My reading of Pygmalion

I managed to finish reading Pygmalion in four days which I at first don't think I can finish that fast. If I counted the exact hours, it is about 7 hours. I think I am a slow reader as it is not a very long text indeed, but sometimes I need to read backward to really get the clearer image about the text. I guess that's why once you start reading a play, it is best to finish it in one go.



I really like the story and I'm looking forward to watch the movie version of Pygmalion. After reading, I guess I start to understand the phrase in the beginning of the play--"A Romance In Five Acts".



Though Eliza and Higgins love's story isn't portrayed stright-forward in the play. However, they are finally together. As I was reading the part when Eliza left Higgins' house. I was so anxious to know what will happen to her life later on. I guess this is a way the writer

MacBeth

When we are assigned to watch MacBeth, I was told that it is a tragedy in some way similar to King Lear. And I get to understand the movie better with reading some preview about MacBeth.

For me, MacBeth is an interesting movie. I think if "King Lear" is aslo comes into movie,it would just be as interesting as MacBeth. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to watch "King Lear" this time.
MacBeth is the tale of a once great soldier's fall from grace. It is similar to "King Lear" that telling about a once almighty and poweful king's fall from honour.

MacBeth seems to me is a superstitious person just like Edmund in "King Lear". He believed the prediction of his ascendance to the Scottish throne and to achieve that, he followed the prophecy to kill the king. Lady MacBeth is an interesting character to me as she is a strong,powerful woman who is skilled at manipulating her husband. She seems to me just like the wicked and cruel Goneril in "King Lear". As tragedy goes, MacBeth faces his tragedy flow just like Lear. At first he is glamorous but in the end, he suffered for his own wrong-doings. All in all, I enjoyed watching it very much.

King Lear

I have a difficult time in reading King Lear. Mostly because I am not used to the unique language of William Shakespeare. The language in the play is the main problems I faced when reading the play and I'm glad that Dr. Edwin spent much time to look into the story together with us. This really drives us closer to the author's point of view in describing the plot and the characters.

There are many animal imageries used in the play. While we read the play, we are advised to carefully focus and think of the animal imageries used in some contents. For examples: "the hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long, That it's had it head off by it young." Cuckoo is a kind of bird that usually lay its egg in another bird's nest. When the small cuckoo bird hatch, it will kill all the other small birds in the nest so it will be fully fed by the mother bird. As a young cuckoo, it can grow into bigger size than the mother bird. By this time, it will bite off the neck of the bird that fed it al the time. Thus, we can see that the nature of the anima is closely related to the personality of the characters portrayed. This line is indicating Goneril and Regan as evil and cruel daughters who in return harm their father for all the goodness he has given them.

We need to learn about the characters mostly through the animal imageries just like the example given above. And there are still many parts that I need to work closely to really understand the details in this play.

Shakespeare Wallah

This is a movie that I don't really enjoyed. At first, I thought it would be a romantic story as it says "Shalespeare Wallah". For what I've known about Shakespeare is that he is a romantic writer. So I expected it to be a romantic kind of movie. And yes, it did show some romance but there are just not what I've expected. I am quite disappointed.

Basically, the story is talking about a group of English actors in their way finding about English tour. However, there are romance that happened. It is an interesting movie but quite sluggish to me that it focuses on unusual subject and it is difference from most classical movie. Yet, the actors speak English in very fluent way really impressed me and inspired me to speak the English better.

Pop Quiz in Class

We had a pop quiz about King Lear on Wednesday. It wasn't hard actually and before the day, I was expecting it. However, I didn't really do well in that quiz. I guess it is because I didn't prepare well.

I got the answer wrong about the chronologically death of the characters, then the punishment of Kent and also the place Lear headed to escape from the harm of his daughters. I am so sad. With this, I realised that I wasn't really remember the details though I read through the story. I should be more focus in my reading.

The language somehow distructed my comprehension of the text.Furthermore, I stop at my first reading. I guess if I reread the text agian, I would get better understanding. I shall work harder for it.

4:48 Pychosis

Watching Pychosis is totally a different experience from the plays I have watched ever. It is simple, straight-forward not as fancy as the plays I have watched. I was deeply impressed by the atmosphere and the setting of the play once I entered the hall after I read the introduction of the play.

The stage is in the middle of the ground surrounded by the seat of the audiences. It is a five dimensions view stage,which created a space link to the audiences. There are two actors sitting motionless and silent on the various parts of the stage when the audiences entered the stage. It is a way to catch the attention and sooner the audience settled down, the light slowly dim and faded off. The atmosphere of darkness remained for minutes. In my opinion, I think it is suitable and appropriate as it gives the impression as if we are in the defined room as an individual, the emotion of contented with different emotional thoughts slowly built up in this way.

I read about an article in Sin Chew Jit Poh few days back telling that 4a.m is the time when people are emotionally weak. Those who is emotionally troubled and stays awake around 4a.m would probably fall into this psychology wreck and do things irrationally. I quickly connect the idea with the title of the play--"4.48 Pyschosis". No matter I am right or not, I guess playwright focus much on the psychological theories in this play which I believed that is the reason the play is named as "4.48 Psychosis".

From the play, I managed to see different extreme emotional thoughts of the protagonist who is a characteristic mix and theoatrical innovated person. The effects of the monologues, the dialogues whose content includes exchanges between patients and therapists, notes about grief, mental anguish, psychological distress and the reveal of the feelings about protagonist's life really gave me a terrific impact. I was overwhelmed by the emotion expressions of the protagonist.

"How DO I stop?" "Keep on saying it..." "YOU ARE SO WRONG!" "NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND! NO ONE......" "Watch Me! See Me! LOOK AT ME!". Those are the phrases that really give an "umg" to me,that really "hit" me when the actors presented them with full emotions and actions.

Apart from all, I love the phrase "Please open the curtains!" exclaimed by all the three characters. For me, it indicate a sort of freedom and relief from all those deep negative inner emotions of the protagonist. I think it is a good show for a small production like this. It really impressed me!

Reflection on watching Pygmalion and My Fair Lady

We watched Pygamalion last week and I enjoy that movie just as much as I read the play. Though we watched the black and white version, the impact still influence me. I personally think the actors are doing very well in the movie. It is just like what is described in the text. However, just because I watched another version-- "My Fair Lady" which also adapted the story "Pgymalion",thus I couldn't help myself to some comparisons. You know, as an audience, we are always very concerned the characters that can really bring out the chracter traits as described in the text.

In my opinion , the version of Pygmalion in 1938 is a version that full of most details from the text. It is because Geoge Bernard Shaw himself wrote the film script I guess, therefore the settings of the play and the background of the story are appropriate to the time line of the story. However, I still think that Wendy Hiller who acted as Eliza Doolittle is rather conservative. She is not as bold and straight-forward as Eliza in the text. Besides, the romance between Wendy Hiller and Leslie Howard, the man who acts as Professor Higgins, did not create the sparkling chemical. As an audience, I cannot really see the slow,developing romance as in "My Fair Lady". Also, I felt like there is no magical Cinderella process here, but a painfully, realistically resisted struggle.This is probably because I see Wendy Hiller acted as quite a disciplined way which somehow seems to me as if Eliza in this movie learnt about "manner" before.

Personally, I like another version more. "My fair Lady" consists of musical performance in the movie which sparkle up the whole movie. Also, I think Audrey Hepburn acted Eliza Doolittle as a truly one at here. For a beautiful actress like Audrey Hepburn to disguise as a nasty, untidy and lack of manner flowergirl, I think she made it successfully. I couldn't even recognise her in that disguise and I couldn't believe she can make it excellently. Throughout the movie, I couldn't take my eyes off from her and that movie still remains as one of my memorable movie even I firstly watched that a few years back. I can feel that chemical that is created between Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison who acted as Professor Higgins here. The relationship between Eliza and Higgins is illustrated clearly by Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn. I think both of them are excellent actors and they did better the the earlier.

Pygmalion

I like reading pygmalion and I enjoyed the story very much. It is the play that I managed to finish reading quickly. Though at first the language of Eliza is written in different way that I somehow don't understand. However, it didn't turn me down on reading it. Afterall, the language throughout the play is not difficult to understand.

Before reading the story,I was wondering why is the play named as "Pygmalion". I thought it would be a story about the main charcter named pygmalion. However, when I was told by Dr. Edwin that this title has got some similarity with the ancient Greek theatre. I started to figure out the answer through the internet. Then, I realised and understood the title better. Pygmalion is a character in Greek story who dislikes the women around him and considered the women as wicked and evil. For that reason, Pygmalion is still a bachelor. Somehow, his skilful ability in carving statue creates a perfect woman all from his idea. The statue was carved so beautifully that he actually fall in love with the statue, with the beautiful image that he had managed to create. He wished his statue is an alive and real woman. His wish is finally granted by the God of Love--Venus and in the end his statue really come alive to become a real woman. they fall in love and get married in the end. A happy ending Greek story.

The similarity of this English story and the Greek story is that Professor Higgins is just like Pygmalion, totally dislikes women around him He treats women as damned nuisance,thinking woman would upset everything, ruin men's life. The only thing that Higgins is fond of and interested with is his career of phonetics. He likes Eliza as a reason that she is a successful "production" of his study in phonetics. Higgins said :"I'd said I'd make a woman of you; and I have. I like you like this." Again, another man who fall for the beautifu image that he has managed to create. And it creates "A Romance in Five Acts".

Acting In the Class

Previouly, we had a class using the reference book--"Now Read On" to have a clearer knowledge about the play. Dr Edwin asked us to do an activity with a partner. That was referring to page 28, the short dialogues between two characters, identify the characters and the mood of the dialogue. The following is the dialogue:

What are you writing?
Nothing.

[They drink.]

Not writing?

No.

Why not?
Nothing to say.
Doesn't stop others.Written out?
Yes.

[They drink.]

Now what are you writing?

Nothing.

(Edward Bond Bingo)

What do you feel when you first read this dialogue?

Some of my coursemates acted it as teacher-student,some as mother-daughter, some as lover and some as sisters.

Well, for Hidayah Bareed and I,when we were asked about the characters we acted, the answers made the audiences (other coursemates) burst into laughters. Because we were acting as Paris Hilton and a a police officer. And I was acting as emotionally unstable Paris Hlton.The idea came from the recently news about Paris Hilton's jailed life.I had fun times to act the dialogue with Hidayah Bareed though it was just a short dialogue.

However, Dr.Edwin's answer was really a shocking one which again we burst into laughters. It was the dialogue between two chickens indeed.

What an unforgettable lesson!!

Review of watching a play

I was invited to watch a musical play entitled "Mystical Journey To Putuo Shan" at Dewan Heng Gok Hai, SJK@Sentul yesterday. The play was organized by La Comerata Di Opera Society of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

The play was telling about a man named Chi Ming who does not believe the existence of God and he hates his own mother. Ci Pou's mother is a kind old lady who is very faithful in God. She always pray that Chi Ming will change his temper and be successful in his life. Chi Ming is then forced to face various difficulties and testimonies that finally leads him in believing that God makes all these things happended to him. He realised that a man cannot challenge God. In the end,he changes his bad temper and treat his mother with kindness and gratitude.

It is a religious subject that brings out this play. However, the performing way does not make me feel heavy and full of religious themes. In fact, it reminds me of the Greek theatre that we are studying--"Antigone" at which Creon also disbelief in God. However, Creon's endings is being punished by God with death.

That was the first time for me to experience a really "live" stage performance as there were a musical band performing the background music live below the stage. The atmosphere was simply soothing and sizzling at the same time. I was so excited towards those musical instruments. The chorus singing soft ryhmetic songs just like a gentle freeze. All the characters sang and acted fantastically. There were also parts that the dancers performed various dances like Indian Dance, Persian Dance and Belly Dance. The costumes of the dances were colourful and worked so well with the lighting. I was amazed by the whole performance.

All in all, the play was successful and intersting. It attracted press and celebrity such as Lillian Thoo. I was lucky to have the chance to watch it totally free as it is originally cost about RM100 as part of the fare is for the charity purpose. Hehe......

The Ngajat Iban dance

Since I was young, I have seen Ngajat Iban dance for several times performed by my Iban friends. It is a dance originated by Dayak tribute in Sarawak.Originally, it was meant to be performed by Iban warriors to celebrate the victorious of their headhunting and tribal or territorial expansion. But now, in the modern era, the dance is longer for the purpose of celebrating the victory of battles.

Currently, Ngajat Iban Dance is a unique dance which served many purposes depending on the occasion. Basically,it is served on the most important harvest festival called "Gawai" on the first day of June to invite guests to their longhouse and to entertain the people who in the olden days enjoy graceful ngajats a form of entertainment.

Traditionally,only male dancers performed the dance but not anymore. The male dancers and the female dancers have different ways and styles of ngajat. The ngajat for men is more aggressive and representing a man going to battle or bird flying (in showing respect to the Iban God of War,Singalang Burong). However,the women's form of ngajat is made up of soft,graceful movements with very accurate and precise body turns.

The male dancers wear large feathers as part of their headgear, hold an ornate and long shield in their hand with chains, beads and a loincloth called the ‘cawat’. The female dancers have an elaborate headdress, chains, beads and a ‘dress’ that reaches to below their knees with intricate weaving.The dance is arranged straight lines and in a circle and does involve dramatic leaps and jumps performed by the male dancers.

Each Ngajat Iban Dance is accompanied by an Iban traditionally music called "taboh". Taboh is performed using gongs and other ethnic percussion instruments such as "enkerumung", "bendai", "canang" and "dumbak" or "ketawak".

I found Ngajat Iban Dance interesting because of the apparent different dancing styles of the male and the female in a dance. Besides, I think that the influences of my Iban friends also makes me fall for this unique traditionally dance in Sarawak.

Makyong dance

During last holiday, I have been to Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan(ASWARA) to watch the undergraduated students to perform their course dance performance. That is the first time I was exposed to Makyong dance.

Makyong dance left me with a memorable impression of the costume and the changes of the beat of the music. It is later that I found out both elements are important parts of the dance besides the movements of dance. We should also pay attention to the story or old-tale which the dance itself is meant to be performed. Makyong is said to be an old dance of Kelantan which was performed in theatre form that tells a story about the gods and spirits, orges or giants,palace functionaries and animals. Usually, the dancers are mostly female even the man lead role-"pak yong" and addition role such as "mak yong" ,the clowns(peran), the attendants (inang) and the minor roles of the character to be told by the dance-theatre.

There is a strong leading music orchestra for the dance as dancing and singing are mostly required in the dance. The musical instruments that produce the music of the dance are gongs, rebab and gendang. Sometimes, the dancers need to sing the haunting melody to add colour to the dance. At the beginning of every Makyong dance performance, Mengadap Rebab dance is always performed. The dance is normally ended with graceful gestures of the main leading dancers sitting on the stage.