A new twist on an old tale

Continuing in its grand tradition of excellence in theatre and the dramatic art, the Royal College English Drama Society presents, ‘Jack and the SOY Beanstalk,’ a modern take on the age-old classic which replaces the old demons with current culprits who exploit people and resources for short term gain - leaving nothing for future generations.

Adapted to suit a Sri Lankan setting, this energetic and vibrant musical is interlaced with a valuable message of sustainability apt for today’s society. It aims to fascinate audiences of all ages with giant puppets, shadow puppets and larger-than-life visual elements inspired by daily sights and sounds from our own lives. The uniqueness of this particular production lies in the fact that it is narrated by a cast of over 100 young Royalists and is the first ever production performed by an entirely junior cast.

This novel production has been initiated by Royal College Deputy Principal (Primary School) and Head of the English DramSoc Lakshmi Attygalle. The musical is directed by Sulochana Dissanayake, assisted by Themal Ellawala, with vocal direction by Nicole Liyanage and choreography by Wendy Perera.

“Drama develops aesthetic intelligence, emotional intelligence as well as help students to gain inter and intra personal skills. It incorporates different aspects of learning and demonstrates how such standards can guide and energise the students,” said Deputy Principal Royal College and Head of the English DramSoc., Lakshmi Attygalle,

‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ is a classic children’s tale known to all about a little adventurous boy who trades his family cow for a pocket full of magic beans and enters a giant’s world by climbing the beanstalk. Today we are in the 21st century and Jack is a struggling kid in a capitalist world - oil prices have sky rocketed, it’s impossible to match wages against living costs and Jack must use his wits to find ways to live in a sustainable manner. Giant multi-nationals are controlling the world’s economy and they are only concerned about one thing – the bottom line. What happens when the proverbial giant is replaced by the CEO of the most powerful company in the whole world?  In ‘Jack and the SOY Beanstalk’ (by Jerrod Bogard, produced by special arrangement with Baker’s Plays), Jack and his family are on the receiving end of this individualistic world and are struggling to make ends meet in an economic recession where people lose jobs overnight to save the profits of giant companies.

They must sell their only asset – the family vehicle – as they can no longer afford the fuel to drive. Jack thinks up a nifty solution to move the vehicle without fuel and is blown to ‘Big Aggie Reaping Farms’(an industrial farm), where the security guard scoffs at his invention and shows him that a farm of that magnitude has no space for such cute creations in their impressive fleet of company vehicles.  Jack, however, does not lose hope and is blown to Magic Acre Farms, where he does the unthinkable – exchange his most valuable asset for seventeen magic beans and the rest is a crazy adventure up a beanstalk to a surreal land that craftily pin-points how self-centered and un-sustainable our social, political and cultural priorities have become over time.

‘Jack and the SOY Beanstalk’ comes alive at the Navarangahala on 26 and 27 May from 7:30 p.m. onwards. Your magic beans (tickets) are priced at Rs. 500, Rs. 750 and Rs. 1,000 and are available at the RCU Office (Navarangahala Entrance).