The magazine could do a piece on Mother Theresa, ignore her activities, and focus on the contents of her closet!

The story revolves around the imperial Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), who runs Runway magazine like Pol Pot. Take a bathroom break and you are fired. Miranda needs a second assistant; so she hires fat and sloppy Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), who miraculously, after a visit to the Runway wardrobe racks, goes from a size 6 to a size 4.

The movie, though less effective than the book, has Streep playing the boss from hell with great panache. Anne Hathaway does the naïve ‘girl next door steps into big bad city to be almost eaten alive by monsters, only to be saved at the last moment by sound old-world values’ number also with the necessary naiveté.

Perhaps the best thing about this movie, apart from Streep’s performance (and Simon Baker’s gorgeousness!), is its embrace of old-world values. Ok, the book was better at that too!

In both, Andy wisely decides to quit ahead of the game, before she turns into a clone of her dragon-lady boss and begins herself slitting throats to survive and get ahead in the corporate world. However the book didn’t have her cheating on her oh-so-perfect boyfriend; she only kissed another man on assignment in – lo and behold! – Paris.

The movie has her sleeping with the hot and happening, high profile writer (Baker) who she meets ‘on the job.’ She is at least shown to feel remorse though, which, one was beginning to think, was non-existent!

That aside, The devil Wears Prada really is nothing much. Streep plays a softer, kinder Miranda than the one in the book, which in some ways makes the story more plausible, but also makes the film insipid in comparison.

Nevertheless, the movie is somewhat funny; the clothes are hypnotic, it allows a sneak-peek into the glamorous fashion industry, it stops over in mind-blowing Paris, and it has a satisfying end. Good light entertainment overall.

Hearts will beat in unison
for a worthy cause at the
musical concert to be organised by G.R. Handy Memorial Trust, which hopes to raise funds for a children’s heart surgery programme.

The concert, which is to be held at BMICH on October 29, at 7 p.m will have a variety of music on offer; ranging from semi classical to dance music and hits from Broadway musicals. The audience will also be treated to solos from both Friends In Harmony and the Ladies College Choir.

G.R. Handy Memorial Unit in Colombo comprises a cardiac, catheter and lab unit, and a paediatric cardiology ward for children with heart conditions that require surgery.

Friends In Harmony consists of professionals from diverse fields drawn together by the love of music and led by well-known Music Director Indrani Wijesundere. The Ladies’ College Choir, well-known for its church music will be directed by Sureka Amarasinghe.

The principal sponsor of the event Commercial Bank. Media sponsors for the event are MTV Channel Pvt. Ltd. and YES FM.

Tickets are priced at Rs.1500, Rs.1000, Rs. 750, Rs. 500 and Rs. 300 and are available at: The Institute of Cardiology, Room 20, Kynsey Road, Colombo 10; Ladies’ College Vocational Centre, and Titus Stores at Liberty Plaza.

It was really an exhibition with a difference because the students’
creativity and talents at pre-school level were very high. The exhibits
were divided into different sections such as the zoo, the village, the sea, the flower, ship and the little baker’s shop and so on. The difference in this unique exhibition was depicted by the manner the exhibits were presented to the viewers. All the exhibits were made with odds and ends or in other words junk stuff such as colourful bits of paper and fabric, toffee and chocolate wrappers, seeds and leaves of plants, bits of string and straw etc.

There is good news of another grand show in the offing. DK Promotions, who have put out unique concepts that have drawn house full audiences, have now lined up yet another grand slam — Hitz Then And Now. The show is presented by the Ladies’ College Department of Vocational Studies.

Adorning the stage at the BMICH from 6.30 p.m. onwards on Saturday, November 4, will be the fabulous Gypsies who will not only perform but also accompany the star studded line up.

Rajitha and Damien will kick off the grand performance with a scintillating act, encompassing music for the young and old, reminding music lovers that they have come to enjoy hits that have emanated over the years and remain to date.

Dalreen is determined to bring in much exuberance with a hand picked selection that is designed to draw waves of applause. Her gig, by itself, is said to be a super package in a new dressing.

The near indispensable haunting melodies with heart warming lyrics from the pen of the late Clarence Wijewardena will be gloriously rung out by the popular, husky voiced Annesley Malawana while Sunil Perera will then step on stage to take the audience into a realm of ecstasy with a brand new face to the all time humorous entertainer Lankawe.

Similarly, I Don’t Know Why will be followed by the brand new hit in the making No Problems (Pvt) Ltd which will keep the audience in fits of unprecedented gladness, making it a thoroughly enjoyable entertainment experience that none could afford to miss.

Mariazelle will step mikeside to keep your toes a tapping with a mixed bag that will capture the attention of one and all. Rukshan who is back from the USA, and who drew spontaneous rounds of applause for his star performance at the 5-Star Explosion and Top Bands of the ’70s shows will be there to do it again and to carry the young and old into a plane from which they will indeed be asking for more.

humour

Chee Chee Corea was never the best student in class, nor was he the worst in school.....almost. History, literature (both local and otherwise) were serious subjects at San Bandick and Good Shepherd of Kottangchena.

All the girls of Good Shepherd and even some boys from San Bandick went to Mrs. Lord for elocution and Mrs. Rodrigopulle for piano lessons. Chee Chee did neither and preferred to thump the drums in his brother’s band.

The brothers blew horns, trumpets, saxes and never their own. So, when Nathan the Emmanuel presented his question paper Chee Chee was flummoxed. Nevertheless read what he wrote:

1. "Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water."

2. "Blood flows down one leg and up the other."

3. "Dew is formed on leaves when the sun shines down on them and makes them perspire."

4. "Mushrooms always grow in damp places and so they look like umbrellas."

5. "Momentum: What you give a person when they are going away."

6. "To prevent milk from turning sour, keep it in the cow."

7. "The parts of speech are lungs and air."

8. "The inhabitants of Moscow are called Mosquitoes."

9. "A census taker is a man who goes from house to house increasing the population."

10. "Most of the houses in France are made of plaster of paris."

11. "The spinal column is a long bunch of bones. The head sits on the top and you sit on the bottom."

12. "The word trouser is an uncommon noun because it is singular at the top and plural at the bottom."

13. "Iron was discovered because someone smelt it."

14. "Syntax is all the money collected at the church from sinners."

15. "Beethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf he wrote loud music. He took long walks in the forest even when everyone was calling for him. Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died for this."

16. "The sun never set on the British Empire because the British Empire’s in the east and the sun sets in the West."

17. "Gravity was invented by Issac Walton. It is chiefly noticeable in the fall when the apples are falling off the trees."

18. "Finally Magna Carta provided that no man should be hanged twice for the same offence."

19. "After his death, his career suffered a dramatic decline."

20. "Actually, Homer was not written by Homer but by another man of that name."

21. "Bach was the most famous composer in the world and so was Handel. Handel was half German, half Italian and half English. He was very large."

22. "The Greeks were a highly sculptured people, and without them we wouldn’t have history. The Greeks also had myths. A myth is a female moth."

23. "The invention of the steamboat caused a network of rivers to spring up."

24. "Queen Victoria was the longest queen. She sat on a thorn for 63 years."

* * *

Four brothers from the Pereira family down BullManDhal left Kottangchena for Australia, and they became successful doctors and lawyers and prospered. Some years later, they chatted after having dinner together.

They discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother who lived far away in Kottangchena, yet. The first, Frank said, "I had a big house built for Mama." The second Bryan said, "I had a hundred thousand dollar theatre built in the house." The third Noel said, "I had my Mercedes dealer deliver an SL600 to her."

The fourth Robyn said, "You know how Mamma loved reading the Bible and you know she can’t read anymore because she can’t see very well. I met this preacher who told me about a parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took 20 preachers 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $100,000 a year for 20 years to the church, but it was worth it. Mamma just has to name the chapter and verse and the parrot will recite it."

The other brothers were impressed. After the holidays Mom sent out her Thank You notes. She wrote: "Frank, the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway."

"Bryan, I am too old to travel. I stay home, I have my groceries delivered, so I never use the Mercedes. The thought was good. Thanks."

"Noel, you gave me an expensive theater with Dolby sound, it could hold 50 people, but all of my friends are dead, I’ve lost my hearing and I’m nearly blind. I’ll never use it. Thank you for the gesture just the same."

"Dearest Robyn, you were the only son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken was delicious. Thank you."