Watching Plays……

As part of the course, we were assigned to go and watch a theatre. The idea of it was very much interesting as I have not watch any theatre by professionals. In the 4 years of the foundation and degree course , we have been asked to conduct our own play in front of audience but never to go and actually see one in real. In managing to find the time to watch a theatre, a few of my classmates and I decided to watch the play ‘F for Female” that was held at the Bangsar Actors Studio. It was a great experience. The whole play was acted out as though it was real life. The way they shout at each other, tie each other up, I can say it was rather super. There was even at a time where the lady actor started smoking on stage. After having such an exciting experience, a few of my classmates decided to go and watch another play “Hunted Stage” that will be from the UK.

Watching four movies….

After studying the plays in class, we were given four movies to watch in class where two of the movie was based on two plays that we studies. “Cleopatra” and “A streetcar named Desire” were the movies Dr Edwin gave the class to watch. By watching these two movies, it had further helped me in understanding the play better. We normally have to imagine the setting or how the people looked like or dressed when we read the play. However, by watching the play, we can actually see the setting of the place as how the author describes in the play as well as the clothes the characters wear for example, the dresses Blanche wears in “A streetcar named Desire”. Watching the plays helps increases my knowledge about the play and the characters.

Seen a Streetcar?

At first by knowing the title of the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”, I thought it would be about a car. Maybe like a racing car. Then when we got the book, just by judging the cover of the book I changed my mind…..Now I thought it would be about a poor man signing by the roadside to earn a leaving…but what had it got to do with “A Streetcar”…
As we started reading the play in class, I knew that the streetcar is a kind of transportation which in my mind is a taxi. Only after Dr. Edwin asked us to watch the movie, only did I know it is a bus with the name “Desire” written on it. The play is rather old as the movie was in black and white. In the entire play, Tennessee Williams uses a lot of motifs and symbols such as when Blanche is mention bathing in most of the scene. Even the streetcar named “Desire” has a significant meaning to the play. It was rather an interesting play and something different that other plays.

Why 30 Days?

We haven’t learn the play “30 Days of September” in class yet. But I have already read it as to do my assignment. Interesting I would say…. Before reading the play I was always wondering what is 30 Days?...After reading it I found out that “Thirty Days in September” is as much a tale of the breaking of barriers between a stricken daughter and a silently suffering mother, as it is one that impressively addresses the issue of child sex abuse. Mahesh Dattani indeed has used lots of symbols through out his work. The title itself carried a heavy meaning. In my opinion, the play is really a good one…..with simple usage of language and a bit of the Indian culture mention makes the play interesting. At first I thought I would never be able to complete reading the entire play eventhough it is rather a short one. However, as I started reading it, I wanted to complete it and know what happens in the end. I will say it’s a happy ending. Mahesh had created a play that is a prevalent issue in today’s world. Living in the world today, Mahesh raise up the sensitive issue of child abuse and incest that is generally taboo.I enjoyed reading the play.

Being Evaluated

Being evaluated by others makes me even nervous. It makes me wonder whether I am using the correct choice of words. Is my voice clear enough? On the other hand, being evaluated by your classmates brings benefits. I am able to know what others think about my teaching. Receiving comments would help me later in my coming teaching. When I first did the microteaching on the play “Oedipus Rex”, I didn’t how much I should improve more as we were only evaluated by our tutor and not the majority of audience. While doing my second micro teaching, I realize there were many eyes on me as everyone was evaluating me. The positive part of this concept is that I am able to know my weakness. Therefore, it would definitely help me improve more and do better the next time.

Evaluating

Evaluating others indeed is not easy. Normally I would just sit and watch my classmates teach in front. However, now we have to evaluate everyone that presents. Not an easy task I can say. I have to observe them carefully in order not to make any mistakes while evaluating my classmates. I have to listen carefully to the choice of words they use in teaching in order to compare it to the level of proficiency school students might have. However, it can be fun at times. It is like being a teacher and evaluating your students.

Rome/Egypt, Love/Lust

Dr.Edwin’s class today, we were introduced to another play “Antony and Cleopatra”, one of Shakespeare’s works. I have indeed heard of their names before but sadly I have no idea what the play is about. All this while I thought it will be a story of two lovers during the ancient time. I was not that wrong after all. After reading the play I can conclude it’s a story of two passionate and power-hungry lovers. There is much to dislike in them both, Cleopatra being scheming, manipulative, treacherous and Antony a middle-aged fool, possessed by an adolescent devotion, out-of-touch with the changing political realities in Rome. Here is everything in one play - love, lust, politics, war, loyalty, treachery, austerity, pleasure, dignity, shame. The two lovers presented in the play may be world leaders, but they are also, after all, only human beings—flawed and aging ones at that. We as human beings share their mortality; many of us recognize their strong feelings of jealousy, love, shame, and insecurity. Despite their historical grandeur and thanks to Shakespeare's sensitive portrayal of them, Antony and Cleopatra are no more—and no less—extraordinary than we are.

"Fate is inevitable; you can't chanhe it"

After reading the entire play of Oedipus the King, it really got me thinking.
Is our fate all written in our hand? Every line in our palm means something….we cannot erase any. Oedipus the King is important to contemporary society because it makes us realize there is only a certain amount of our lives we can control and the rest is just 'meant to happen.' From moving away from his fate of that he will kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus moves towards fulfilling his written fate without realizing. Running away from his parents, Oedipus actually went to is actual parents. The important message in the play lies at the very end of the play as the chorus's points out the final statement that "no one can judge one's fate until the very last day of one's life."

Understanding theatre even more…….

Having attending two classes of Dr.Edwin, did make me understand and become more knowledgeable about the Greek theatre…...Greeks being the gods of theatre…… after a brief introduction on theatre in class, I became quite interested in plays eventhough it seems to be quite confusing as I have never been exposed to theatre before…… THE SPHINX (or Phix) was a female monster with the body of a lion, the breast and head of a woman, eagle's wings and, according to some, a serpent-headed tail….WOW….I never knew there were such things that exist. This is what I found out after reading “Oedipus Rex”…..Sophocles indeed created not only a real dramatic tragedy play but also such a wonderful play……..wonder whether there any more of this kind of plays written….(“,)

“…with both your eyes, are blind”

What a unique play ……Oedipus killing his father and marrying his mother. I have never heard of any story line that goes this way. After reading the short summaries and getting a rough idea of what the play is about, finally I managed to read the entire play at the same time understanding it also. By understanding the play better now, I excitedly went telling everyone (those who have never read or known about the play) about the story line. Many of my friends found it rather interesting eventhough they showed those odd facial expression when it came to the part Oedipus marrying his mother. Knowing quite in detail the play Oedipus Rex, it therefore had prepared me for the first tutorial class. ...What I think about the play...

"Oedipus" or " Edipus"

Based on my experience of reading a play “Oedipus Rex”, I realise that it is not easy to understand the play as the language used is quite tough. At the very beginning, when I opened the book, I could not understand what I am reading. I became bored so I decided to turn to the middle page of the play. Eventhough obviously I could not understand a thing as I have not even begin reading from the start. Before lessons begin in class, a few of my friends discussed about the play. This made it easier for me as I now understand the outline of the play “Oedipus”. Another thing was that the pronunciation of the characters name was different than what I have been pronouncing all this while….only realizing this after discussing with friends only I know the correct pronunciation. For instance “Oedipus” is pronounced is “Edipus”. Before discussing the play in class, I have decided to go online to search for summaries to help me appreciate the play even better.