BBL 3217 Poetry & Drama in English
Trisem 8/2010 (Exec)
Question 2: Write a report on any one of the plays that you watched this semester. This
report should include technical aspects of the production rather than the play itself. Do
include your own suggestion of improvement if you were given the chance to direct the
play.
Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) is striving in regards to create the
passion in performing arts and drama plays among youngsters in our country. KLPAC had
organized quite a lot of theatrical plays in their halls in Sentul Park, Kuala Lumpur. KLPAC in
collaboration with the Australian High Commission organized a workshop and showcase that is
conducted and directed by well known play director in Australia, Jeff Kevin. Mr. Jeff Kevin is an
actor, director and retired teacher in University of Wollongong, Australia after successfully
finished up his Masters Studies in Creative Arts. Jeff was invited to conduct a Shakespearean
workshop for the KLPAC by the Artistic director Joe Hasham and Executive Producer Dato’
Faridah Merican in 2009 and in 2010 to workshop and direct William Shakespeare’s “A
Midsummer Night’s Dream”. This play was presented in KLPAC’s own stage 2 from 29th April
2010 till 2nd May 2010. The actors and actress of this plays were selected out from an open
casting held two months before the play date and trained by Jeff Kevin himself. The cast of “A
Midsummer Night’s Dream” were Joanna, Nabihan, Kien, Qahar, Inessa, Sandee, Niki and
KLPAC’s very own actor Kelvin and Marvin. Once the two months workshop on Creative Arts
Workshop ended the training for the Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was started
just couple of weeks before the performing day.
This short period is because they already learned the acting skills in the workshop and the
two weeks were for the memorizing the scripts and train their presentation skills on stage. This
play becomes a lot like practical hands-on to the students @ actors & actresses for attending the
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Prepared by: R.Sudheep (B10127) BA English
BBL 3217 Poetry & Drama in English
Trisem 8/2010 (Exec)
workshop. As in this case costumes are the last thing to think of together with the makeup.
Compared to much of the plays conducted by KLPAC in recent past events, the expenses and
preparation for makeup and costumes are far more less than usual play. The technical aspects of
lightning, stage are become the main concern for this play. When limited space in the performing
hall, three tiers stage were managed to construct as it will be the identity of Shakespearean’s
drama. Where the three tiers are meant for the king, queen, aristocrats and the audiences in the
play. Whenever the actors and actresses are about to act in the play, they are reminded of their
position on the stage. The stage cannot be built much bigger as the hall is quite small and there
must be space for the props to be brought in and out.
The uses of props are minimized to save the preparation time during the play. The
important costumes are used to show the differences in characters because actors and actresses
are carrying more than one character to the play. Since costumes and makeup are minimized
lighting becomes the vital element in the play. The uses of good lighting system make the play
look more realistic and interesting. The positive views of this play were; the concept and the
story line are very clear and able to understand by the viewers. The actors and actresses acted
very well to bring the characters that are given to them live on stage. Even though they didn’t use
any microphone for their play, the audiences able to hear their speech well enough.
On the other hand, if I were given the chance to direct the play, I will forefront the usage
of costumes and makeup in my play. The costumes in plays are very important to make the
characters more alive. The space that has been used for the presentation of the play also a major
thing that I will definitely change. A great play need much spacious stage for the characters to
act and walk. In my direction, I would use the vocal amplifiers such as microphone for all the
actors and actresses so that they have no need to shout out of their lungs. This surely will effect
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Prepared by: R.Sudheep (B10127) BA English
BBL 3217 Poetry & Drama in English
Trisem 8/2010 (Exec)
the tone for the scripts in that play, i.e.: the sad scene should be in low voice and not to be
screamed.
The play finally received good reviews from the audiences and mass media. It would
receive great reviews and feedback if costumes and sound systems are corrected in future. Any
play will be more complete if we able to provide good space on the stage with great makeup and
costumes. These are the basic elements of a stage play and this is how it should be presented.
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Prepared by: R.Sudheep (B10127) BA English
BBL 3217 Poetry & Drama in English
Trisem 8/2010 (Exec)
APPENDIX
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Prepared by: R.Sudheep (B10127) BA English
BBL 3217 Poetry & Drama in English
Trisem 8/2010 (Exec)
THE SMALL READING UP CORNER NEXT TO 5 THE THREE TIERS STAGE IN THE BACKGROUD
Prepared by: R.Sudheep (B10127) BA English
THE STAGE AND THE SETTING
