Both Ali Baba and Cinderella presided over Hariyana Vidya Mandir’s junior school annual day recently. In fact, there were two Cinderellas! 

The students of the day section had put up three acts — the kindergarten classes put up Cinderella, classes III, IV and V did Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves and students of classes I and II had put up a show to protect the environment. The auditorium was houseful with parents recording the plays. 

“I play Cinderella,” said Subhasree Basak, a blond wig-sporting cherub in a frilly pink frock. “I play Cinderella too,” said Bianca Nag, a cute girl in a blue dress and what looked like her original black hair. 

Teacher Mitali Das, who directed the play explained that Bianca played Cinderella at home and Subhasree played it at the prince’s ball. “The students are so little that a costume change would not have been possible,” said Das. “This was the kids’ last event with me before they graduate to the next class. So it was a sort of farewell too.”

Teacher Puloma Sen directed 30 students of class I and II to a dance drama on saving the environment. “When it comes to getting across a message, music and dance are sometimes more successful than books,” she said. The students, led by Suparna Ghosh of Class II danced to songs like Aware Bhavre and Maine kaha phulo se. The parents had helped out a lot too, by making sunflowers and flower pots out for the dances.  

Satarupa Hore, another teacher, directed Ali Baba. 

The costumes and make-up of the show were excellent and no one could have guessed that the feisty Abdullah, who helped Marjina save their master Ali Baba in the play, was actually a girl. “I am an energetic dancer and there were lots of dances in this play so I got Abdulla’s role,” smiled Sandipa Maitra after the show. The stage Marjina-Abdullah turned out to be close friends in real life too. “Sandipa is my best friend and we had great fun rehearsing and performing the show,” smiled Aarshi Banerjee, who played Marjina. Both the girls learn dancing and stole the show with their performance. 

The dialogues and music were all played backstage on CDs and internet downloads while students lip-synced. 

The shows were followed by prize distribution in three categories — all-round achievement, general proficiency and all-round improvement. “I’ve worked very hard this term,” said Ritam Sarkar of Class IIID, after winning the general proficiency award. “My father teaches me math and computers while my mother teaches all other subjects. In fact, my mother tests me at home before my school tests and her tests are way tougher!”