Do you believe in fairies? Anything is possible with a little bit of faith, trust and pixie dust as the talented students of the Colombo International School transport you to Neverland with their enchanting enactment of “Wendy and Peter Pan.”
“Wendy and Peter Pan” is a reimagined take on J. M. Barrie’s timeless “Peter Pan,” filled with heart, humour and adventure that promises to enthral adults and children alike. The play flips the classic tale on its head, putting Wendy Darling in the spotlight as the brave, quick- witted heroine in the face of evil pirates and mischievous fairies. In this fresh twist, Wendy heads to Neverland not just to babysit Peter and the Lost Boys, but to save her family and uncover her own strength. In the word of the playwright, Ella Hickson- “we wanted to stay faithful to the story… Peter and Hook are still arch enemies, and we still have crocodiles, and all the lost boys are still in there, but we wanted to tell a children’s story in which little girls are at the centre in a way which they so often aren’t.”
The theme of this year’s conference was “Revitalizing Global Unity & Change”. Reflecting on their 30-year history, COMUN 2025 looks to adapt and sustain the ideals of open dialogue, diplomacy, resilience and adaptability. In order to meet these standards, CIS selected and gathered some of the best, brightest and upcoming minds from the student body, ranging from Year 7 students to Year 13 students, from experienced executive committee members, returning seasoned MUNers, to a fresh group of novice delegates.
Although based on a fairytale, ‘Wendy and Peter Pan’ explores more profound subjects such as love and loss, conveying important messages about real life. It accurately portrays the dynamics of a family who have suffered loss, reiterating the idea that one can summon the strength to overcome such loss, if we believe in ourselves… and perhaps a little bit of pixie dust.
Anishka Perera plays the smart and fearless Wendy Darling- “Wendy is a very determined character and this is evident in her unrelenting love and care for her family. I too feel very strongly about my family- If I were put in her position, I would do everything in my power to save them.”
“Peter is playful, naughty and doesn’t listen to people, I’d say he’s exactly like me-, says the incorrigible Gagana Abeyrathne, who plays the equal parts charming and playful Peter Pan. He also confessed sheepishly that, “I get scolded quite often during rehearsals.”
Strong, independent women are at the foreground of the play and at the centre of it is Tiger Lily, played by Zainab Caderbhoy, who is a native tribal princess who lost her family to Hook and who has been fending for herself ever since. “She’s very brave and courageous but also hilarious so it’s really fun to play her,” Zainab quipped.
The play reimagines the conventional Tinkerbell and portrays her as a sassy fairy with a big personality. Elmira Perera speaking of her experience getting into character says “Tink has a jealous streak to her and is the queen of sarcasm. I find it difficult to be mean, especially to Anishka when we’re playing the scenes between Tink and Wendy- I’d apologise to her after every single line!”
The play is not without a dose of humour and Limath Ellawala who plays Captain Hook, the menacing, dramatic, bumbling ‘villain with a vendetta’ and fear of crocodiles promises to leave the audience in fits of laughter. He is supported by his trusty first mate Smee, played by Akein Bandara.
The play is charming in its realistic depiction of familal love. Yenal Fernando and Dhirain Lokuliyanage play the charming Mr. Darling and Shenelle Arasaratnam and Soraya Deen play the tender and loving Mrs. Darling. The play delves into the challenges and complexities of married life in the face of loss, but leaves the audience optimistic, that any obstacle is easily surmountable with faith, hope and love. Neerav Tejwani plays the role of John Darling, Dimitri Soosaipillai features as Michael Darling and Uthsara Jayatunga enacts the role of the youngest, Tom Darling.
The gang of gangling pirates include Kiara Gunawardhene as Doc Swain, Anisha Mahibalan and Aashiana Alwis as Knock- Bone Jones, Sorayah Wahab as Murt, Ayan Fuad as Martin and Shenelka Silva as Skylights. The Lost Boys are played by Ashish Arasaratnam as Tootles, Ashveedha Jayasinghe as Slightly, Karam Faizam Hussain as Nibs and Dimalka Weerawardane as Curly.
Don’t miss your chance to step into a world of wonder with “Wendy and Peter Pan” on January 31st and February 1st 2025! Whether you’re rooting for Wendy and the Lost Boys, laughing at Hook’s mishaps or secretly hoping Tinkerbell steals the show, there’s something for everyone. So dust off your imagination, grab some pixie dust, and join us for a performance that will make you believe in fairies and love.
Second star to the right and straight on to the show!
