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......