Dramatic Arts Academy adds comedy to Cinderella story

Apr 12, 2011 News

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) has teamed up with the Dramatic Arts Academy of Guyana to bring to stage the classic fairy-tale “Cinderella.”
The play will be staged this weekend at the National Cultural Centre.
There will be a children’s matinee show on Thursday and Friday followed by full-fledged presentations from 19:00 hours on Saturday and Sunday.
The Cinderella story is said to have hundreds of variants throughout the world. According to Director Mahadeo Shivraj, the Guyana presentation will feature elements of comedy.
Cinderella’s character will be played by Kerry-Maria Phang, one of the young actresses trained in the lead up to the Caribbean Festival of Arts. The other key characters are the Prince (to be played by emerging actor Victor Gopaul) and the fairy-godmother (played by seasoned actress Sonia Yarde.)

Actress Sonia Yarde, who will play the fairy godmother and, GT&T's Chief Executive Officer Yog Mahadeo at a Press Conference yesterday.

Yog Mahadeo, GT&T Chief Executive, said that the telephone company is leaning more towards supporting activities that are family-oriented.
He said that Cinderella is a tale that many have grown up knowing, and so GT&T did not hesitate in sponsoring the staging of the play.
The foyer of the National Cultural Centre will be transformed into the magic of the fairy-tale, and families will be able to take photographs and to “relive the Cinderella experience.”
The GT&T Chief Executive said that his company is channeling its corporate energy into the cultures of Guyana.
“I believe that the heartbeat of GT&T is the heartbeat of Guyana,” he said.
He pointed to recent events such as Colour Fest which celebrated the Hindu festival of Phagwah in a national way and the just concluded 10/10 cricket softball competition, which brought the village teams to a national stage.
He said that GT&T would like to help Guyanese realise their dreams, much the same that the Cinderella story is based on a transformation from oppression to bliss.
Neaz Subhan, who heads the Dramatic Arts Academy, said that although the idea to stage Cinderella came about more than two years ago, he felt this year was the best year to initiate the production.
He said that putting on a production such as Cinderella is an expensive venture if things are to be done properly and hence the Academy was happy that GT&T has agreed to sponsor the event.