Behind the Scenes

There are tears (crying) and tears (tearing apart), flaring tempers, and emotional blackmailing; our Annual Shows’ “Behind the Curtains” could make a blockbuster all by itself.

So, here’s a sneak peak into what goes on behind the scenes of the mammoth task of putting on stage 4,600 students from Kindergarten to Grade 9, across our schools in Dahisar, Virar, and Thane.

1. The Rejections

From ideas to scripts, and multiple drafts, while some authors get attached to their scripts, there are others that don’t find it exciting and want a change. And the dirty task is left to the Bad Cop who needs to get the job done.

Then the scouting for songs begins. If the song is good, it doesn’t fit the scene. If it fits the scene, then the choreography is a challenge. If the choreography is managed, then there are students who don’t approve the steps.

The choreographer teacher cries, the principal intervenes, the students admonished, the students cry, and then they apologise, and they are back to the same dance teacher, same song, the same choreography, and one wonders what the drama was all about.

2. The Struggle

There are those who don’t want to act, and there are those who don’t want to dance. There are those who want to do both, dance and act, and then those who don’t want to do either.

There are those that don’t like the costumes, and then those who don’t like the accessories. Some costumes are too big and some are too small. Come to rescue “the aunties”, their sewing machines, their scissors, and their dexterity.

In the midst of it all, the costume vendor suffers a stroke whilst catering to Virar and Thane shows in December 2019, and is unable to service 9 shows in Dahisar in January 2020. So, Christmas break is spent cajoling and pleading with new vendors, and some old friends and family members come to the rescue.

From building our own stage in Virar for 4 shows, to putting together an emergency response team for 14 shows, and then translating the emergency evacuation procedure in English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati, and enlisting the support of PTEC members and Home mothers at the last minute to spread the awareness- the drama never stops.

Then there are football matches, basketball games, and MSSA events – some clashes between the sports teachers and the dance teachers. One sports teacher figures an alternative pathway, sits with the MSSA officials to negotiate an alternative date and time-slot. The MSSA official agrees subject to the opposing team being amenable to the date change. So, our teacher calls the opposing team school, and convinces them. Thanks to the opposing team the date is changed. Oh, by the way, we did win the Basketball game defeating Don Bosco by more than 12 baskets and the Football match defeating Dhirubhai Ambani International School 4-1.

3. The Strife

Murphy’s Law “If anything can go wrong, it will.”

Multiple trips to markets in south-Mumbai to match the accessories to the costumes, only to have some older kids refuse to wear an accessory on the day of the show, and convince the teacher in-charge to leave the accessory behind in school. The Principal gets the teacher to go back to the school to fetch the accessory and the students have no choice but to now wear the accessory and SMILE!

One student after her dance performance insists on changing her costume, instead of immediately making her entry on stage to say her dialogue, because her mother has got her a new shirt to wear on stage when she says her dialogue. This leads to an awkward silence on stage as the other students have finished their dialogue and are awaiting this young girl to make an entry and say her dialogue. This 5-minute delay leads to a ripple-effect of delaying the 2nd show. So, a last minute decision to cancel the mid-show break and bearing a penalty of Rs 15,000/- levied by the auditorium for not scheduling a break. All for one new shirt!

Another student falls ill on the day of the show, and can’t make it. Fortunately, all the kids know each other’s dialogues, and dance steps. So, substituting is not a challenge.

One show the music software stalls right in the middle of the welcome dance leading to a last-minute decision to replay the song so that the students are not demotivated.

Another show the LED screen power supply trips causing a delay of 15 minutes, with parents patiently waiting without making a fuss. Fortunately there was no follow-on show and no fear of any ripple effect.

4. The Glory

The sweat, the tears, the toil are all forgotten in the deluge of accolades that come after the show. The parents are proud of the performances, the students thrilled, the teachers relieved, the Principals relaxed, and the Director’s hands are hurting from clapping at 12 shows.

It’s going to be another year before the drama unfolds again for the next show. The benchmark is set higher.

Until then, keep smiling, and keep supporting the school in all its initiatives.

Words of encouragement from parents motivate everyone at school.

Take a bow: students, teachers, and Heads; Tanya Valecha, Chhaya Rangnekar, Latika Parikh, Vinaya Shetty, Chhaya Mistry

Dr Hanif Kanjer (PhD., MBA-London Business School, BE)

Founding Dean, Rustomjee Business School

Founding Director, Rustomjee Cambridge International School & Junior College

Director, Rustomjee International School