Basically, our "practical" for our Literature acting for Macbeth has ended, not too long ago, in fact, just a few days before. It was one of the most interesting and exciting short plays I had ever seen in my life where everyone gets a chance to perform what they understand from the Literature text itself. The lines all of us have to say are extremely short. This makes it easy for us to memorize them and say it fluently during the performance. Though it was just a 1 to 2 minutes long performance, we required quite a number of props and costumes to demonstrate clearly what the actual Literature text might have meant when we first read them.
My thoughts on the performance? Well, I think our efforts were not wasted if we score a very high mark for this. Like I mentioned, acting out Macbeth Act 1 Scene 1 is only a minute's job. Everyone had their own unique props such as the cauldrons, pets and their costumes. We ought to get high marks (I meant that it is a waste not to obtain high marks for an easy task), when we actually had to stay back after curriculum hours to complete various tedious task. The rehearsals were not a problem for my group but the "headache" for us was cutting out the props and painting them nicely. Our experience was this. Two tubes of paint was insufficient and we had to borrow from teachers and friends just to make the props look presentable. The "pen-knifing" was actually the cutting. Small and thin parts of the props could take at least 5 minutes to cut them out. Apparently, not everyone can be fast in doing so. Another problem was finding the BGM (Background music). We can't just project our plain voices. Therefore, we felt that having the BGM would enhance the atmosphere of the play. When I actually sourced for the BGM, numerous websites I searched asked me for payment, even for a 1MB BGM which lasts for only 10 seconds.
If only we had black coats, that would make "life" easier. We won't have to cut out holes from the garbage bag nor worry aboutthe size of cutting. Improvements to be made? None, I suppose. It's good enough. But I always have this mentality that if we are exaggerating our performance, be it by the overwhelming number of props or over-doing make-ups, I suggest that a longer acting role should be needed. Otherwise I would feel that a 1 minute play is not worth so many complicated props. For example, if the props were to be used, it is more worth to use it in a battle scene. So literally, that's what I meant. I have nothing else to add on, but I must say that I enjoyed other groups performing because they are still vivid in my imagination, making the performance very hilarious and creative.
