i am coming to 'the homecoming'...

My first theatre ( I mean, the first theatre that I got to watch =p )… On the 26th of March 2006, I went to watch one of Harold Pinter’s masterpieces which is ‘The Homecoming’. It really is a long journey before I could at last watch it live. The story goes like this.
“Once upon a time…there was a girl….bla…bla…bla…and she lives happily ever after.” =p Hehehe…Believe me, it is not that easy. Here goes the real adventure.
The theatre performance is held at Kuala Lumpur Performing Art Centre somewhere in Sentul. Gosh! None of us had been there before but we took the challenge to just go and find the place ourselves. After all, Syed had already told us how to get there and you know…it really isn’t that hard because the ‘mini-map’ he gave us was very simple. We only had to walk a little bit and board a cab and we’ll get there.
HOWEVER, that is not our lucky day. We took the wrong direction ( ‘The Road Not Taken’ ) and lost our way. We walked for about two solid hours without stop before finally reached at the right place. Luckily, there’s a very kind Indian man ( God bless you uncle!) lend his hand to help us. He called his friends and asked for the right way for us to get there. Plus, he sketched a simple map for us so that we won’t lost our way again. Finally, we arrived at the ‘final destination’. =) I was sweating all over. One of my beloved comrades had to put off her high-heels because her feet was aching after those long and tiring walk. Hehehe…guess who was that Cinderella? ;p
But to me, all the hustle and bustle wasn’t a waste at all. I enjoyed the play and the place itself. Okay, maybe some find that the play was not suitable for the Malaysian setting or whatsoever…but what I like about it was how the characters managed to carry out their role. They were fantastic. This is the first live theatre that I got to watch. So, I still couldn’t make any comparison whether this is a good play or not. I’m looking forward to watch more and more theatre in the future. Maybe, I’ll try to go to Istana Budaya after this to get a different experience. ( I missed the chance to watch Puteri Gunung Ledang you know…duhhh!!!!)

macbeth

Macbeth was another masterpiece inscribed by Shakespeare. To be honest, although it was told that this is a piece which shouldn’t be missed by anybody, I myself had never read it before…(hey! I’m being very frank here…). But after watching it last day, I really do think that this is a real superb piece.
I watched the movie with my friends. At first, it moved rather slow and can drive us to sleep. I’m wondering whether all the Shakespearian’s play did start with this kind of pace because all the play which I had watched before started with the same thing which I’m experiencing now…but anyway, there is a saying which goes, ‘slow and steady and you will win the race’. Dear, how low will it get this time…
But as the plot moves, my perception changed and I began to enjoy the play. Macbeth is a real tragedy. A woman can really be the source of a man’s success and also his downfall. In this play, Lady Macbeth had been portrayed as both the roles. She was the reason why Macbeth had been the warrior and she was,too, the reason why he had been a loser.
The long and dragging two hours of watching this movie is really tiring but somehow, I do not have any other choice do I? All in all, I do agree that this is a fantastic play. I marvel what would it be if this piece were to be filmed in this modern era with help of modern technologies. I do have a feeling that it would be a big success just like the great ‘Troy’. ‘King Arthur’ and so on. I’m hoping one of the best director in Hollywood will came across this idea and that I could one day sit in the cinema and watch another ‘Macbeth’… ( a more breath-taking one I hope) =)

ahh..oh..oww..whatever!!!!

Similar as Educating Rita by Willy Russel, this play actually evolves around the world of an uneducated woman whom is trying to improve herself. Having read the former play, I actually do not have any major problem while dealing with this play. To me, this play is quite simple to understand and was presented in a very understandable way. Only that i had to think a bit deeper to sense the theme of this play. In my own personal view point, reading the book was more intriguing rather than watching the movie itself. Only that when i watched the play, i got to hear the real pronunciation of Eliza's favourite utterance or the so called 'sound'... ( Ahh..oohh...ah...whatever!). I was quite amazed with the way Shaw's presenting the whole story with the title Pygmalion. At first, i could not get what was the ralation of the title with its story. But after some further reading, i then see the connection or the relevance of the title. It is related to Greek Mythology whereby a sculptor is very in love with his own masterpiece and could not resist to fall in love with his art. Isn't that weird? Hmm..that is why it was called myth isn't it? I wonder what is actually the definition of a perfect woman in every man's mind. Is it all about the perfectness off the physical appearance? Doesn't her pure and sincere heart take account at all? Duh...this is world. Real world... Anyway, i do enjoy reading this famous piece by Bernard Shaw.

good morning miss lien...

Again...I'l be standing in front of the class as a teacher. Not really teaching, but I love to call it as mini teaching. One experience won't promise another better one you see...In the last semester, I got a B for this task. I wonder if I could achieve more than that in this semester.Or at least, a B+ would do. After a long and tiring wait, it's finally my turn to present. Well, what can you expect when the day just refused to befriend with you? There was no electricity and I could not display my prepared transparency to be shared with the class. Fortunately, I have a gift from God...the BRAIN of course. I made a spantaneous set induction and to me, it did workout quite well. Just that I need more real experience and exercises to polish up my skill. I would love to thank all my classmates for their co-operation during my simulated teaching task. For me, I will certainly fail to proceed with my work if I ain't got their support. It is a kind of team work when you are doing such task. So, better 'upgrade' your relation with all your friends in order to get supports that will help you...not the kind that will harm you. Got what I mean??? All in all, I am strongly agreed that this activity is a good platform for us;the teacher to be, to prepare ourselves in dealing with the class sooner. Emm...before that, I add another 'B' in my collection..is the B for Better than before? or Brilliant but not the Best? or maybe it is the B for quite Boring but not Bad afterall??? Hehehe...a B?What can I say? My daddy will always say," Girl, keep on trying!". hmm..I'm learning daddy... =)

duh...! cool huh...

phewww..!!!
I never thought that this would be a very boring play. It actually drives me to sleep but you know...whatever happens, i just need to finish up watching it. It was absolutely different from The Reduced Shakespeare Company. What i had expected is that it would be as interesting as the latter play. Howver, it did happened conversely. I don't know...maybe others have different view from me but to be frank, i dislike this play. And up to this very minute, i am very sure that will not spent my time to watch it again. I do have a feeling that this movie was actually made for those whom are really fond with any work which relates to Shakespeare. After viewing both play, i managed to draw my own conclusion. To me, if ever i watched this movie before 'The Reduced Shakespeare Company', I might not watch any of Shakespeare or other people work about Shakspeare ever again. Luckily, i got to watch the hillarious work of The Reduced Shakespeare Company on the first hand. It relly is amazing on how other people works can set or change your perspective about a certain thing. In this case, the Shakespeare work itself of course.Well, I do not said that this movie is a total crap(guys!!!don't get me wrong okay...). It is just that i am not into this movie because it is not ineresting enough to grab my attention. That's all. All in all, they done a good work because doing a joint venture work with two different culture and country is not an easy thing i guess... I'd give them a round of applause for their commitment and initiative in completing their tidious task ( they enjoyed it anyway...). =)

this is real cool..!!!

Dear journal…I’d like to share with you something that really had amused me…it was awesome!!!! Brilliant!!! I’d never thought that Shakespearean play would be as enjoyable as this!!! But of course this is not the classic play…hm…it is something new…It is sort of a modern Shakesperean play actually. At the beginning of the play, I can’t in point of fact understand what it was all about. The actors’ speech was in light speed. I was like listening to the sound of a bullet train. But not long after that, I began to adjust myself and able to enjoy the play. The trio was indeed very creative. They are some sort of genius!!! With limited props, they managed to carry out different characters form various plays such as the Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, Ophelia, Titus and Andromieus, A Midsummer’s Night Dream and several others. Not only was I amazed with their performances, I do feel as if I was one of the audiences at that theatre. The trio actually get the audience to involve in their live performances. A girl was invited to play the role of Ophelia whom is dealing with conflicts and confusion. She need to scream and in order to help her to get into the mood, the trio instructed the rest of the audiences to be the ‘voice’ that will raise her mood. As the result, the girl screams all her heart out and she had really done it very well. It was actually like a mini acting workshop where you learn the skill in acting. Apart of that, the play became more interesting because the trio had conveyed it in various ways. While presenting the ‘Othello’, they actually sang a rap verse. It really was very appealing. In addition, the puppet show is also excellent. All in all, I really enjoy myself during this show. To me, they are actually presenting their very own interpretation of Shakespearean’s play. All in all, their performance was actually a masterpiece by itself. I’m looking forward to watch more of their shows in future.

the myth of Tiresias...

After reading Antigone, I found an interesting character whom is Tiresias. He was the one whom had managed to make Creon rethinks of his decision. I made a further reading upon Tiresias and I am really surprised that he eventually had been a woman. The story begins when Tiresias, the son of a nymph an a human father, lives as a shaman in ancient Greece. According to the legend, he was changed into a woman when he killed a male snake in a wood. After seven years being a female tiresias, he was then turn back to normal after came upon two serpents mating and killed the female snake in the same wood. Years later, the gods of Mount Olympus had an argument as who had the greater pleasure in making love. Tiresias was called to give his opinion as he was the only one whom had experienced being in both gender. He told them that nine upon ten the pleasures of love must be given to the woman and soon after that, the peace returned to Olympus again. As a reward, he was given his shamanic powers. This is really superb isn't it? How on earth one could think to be living in both gender? It is reaaly out of logic but...anyway, that is what we called a legend. I'm actually wondering, is it a curse or a give in being a woman? Why should he turned to be a woman after making a sin? And why should he get his normal body after making the same deed again? Hm... Is it bad being a woman that she ( it's confusing dealing with this ha and she terms you know...) need to commit another killing? Is that what we perceive as 'the act of neutralizing our past sins'? Aaarghh...there is a lot to think...

no big deal...

6th February...my first drama test. I do not know what to say about it. See, it is quite disapppointing when things just get harder even when we tried all out to make it the better. I read what I supposed to but in the end...I can't recall some of it. I know that I can't remember everything that I read but hey..what good will you get when the exam questions need a very precise and direct answer from what is written in the book. There...the key to score a full make in a MCQ test is memorizing. Am i right? Sure...there is no use when you understand the whole story but fail to recall a simple detail such as a characters or any terms. And you are unfortunate enough that that was the question asked in the exams. Hahahaha....But, I am very positive you know. I will surely not write a 'Suicide Note' to my mother because of making careless mistake and not scoring in this test. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Try again... An 'A' is only an 'A'. ( a way of motivating myself...I am very good at this...especially after stepping out of the exam's hall... =p )..............

a,b,c,...read it!

Terrific! I had suddenly awake from my dreamland. Isn't dramas are all about the playwrights' created world? I was wrong. After all, this EDU 3217 course is about learning the language to teach drama. So, what the hustle and bustle am I making? My jaw dropped open ( did it? ) when I attend the first few lectures. We were introduced with new terms that we had never heard before ( some of us maybe...). We had an overview of the history of theatre and to my concern, I never knew that it will be that complicated. However, it is interesting. I got to learn the historical background and many more. Plus, we were also taught about the conventions of theatre. In this part, I realised that there are many new terms that I should know by heart as I am very sure that I am going to use it along this course. See, it really isn't that difficult as what I had thought it would be in the earlier place. To make myself very clear and will always be on the right track, I know that I had a lot of reading to make up. When you read and keep yourself familiar with the content, the information will automatically stored in your brain and the task of completing this course will be much easier. I hope so. In addition, by enjoying the whole of this learning period, I am sure that things will get better.

one..two..three..four..five..anymore???

I have read Antigone and to me it is a very good piece. I then continue my reading with 'Oedipus'. Oh dear, I did not expect that this was a very fine piece as well. Honestly, I could find myself a bit confuse on the early reading but as the story goes, I manage to get the flow. I can say that the key is to keep on reading and by and large you will get to finish it as well as understand it too. There are three other scripts in line to be read and I am not sure when will I get to start reading. But, fortunately...the very thoughtful Dr. Edwin had the magical charm to make us read or else,God knows what... =) Pygmalion, A Streetcar Named Desire and King Lear. Those were the three dramas that we are going to analysed after the break. I do hope that this drama have the secret ingredient which will help us to enrich our interest in literature generally and play of course.

love is kind...

Antigone... How I wish I am as determine as her...how I wish I could love like her... how I wish I could be as strong as her...In the name of love, strong-spirited Antigone had made up her mind to sacrifice her life for the pride of her brother. Because love is kind, she lead herself to the Underworld. I was so very much into this play when I read it. At first I thought that this would be just an ordinary play that will help me to go to bed in the middle of a boring night. But as I read through lines, I started to fell in love with 'Antigone'...( not that 'LOVE' of course!). So I guess, I'm going to enjoy during the drama class because Antigone was not just Antigone...there is something in it that had triggered my interest to learn this piece. Dear Antigone....

a rose for...me

As sweet as it may looks,sometimes a rose could even do harm than any better.How can it be?Well, there is always thorns among the roses. And that is what I am feeling towards this new course which I shall be taking in this new semester. EDU 3217 Teaching the Language of Drama. It may be interesting to enjoy the so-called 'drama'...but, I wonder how will it going to be when it come to learn teaching the language of it. I mean,the drama. Things sometimes can get really complicated and confusing. At first glance, drama seems to be something that will really put you in thousands of excitement as you get to 'involve' in a men's created world...however, this time it is not. Either you make yourself very clear with the analysis of the drama or keep on being blurry. Drama is part of literature. And in literature, there is no right or wrong... as long as you have a very strong justification for your thought, than you are on the right track. That was what told to me by my former lecturer. Isn't that complicated enough? Anyway, I do hope that I will be able to get through this course.Literature is just not really in me... I see black as black. And 'when I see a spade I call it a spade'. God bless me... =)