Bugsy Malone comes to town

By Kiundu Waweru

Two gangsters, Fat Sam and Dandy Dan, are at war with each other.

Dandy Dan’s thugs terrorise the district with their new weapon, the ‘Spurge gun’. His enemy is Fat Sam Stacetto who runs a club, the Grand Slam Speakeasy. Fat Sam’s gang still use old-fashioned pies.

Fat Sam asks Bugsy Malone to help him. Bugsy has been spending most of his time sweet talking Blousy Brown, a country girl dreaming of making it in the city.

The police, led by captain Smolsky and Lieutenant O’Dreary are on the case, and the gangs get worried.

Although it is set in Chicago, USA in 1921, Pupils of Brookhouse International Senior Prep School in Nairobi brought this musical play, Bugsy Malone, alive recently when they staged it at the school’s Burudani Theatre.

The young actors and actresses, aged nine to 12, impressed all with their good acting skills.

Bugsy was played by Philip Owuor while Osmond Lema acted as gangster Fat Sam. Ankit Sengupta played fat Sam’s rival gangster, Dandy Dan. The orchestra spiced up the play with music.

Joyce Gacheru, marketing and media liaison officer says the school stages such plays every end of term and every student gets a chance to participate.

"Our curriculum allows every student to participate in plays and music so they can explore their gifts and talents," she says.

The fantastic performance by the pupils proves they have mastered music and acting skills.