This was pure kids’ stuff on stage in Lucknow

The play Did the Butler Do It, staged in the city recently by kids aged 7-13 was a big draw. Directed by Faisal Husain, the English play was set in England, where Lady Jemima Fitzwilliam loses her precious pearl necklace. The play revolved around the search for the necklace by the police and a private detective, Mrs Clues, appointed by Lady Jemima's husband.
Carlyle Mcfarland and Pooja Bhatia (BCCL/ Aditya Yadav)
Geeta Gandhi Kingdon (L) and Dr Bharti Gandhi and Jasmine Jain (BCCL/ Aditya Yadav)
Khushboo (L) and Saumya with Tanupriya (BCCL/ Aditya Yadav)
Neelam and Kiron Chopra with Vasundhara (BCCL/ Aditya Yadav)
Rashi (L) and Sharon with Alpa Jain Kapoor (BCCL/ Aditya Yadav)
Diya Badgel (L) and Dr Mala Singh Mehra and director Faisal Husain (BCCL/ Aditya Yadav)
Present at the event was Carlyle McFarland, principal of a school in Lucknow, who was impressed by the acting of the children.“All the children acted exceptionally well. They definitely deserve a treat by their parents tonight. And I personally would like to request their parents not to trouble them for studies for the next few days. This form of art will make these kids grow in their life, they were filled with confidence tonight. I just loved the play,” he said.
The play had 24 children playing different roles. Among which the characters of Lady Jemima Fitzwilliam, Jeeves the Butler, Inspector Vector and Mrs Clues were dramatised by Palak Popli, Dron Pandey, Parisha Agarwal and Aarushi Kapoor, respectively.
The audience, comprising the parents of the kids, their friends and other well-known people from the city, loved every moment of the play and the kids, at the end, got a standing ovation from them all. — Saad Abbasi