"Six hundred students across all standards,” out of a total strength of 821, displayed their talents "through drama, speech, dance, choir performances” and stage management at the annual day function of the Alexandra Girls’ English Institution on December 16, 2019. Held at the St Mary’s School Auditorium, the musical extravaganza titled "Once Upon A Time” brought to life characters from Walt Disney’s tales and other classics, notably Mowgli, Alladin, Simba the Lion King, Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins from the eponymous movie and Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady, noted the school’s principal Farrah Gustaspi in an email to Parsiana.
Top, from l: Phiroze and Nergish Charna, Prof Khurshed Sheriar, Firdaus and Dr Jehangir Mistry,
Farah Gustaspi; center and above: vignettes from Alexandra Girls’ English Institution’s annual day event
The students handled "each aspect of the show, from onstage performances, to backstage productions, mike changes, stage lighting and LED screening,” noted a proud Gustaspi. "We made sure each and every child’s potential was stitched together to create this exceptional piece… To make sure the audience witnessed a fairy-tale coming to life, the school made a conscious effort to ensure the costumes of all the characters were on-point,” shared the principal. "Engaging” and "well timed,” was trustee and director Dr Jehangir Mistry’s observation about the show, as stated Gustaspi’s write-up.
Meherzad Patel of Silly Point Productions, who has been coaching the school’s students in drama for the last four years, noted that the involvement of the students was intended to make "every aspect from production to execution a part of the students’ learning and growth.” Independent choreographer Lillian Mendes trained the little feet to dance, noted the principal.