'HOPE' a musical retake of Pandora’s Box script and lyrics written by Odile Melder Music by Clifford Fernando presented by a cross - section of Primary and Middle School students of Lyceum Nugegoda.
August 4th Elphinstone Theatre
Over 175 students powered by the Theatron Staff are set to take the boards of the ELPHINSTONE THEATRE in Colombo by storm with another unique musical. HOPE is a musical retake of Pandora's Box. The myth which dates back to the 8th century BC tells how the twin brothers Prometheus and Epimetheus help Zeus establish supremacy. This out of the box production of the myth will undoubtedly leave the audience both mesmerised and thought provoked on many platforms. The myth explores: the inevitability of punishment for disobedience; emancipation ensuring the continuity of man's progress; the duality of a gift and the power of HOPE. The script, lyrics and melodies have been scaled to suit the ages of the cast.
A witty approach helps maintain the momentum while the humour brings the multi faceted lessons of the myth into clearer focus. The colourful ensembles give the musical its hallmark of enjoyment. The musical presents a vibrant fusion of genres, including classical choral arrangements, jazz, hip hop, pop, rock, and beyond. A skillful combination of traditional Greek instruments with Western orchestral elements craft a distinctive and captivating soundscape. The songs had been expertly crafted to suit the individual voices of the singers, allowing each performer to bring their unique qualities to the piece.The lyrics and melodies naturally facilitate the mood. Soloists have been selected with voices that enhance the characterization on all platforms.
While most ensembles sing in unison careful orchestration of two-part harmonies lend to enhancing the pulse of the performance. The singing is passionate empowering the multi faceted messages behind the myth. Emith Wickramasinghe 's performance of Zeus is commanding endorsing the authority of the divine. Yumeth Sugathadasa is a 'natural' on stage. His friendly manner gives him the heart to give life to mankind's ally Prometheus. Danudi Doolwala who plays Hera has a flair for performance that belies her years. She handles subtle nuances and witty repartee with a maturity that is amazing.
Miheli de Zoysa's performance of Pandora is delicate justifying Zeus's ploy. She spells 'desire'. Her rendition of 'I'll be waiting' will resonate with all those dreamy romantics in the audience. Her performance is poignant and touching in its sincerity. The inclusion of songs in Greek enhances the melodic in a love song and empowers the worship chorus.... they pulse with a tempo that conveys the sense and requires no knowledge of Greek to be appreciated. However, it is the ensembles that compel and propel the story. They are significant in their dimensions and dynamics and are the life-blood of the production. Being a school production the true empowerment is here: students learn to value the importance of working in unison.
Team spirit and camaraderie are the most important value add ons in personal development. The many hours spent in perfecting performances and supporting team efforts are life lessons that will empower the leaders of tomorrow. The euphoria of the performance will forever be a treasured memory. As the cast relive this timeless story the lyrics, the melodies, the characters will undoubtedly empower the audience to stand strong against every adversity empowered by the light of 'HOPE'.
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