshana Perera, whose belief that “impossible things are happening every day”, turned a daunting four-month challenge into a story worth believing in. Beside him, the academic and non-academic staff of AIS became the quiet custodians of the magic, quietly weaving plans and details together before midnight struck, working late into the night so that, when the curtain rose, Cinderella’s world could sparkle effortlessly on stage.
According to Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, all the dreamers in the world are dizzy in the noodle. That certainly means that the students of AIS are dizzy in the noodle, because they had one last wish for the Fairy Godmother to grant – another successful, even more magical show!
The magic of musical theatre at AIS does not finish with Cinderella, so prepare for the final wish to be granted in another two years, and perhaps this time it will stay longer than midnight!
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