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 Royal triumphs with 
'Anthony and Cleopatra'

Drama or melodrama.... When the curtains came down on an eventful competition that saw Shakespeare regaining some lost prestige among those more attuned to e-culture, it wasn't so much the drama or the melodrama one remembered. The image that lingered was the whole hearted enthusiasm of the students, who embraced the somewhat alien concept of courtly love, awkward language and an unfamiliar lifestyle with a youthful zest that was totally unShakespearelike.

Of course, given the youthful zest, 'overacting' was a commonly heard lament. But then, this was the Inter School Shakespeare Drama Competition, and who's to say Shakespeare himself didn't overact at one time or another.

Jubilation on being adjudged winners

The winning cast with Principal Mr. H.L.B. Gomes and Mr. Senapathi, master- in-charge of Drama

Shazan Rali and Milinda Thilakarathne, the past and present cast leaders in conversation.

The Backstage crew at work

Organised by the Rotary Club of Colombo North and the Central YMCA Colombo in association with the Ceylon Thespians, the event got off to a roaring start with 13 schools, nine of them girls' schools, entering the fray with varied renditions of the Bard's work. For some reasons, Anthony and Cleopatra appeared to be the play of choice among the boys, with the girls opting for a little bit more variety.

Eight schools from Colombo and the outstations entered the finals held at the BMICH on two consecutive days. These were the best among this year's bunch of aspiring Thespians. And no doubt the bard would have been proud to see his work rendered with such innovative gusto and youthful relish.

The judges had the unenviable task of picking the winners, which was not an easy task. But to take a leaf from the Bard himself, 'all's well that end's well'. And it did end well.

Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya, with their rendition of 'King Richard III' that literally held the audience spellbound with a mixture of high drama and low impact props walked away as the winners of the Girls section.

Royal College, Colombo, which gave pride of place to the subtleties of finer acting and detailed setting in their portrayal of 'Anthony and Cleopatra' was adjudged the winners in the boys' category.

For Royal, which also saw Suren Gnanarja being commended for his superb portrayal of a complex Anthony who was strong and emotion, vengeful and forgiving, the win comes after a lapse of 11 years. Royal were runners-up last year.

The Royal version of Anthony and Cleopatra was directed by Thushara Hettihamu, for the fourth successive year and the 34 member cast was led by Milinda Thilakarathna. There was also a 14-member backstage crew. We take a pictorial look at the Royal cast, at work and at play.

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