'Cinderella' the musical opens this weekend

The season of heavenly blessings and romancing with traditional Dandia Raas dancing culminated with its finale Dushera — the victory of good and virtual over forces of evil.

The celebration has happily paved the way for tantalising theatrical experience — music and dance exposition with a Kenyan concept.

Cinderella the Musicaltakes the stage at the Oshwal Centre Auditorium from Friday 26 to Sunday 28. Based on the popular fairy-tale Cinderella, this Kenyanised musical is presented by Aperture Africa Productions. At the helm is producer director Amar Desai and music director Caleb Wachira.

Cinderella and her silver slipper is the tale of a girl forced into a life of servitude by her villainous stepmother and selfish step sisters.

The girl dreams of a better and happier life and, with the help of a fairy godmother, is transformed into a princess and finds her prince.

Unfortunately, before she can truly experience happiness, the magic wanes, leaving the Prince desperate and in search of true love.

Aperture’s Kenyan version with Stephanie Lago as Cinderella and Tirath Padam as her Prince Charming, together with a talented cast of over 70 actors, promises to be an exquisite visual spectacle, a grandeur of costumes and a magical experience for the whole family.

Aperture Africa Productions has been on our theatre scene for more than a decade. It has, from humble beginnings and creative ideas and unending theatrical passions of Jinita and Amar Desai, come to be recognised as a leading theatre arts group.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Its earlier productions Jungle Book and Robin Hood have been nominated and scooped prestigious Asian Weekly Achievers, Kenya Buzz and Sana awards.

Jinita and Amar are passionate and committed to serve theatre in Kenya. Their production house, besides providing theatrical experiences, runs acting workshops for all age groups.

Proceeds fromCinderellaare destined to benefit the late Professor Wangari Mathai’s Greenbelt Movement. Book in advance at specially reduced rates.

And with the festival of lights due next month, Navrang Fine Arts Foundation (NFAF), strongly believing in the wise saying, “without music life would be a mistake” and “if music be the spice of life play on”, has decided to brighten up our lives and enrich our souls with a musical, Jugalbandi — music on equal footing.

The non-profit making NFAF is committed to promote culture through music and dance.

It has announced that a trio of Hindustani instrumental music’s great maestros has been signed to perform and show its divine musical skills at a once-in-a-lifetime concert in Nairobi.

The great Hindustani flautist Pundit Ronu Majumdar, Sarod instrument exponent Pundit Debojyoti Bose and Tabla percussionist Pundit Yogesh Shamsi will grace the stage in Nairobi later next month.

Jugalbandipromises to be a soulful Hindustani classical music experience in the company of these musical messiahs of our times.

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