KADS exude attention to detail in Xmas fairytale Snow White

I have attended only four of their plays, but each time, whether I have been engaged by the story or not, I am impressed by Kads’ passion and professionalism. The temptation is to call that surprising and remarkable, after all Kampala Amateur Dramatics Society is an amateur group.

But that would be a gross supposition; amateur groups can give professional societies a run for their money. And considering that our ‘professional’ societies have mastered laxity more than anything else, it’s no surprise that Kads’ shows always sell out days before the event.

Of course, there is the fact that most of Kads members are expatriates. This leads to two conclusions, one indisputable and the other an assumption. If KADS organises an event, they are automatically assured of an audience because fellow expatriates will not let down one of their own. And because they are expatriates, they will take pains to ensure that every little detail is taken care of which, in most cases, guarantees quality. (For No Exit, which was performed last month, they could not find a retractable knife in Kampala to be used in one of the scenes. So, they ordered for one from London.)

The latest KADS production held at the National Theatre from November 30 to December 3, was typical KADS; expatriate themes, superbly organised and sold-out. Snow White was a cutesy and contemporary rendition of the classic fairytale by the same name. But first, it is keeping in a Christmas tradition introduced to Kampala theatre in 1993 by KADS, that of showing a pantomime at this time of the year.

A pantomime is a musical comedy based on a fairytale and usually performed during the Christmas season. It is a British tradition, although it inevitably spread to a number of their colonies. It contains “four strands of humour: visual, topical, corny and, occasionally, downright rude. In the UK this is considered to be family entertainment.”

This particular adaptation was silly, and at times childish, yet tweaked to cater for all age-groups. Of course, that is in keeping with the character of pantomimes. You probably know the plot and the characters; A king (Arfaan Ahmed) with a beautiful wife (Robin Wheatfall), the fairest in the land, and a daughter (Helen Gibbs), who is growing up to challenge her status.

Worth the cut?
How does she know she’s the fairest in the land, here set in the “far north in a land of ice and snow;” she has a mirror that affirms that to her. Which is frequently, in rhyming sentences? On one occasion however, the mirror tells her that Snow White, her stepdaughter, is becoming fairer than her so she orders her servants to take the daughter to the forest and kill her. The forest is another play in its own, with characters drawn from other fairytales; Goldilocks, Red Riding Hood, Hansel, Gretel and a group of villagers.

It was an interesting concoction, made all the more fun because of the stock characters—Hail, the Principal Boy who was really a woman (Helen Kinmonth) dressed in breeches, and her sidekick Storm (Timothy Hatcher), a very pitiable idiot who is so stupid he revels in being reminded of it—audience participation (like it was mentioned on the programme, “in pantomime the audience is part of the cast and is needed to keep the plot going!

Without the boys and girls shouting directions to the characters on stage they will soon get lost and not know when something is behind them”), the jokes (use a boda boda; in this Kingdom the law does not seem to apply to them), and the music, which was mostly pop classics; there were songs by ABBA and the Pussycat Dolls, albeit reworked.

Well, the passion and professionalism. Passion you can tell from the actors, that they know what is expected of them and are giving their all. Professionalism; instead of blaring the songs over ailing speakers, there was a live band, complete with sheet music, to play the music.

And before I forget, the programme was informal and toned down; no flowery, misleading claims. It is the kind of organisation you would wish to see at every such local event.

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