Introduction:
“ The Grand Trunk Road To Heaven” was a fitting finale to the yearlong centenary celebrations of the Egmore Wesley Church. The musical play based on the parables and stories in the Bible, was presented by the youth, junior youth and sunday school of the Egmore Wesley Church. Three school shows and two public shows were held from the 27th to 29th January 2006 at Raja Annamalai Mandram, Chennai, an auditorium with a seating capacity of 800.

The banner outside Raja Annamalai Mandram

The play was directed by Solomon and Martha Howie, and was choreographed by Andrea Jacob. The cast consisted of 59 members, 30 children and 29 adults. In keeping with our centenary theme “rise up and build”, our primary goals in the production of this play was to build and strengthen relationships within our church, and to use the talents of our youth to reach out to others with a message from the Bible.

The Making Of The Play—Behind The Scenes:
The idea of putting up a play came up to mark the end of the centenary celebrations of the Egmore Wesley Church. Solomon and Martha Howie of St. Andrews Kirk accepted the responsibility of directing the play, and Jean Isaacs did a great job of putting together a modern humorous script. Auditions were held in September 2006, and the turnout and enthusiasm of our youth was very encouraging .The gaps in the cast were filled by members from other churches. Little did we realize as we started preparations that the result would be the professional large -scale production that it turned out to be.

Rehearsals started with script reading thrice a week at the Egmore Wesley parish hall, and progressed to rehearsing of individual scenes. Roshini as coordinator took over the mammoth task of coordinating venues and times of rehearsals and informing the cast by SMS or phone. As time went by, work schedules, school exams and tuitions all took a backseat as practices became more rigorous. The children were very enthusiastic and often arrived for rehearsals well before time. Parents waited patiently for practices to get over, braving the mosquitoes outside. Hannah supplied coffee and parents chipped in with snacks in between rehearsals.

The change in the confidence levels of the cast members as they settled into their roles and overcame their initial diffidence was amazing. Simultaneously the bonds of friendship grew between the cast members as they worked together towards a common goal.

Solomon with his eye for perfection, strict discipline and unflagging enthusiasm brought out the inborn talents of the youth. He coaxed and cajoled the cast into doing what he expected from them.
Martha with her excellent voice training abilities trained our youth to modulate their voices and to sing as one. She spent hours training them, never settling for anything other than perfection. Members who were never before exposed to public singing, became confident singers on stage. Jeyanthi Prabakaran on the piano and Shyam on the keyboard accompanied them during the later rehearsals.

Andrea our choreographer brought excitement into the rehearsals. With her talent and enthusiasm, she connected with even the youngest members of the cast and made them literally dance to her tune.

Sea Creature Choreography

Andrea choreographed an underwater sea creature number and a dance of the wheat and tares to the accompaniment of Indian music for the children.

The dance of the wheat and tares

For the youth she came up with a catchy salsa number and even the reluctant adults were coaxed into shaking a leg for the introduction and the grand finale.

The salsa number for the youth

The grand finale

January 2006 was a rush of daily practices, costume designing and tailoring. A whole day rehearsal with lunch provided by the church was the first time there was a run through of the play without breaks. Martha with her eye for detail was meticulous as ever with the costumes.

The fish family and octopus (without headgear)
From left to right: Alice, Monica, Neeti, Adam, Tarun, Arshita.

Eric Martin was a wizard with the props and came up with such imaginative ideas like the pig’s snouts and tails and the bird’s beaks and wings.

The pigs in the sty in the parable of the prodigal son
From left to right: Arpit, Navarre, Jerome, Sujay, Pas. Joshua

The birds in the parable of the sower
From left to right:Andrea , Nikhil , Jason , Nitin

All the while, our secretary Ravi Paul spent hours everyday after work at church to work out the logistics of such a huge performance. The arrangements of the hall, the designing and sale of tickets and posters, and the bringing out of the souvenir was all made possible due to the efforts of many of our church members.

The tickets for the show

Dress rehearsal was held at Raja Annamalai Mandram on the 26th January and went off well. Three school shows were held on the 27th and 28th January, and a video recording was made on the second day.

The audience for the school show

Though the sound and lighting of that performance were not optimal, the video was widely appreciated. The church stepped in with a biryani lunch on the 28th, and a preview of the video recording was shown to the cast on that day.

Enjoying lunch and a video preview of the play

The two public performances held on the 28th and 29th evenings were a grand success. The quality of the performance amazed many who expected an amateur show and not the professional one it turned out to be. The sets design and sets were excellent and appreciated by one and all.

The tourist bus-simple yet elegant

The costumes were simple but outstanding, and the props imaginative. Santhosh and group took care of the backstage arrangements, while the staff of Primrose Play School helped with the children backstage. Egmore Wesley volunteers with neatly designed volunteer badges designed by Manisha managed the front office efficiently and made arrangements for the sale of the souvenir.

The simple but smart volunteer badge

Before each show the children and youth warmed up with exercises and dancing led by Andrea. Each show was started with a prayer and then the cast went on to give superb performances.

Beginning the performance with a prayer

Parents did a great job by providing delicious snacks and cold drinks during the intervals.

Relaxing during the interval
From left to right: Shilpa, Praveena, Anusha, Joshua, Pas. Joshua, Sandeep, Job, Manisha, Martha

The warmth and friendship built up between the cast members and the backstage bonding before, during and after each show was a joy to experience.

Back stage excitement after the show
From left to right: Sitting: Victor, Priya.
Standing: Roshini, Christina, Arpit, Jerome, Pas. Joshua, Manisha, Arun, Shilpa,
Anusha,Vimala, Suchithra, Sunitha.

The cast party held a week later gave the group a last opportunity of bonding together as a cast.

Games at the teaparty for the children

The children had a tea party with games while the youth met for dinner, and excitedly shared experiences and poured over photographs.

The adult cast party
From left to right: Arun, Arpit, Manisha, Christina, Amar, Praveen, Anitha, Victor, Sujay, Anu, Shipa, Anusha.

Andrea made a late appearance and led everyone in a line dance one last time.

Andrea leading the line dance

The church held a get together for the cast and the parents a few Sunday’s later to express their thanks, and to build on what was achieved with the play. Each cast member was presented with a copy of the VCD of the play and a copy was also given to the representative of the sailing ship Doulos, where it was screened to very appreciative audiences.
Though the play is over, the experiences of the cast have helped to shape their personalities, and the bonds built between the cast members, parents and congregation will continue to strengthen the church.

The Grand Trunk Road To Heaven: The Play
The audience is invited to join tourist guide Nat, driver Joe and a group of tourists on a biblical tour to the Celestial City.

Nat introduces the play

Praveen as Nat the tour guide

The play starts with the entire cast on stage introducing “The Grand Trunk Road to Heaven” with a choreographed song.

The Grand Trunk Road to Heaven

Nat, Joe and his group of tourists group together, introduce themselves and board the bus to the Celestial City

The Tourists to the Celestial City

Then we join the tourists as they head to their first stop- the underwater world of Jonah and the whale.

The Sea Creature Choreography

An underwater dance sequel with the whale and other sea creatures, is followed by a conversation with Jonah and the crab and fish, where he relates the circumstances how he got washed into the whales belly. He also makes a firm resolution that if he ever gets out alive, he will do what the Lord wants of him and head to Ninevah to spread God’s word.

Jonah in the belly of the whale
From left to right: Christina, Rebecca, Jerome.

Next stop on the route is a farm, with the healthy wheat plants being tended to by the farmhands. Then up spring the tares and try to throttle the young plants.

The Wheat and the Tares

The farmhands want to pull out the tares, but the wise farmer correctly predicts that the saplings will also be uprooted. She decides to allow them to grow, separate them at harvest time and then burn the tares. The dance of the struggle between the wheat and tares is performed by the Sunday School children with the devil finally departing the scene with a his tail between his legs.

The dance with the devil
Sunitha and Navarre with the wheat and tares

The tourists next find themselves spectators of the modern day version of the parable of the Good Samaritan. A traveler set upon by robbers, is left lying on the road hurt and miserable.

The Robbers and the Victim

The trio of women on their way to Bible study display that their Christianity is only skin deep. They chant a prayer for the man lying on the road, and hurry away.

The women on their way to Bible study
From left to right: Shilpa, Manisha and Nina with victim Amar.

The next on the scene are a priest and his followers who again pray for the demon they decide is raging within him and leave.

The priest and his followers
From left to right: Kim, Anusha, Anu and James Davids with the victim.

Finally it is a humble man from another town who comes to the victim’s rescue. The tourists express their disgust at the attitudes of the passersby, and perform a choreographed song in the Jamaican style.

The Good Samaritan

Sandeep the good Samaritan helps the victim as the tourists look on.

The parable of the sower and the seed come next portrayed by the children. The birds have an enthusiastic conversation before they go to devour the seeds that fell by the roadside.

The birds in the parable of the sower
From left to right: Andrea, Nikhil, Jason, Nitin, Sunitha.

The rocks and the thorns do their bit in destroying the corn saplings, and the farmer sums up the whole parable substance of the parable, after which the tourists join the corn in a lively dance.

The dance of the corn
Front Row: Pavithra, Shirin, Sitara, Kathlene, Celene, Priyanka, Alice.

The scene shifts to Damascus, where we meet Saul as he sits blinded in the house of Judas. Annanias enters the house, and restores his sight, after which Saul confesses his sins and resolves to follow the Lord’s way in a moving solo.

Saul
From left to right: Joshua, Arpit, Jerome.

After the interval is the touching story of the modern day Prodigal Son. The curtain rises at the breakfast table where the proud parents of Mohan are rejoicing at their helpful wonderful son. They wish their younger son Raju would be a little more like him.

Parents with the elder son Mohan.
From left to right: Praveena, Amar, Arul.

Enters Raju on the scene and demands his share of his inheritance as he wishes to experience the world.

Raju the prodigal son with his parents
From left to right: Praveena, Pas. Joshua, Arul.

The father reluctantly gives in and Raju takes off with his inheritance. He has a tussle with his conscience before he finally gives in to temptation as portrayed in a dance by torchlight.

Take the money and run
From left to right: Rebecca, Barath, Manisha, Pas. Joshua, Shilpa, Christina, Kim, Nina, Arun, Navarre.

Raju makes friends who take advantage of him and waste his money, and he finally ends up in a bar where he spends the night dancing and drinking.

Raju and his “friends” at the bar

Finally, completely spent of his money, and devoid of friends, he ends up feeding the pigs for a living. In a heart to heart talk with the pigs, he comes to the conclusion that he wants to go home, if only his father would give him another chance. A touching solo to this effect brings tears to our eyes.

Raju and the pigs
Pas. Joshua singing his moving solo.

The reunion of Raju with his parents ends in a celebration party, one in which Munni the faithful servant shares in the excitement. The only one unhappy is Mohan who can’t understand why his brother should be rewarded for his disobedience, while he himself has never been rewarded for his faithfulness. He asks the audience in an accusing voice if that is fair!

The play ends with the tourists expressing their thanks to Nat and Joe for the memorable tour they had, and the whole cast makes an entry for the grand finale.

The grand finale

The whole cast with “let’s have a party”


The Cast in order of appearance
Tourist Guide Nat : Joseph Praveen Raj
Driver Joe : Job Sudhakar
Tourists : Anitha Winfred Priya Sundaram
Suchithra Herur Victor Sam
Vimala Rose

The Tourists
From left to right: Suchithra, Vimala, Priya, Praveen, Anita, Victor, Job.

Sea Creatures :
Whale: Andrea Arthur Jesse Jaswanth
Nileena Zachariah Priyanka Victor
Sarah Bernard Shirin Alex
Sitara Isaac Stephena
Octopus: Alice Selvan Celene Titus
Kathlene Titus Monica Leslie
Flatfish: Jason Thompson Kevin Alex
Nitin Paul Ronald Victor
Crabs: Jacob Leo Nikhil Arthur
Cedric J. Charles
Fish Family: Adam Bernard Arshita Raj
Tarun Isaac Neeti Paul
Crab : Christina Preetha
Flounder the fish : Rebecca Preethi
Jonah : Jerome Chrishesh

Jonah and the sea creatures
From left to right :
Front Row: Jesse, Cedric, Nileena, Adam, Neeti, Tarun, Celene, Kathlene.
Middle Row: Shirin, Sarah, Sitara, Andrea, Rebecca, Jerome, Christina, Jacob.
Back Row: Priyanka, Kevin, Jason, Ronald, Nitin, Nikhil.

First Farmer : Sunitha Winfred
Devil : Navarre Roy
Tares : Aananth Roy Bernice Selvan
Blessy Jason Thompson
Kevin Aex Pavithra Zachariah
Ronald Victor Sharon Swarupa
Seedlings and Corn : Neeti Paul Nileena Zachariah
Priyanka Victor Sarah Bernard
Shiril Sharon Shirin Alex
Stephena Stepheya
Farmhands : Anu Rebecca Anusha Sarah

The Wheat and the Tares
From left to right :
Front Row: Shirin, Sarah, Neeti, Priyanka, Shiril, Nileena.
Middle row: Blessy, Anu, Sunitha, Anusha, Navarre.
Back row: Kevin, Aananth, Ronald, Jason, Pavithra.

Victim : Amar Deepak
Robbers : Arpit Ninan Jacob Joshua Clements
Navarre Roy Sujay Suganthan
Bible Study Ladies : Vimala: Manisha Arthur
Mala : Nina Paul
Grace : Preethi Shilpa
Preacher : James Davids
Followers : Anu Rebecca Anusha Sarah
Kimberly Thompson
Good Samaritan : Sandeep Mark Thirumalai

The Parable of the Good Samaritan
From left to right:
Sitting: Sujay, Arpit, Joshua, Navarre, James Davids.
Standing: Sandeep, Manisha, Shilpa, Kim, Anu, Anusha, Amar.

Parrot : Nitin Paul
Crow : Andrea Arthur
Minah : Nikhil Arthur
Vulture : Jason Thompson
Rocks : Alice Selvan Kathlene Titus
Thorns : Celene Titus Pavithra Zachariah
Sitara Isaac
Second Farmer : Sunitha Winfred
Judas : Jerome Chrishesh
Ananias : Arpit Ninan Jacob
Saul : Joshua Clements
Father : Arul Chittaranjan
Mother : Praveena Clements
Mohan : Amar Deepak
Raju : Pas. Joshua Victor

The Prodigal Son family
From left to right: Amar, Praveena, Arul, Pas. Joshua Victor,

Streetwise : Arpit Ninan Jacob Arun Georgeyson Phesi.J
Christina Preetha Kimberly Thompson
Manisha Arthur Navarre Roy
Nina Paul Preethi Shilpa
Rebecca Preethi Sujay Suganthan
Barman : Joshua Clements
Thug : Sandeep Mark Thirumalai
Dancers : Anu Rebecca Arpit Ninan Jacob
Arun Geogeyson Pheshi.J Barath Roy
Chritina Preetha Job Sudhakar
Kimberly Thompson Manisha Arthur
Navarre Roy Nina Paul
Preeethi Shilpa Rebecca Preethi
Sujay Suganthan

The Dancers
From left to right:
Front Row: Christina, Rebecca, Manisha, Shilpa, Anu, Kim.
Back Row: Sandeep, Sujay, Arpit, Pas. Joshua, Arun, Joshua.

Pigs : Arpit Ninan Jacob Jerome Chrishesh
Navarre Roy Sujay Suganthan
Munni : Sunitha Winfred

Script : Jean Isaacs
Lights : Prithvi
Sets Design : Chitra Manokaran
Sets : Madura Kannan – Rajeswari Cine Dresses
Back Stage : Santhosh Abraham and Team
Piano : Jayanthi Kamalaratnam Prabhakar
Keyboard : Shyam Benjamin
Choreography : Andrea Jacob
Coordinator : Dr. Roshini Arthur
Music Directors : Martha Howie and James Davids
Play Director : Solomon Howie

Acknowledgements
The encouragement and support of many people made “The Grand Trunk to Heaven” possible and we are grateful to them. We wish to specially thank our director, Solomon Howie for his dynamism and enthusiasm for this project. He believed in the project and in each and every member of the cast, and through sheer persistence got us to believe in it too. We are grateful to Martha Howie, our music director who encouraged the youth to develop their singing talents, and made a singer out of everyone in the process. Working with Andrea Jacob was both a pleasure and an experience. With patience and humour she got even the most reluctant cast member to do as she wanted, and in such a short time too. Thankyou Andrea. Our thanks to Jean Isaacs for a lively and thoroughly modern script, which beautifully illustrates our centenary theme “Rise up and build”. Our special thanks to Jeyanthi Prabhakar and Shyam Benjamin for their accompaniment on the piano and keyboard respectively. We are grateful to the staff of Primrose Playschool for helping with costumes and with the care of the children backstage. We thank Arpit Ninan Jacob and Pravin Charles for designing the poster and tickets. We are immensely grateful to the parents for their support- they brought/sent their children for practices regularly, and waited patiently outside until they had finished. They kept up the cast’s spirits with timely snacks, juice and coffee coordinated by Hannah Herur. Our deepest thanks to all the children and young people in the play, for the hard work put in and the time cheerfully given. Their commitment was so complete that they turned up despite exams, inclement weather, grumpy bosses, illness etc. A special thankyou to Pas. Joshua Victor, James Davids , Arul Chittaranjan , Sandeep Mark Thirumalai and Tarun and Sitara Isaac who joined us from other churches and helped our play to be a grand success. A very special thanks to our secretary Ravi Kumar Paul, without whose efforts none of this would have been possible. He spent hours in church working out all the details of producing such a large scale production. He was ably helped by Joe Salin Charles and Angeline Charles who worked tirelessly day after day to provide logistic support. Thanks to the Pastor, members of the Local Church Council and Centenary Celebrations Committee and members of the congregation who extended support- A.J. Rajasekaran, R. Jeyakumar, Nithila Masilamani. Prema Samuel, Gunaseelan Abraham, Ahalya Williams, GES Alfred, Hema Henry, Cornelius Bernard, Dorene Bernard, Emmanuel Herur, Titus, Godvin, Joel Raj, and all who worked shoulder to shoulder to make this show possible. We thank the heads of all participating schools, and staff who supported this initiative. Our heartfelt thanks to Roshini Arthur- coordinator and organizer extrodinaire. There wasn’t any situation or crisis she couldn’t handle. She knew what the cast’s needs were- reminders via SMS, sympathy, an encouraging word, an extra copy of the script, biscuits and coffee- and took care of them. Above all, we thank God for His wonderful guidance and presence which touched all those who gave of themselves and made this show a reality.