Review

Mexico, cream and strawberry

Forty years ago, rowing on the Lake in the hills of Ooty I savoured freshly picked strawberries and cream. I have subsequently partaken of desserts cunningly crafted, beautifully decorated and stunningly presented. Yet often, it's that simple fare that I savour in my mind's eyes. Amateur theatre sometimes has that same effect.

The musical "Viva Mexico" presented by a happy bunch of unspoiled kids was strawberries and cream to me (stems, bits of straw, spilt cream notwithstanding).

From the word go one could see that, though short of stage experience, the cast had worked like beavers. I hear that they turned up punctually at 6.30 a.m. for rehearsals over the last six weeks because having made a commitment to this production they stuck to it without excuses (the two lead characters are preparing for their A levels - to think that I have known of children reneging on a show because their O'' level, was two years ahead).

Opening night was slick with effective sets and lighting. Behind this was the hand of Indu Dharmasena who deserves a bouquet for showing us that "inexperienced" schools can match any under good direction. (Indu, your comic characters have a tendency to trade mark you however.)

Choreographer, Shoham Chandiram, new blood in this field, acquitted himself very well indeed. It was good to see new ideas of movement on the Colombo state; it was good to see dance steps that had been "pointed" for each and everyone on stage (experienced dancer or not) so that the total picture on stage was precision; it was good to see that the movements were designed so that singing and speech were not "sidelined" - And except for one or two nervous kids the cast smiled.

Suzanne Janz as Lopez was as nasty a piece of goods as can be and played the part to its fullest. She was perhaps the best actress of the evening with Natasha Goonawardena coming a close second. Natasha was a most attractive Raquelita and never stopped acting/reacting. Tatum Manuel playing Mama was a 'natural' and would be an asset to any Producer. Eunice Benjamin's characterization of the Senator was effectively and carefully worked out. Occasionally her American accent made words inaudible. As a singer Jacqueline Orloff playing Ramon topped the list. The Priestess Danielle de Niese had a beautiful quality of voice which unfortunately was too soft when she was upstage.

It would have been better if her movements had ben choreographed downstage. The hits with the children in the audience were Pablo (Achala de Mel) and Pepe (Suhashini Sriskantha) and they deserved the laughs they earned as they threw themselves into their parts with gay abandon.

Michelle Balthazar (Bernado), Carlyn de Niese (Lucille) and Tarika Perera (Mendoza) are worthy of mention.

This production had no special lighting or sound 'effcts', no gimmicks, no 'clever' interpretations. Care had been taken to colour match costumes, set changes were kept simple and they started on time. Credit was given where it was due - the script, the score and the performer. On the night I was in the audience, the usual 'disturbing elements' in the balcony were absent.

Could it be because 'that rotten core' which delights in hassling those on stage felt that the "inexperienced" St. Lawrence posed no threat to their Group or School? Well done St. Lawrence, tap the talent in the school, work hard on a production and have fun again. There aren't many activities that can help development of personality and poise, instil discipline, show the value of teamwork and sacrifice as a stage performance. Thank you sponsors. Without your generosity costs of a staged production are beyond most amateurs.

– Andrew David

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