Almost, Maine

A few days ago, I watched a small play performed by my fellow students. Before writing on my personal experience with the play, I would like to say that they were absolutely amazing. Their acting performance was nonetheless excellent. On my way to the theatre, my mind did not know what to expect. This was my first official play that I have watched. Nervously, I got out of my car and walked into the theatre. Ushers greeted me, and told me that the play was starting soon. I got my ticket and quickly ran up the stairs. As I walked in, the lights dimmed, and the scene started. The mood I noticed was pleasant and warm. The Ushers were very nice as well as the audience. Even though everyone was very nice, everyone was eager to watch the performance. I, personally, was very nervous, not for me but for the performers. Only as the show went on did I finally relax and enjoy my experience. As the prologue started, everyone was quiet. When the performance went on, there were a few chuckles here and there. Towards the middle of the play, everyone was not afraid to laugh or express their emotion unlike when it started. When the prologue ended, everyone started clapping. This unfortunately surprised me. I did not expect everyone to clap midplay. This showed the audience's care towards the performers; for instance, during Scene 6, the one with the best friends, one of the cans accidentally fell off stage, someone from the audience kindly picked it up. Also another thing that surprised me was that the stage did not close off their curtains. Instead they turned off the lights off, and moved all the props. This was done very effectively and professionally. The performance was also done very professionally.
     My personal experience was exceptional to others because not only was this my first LIVE play, but I had to critically think about the performance. This unfortunately caused me to be very nervous, but it made it one of a kind. From the moment I walked in the theatre to leaving the theatre, I felt taken care of by not only the Ushers but the performers. The performers even came out to introduce themselves when the play was finished. This made me feel happy and important because they came to personally thank me for attending their play. I also got a chance to personally congratulate them, and tell them their performance was excellent. This made me feel like I was a part of the play. This adds to the audience experience greatly. Another audience experience I noticed was that people were filled with happiness and joy when leaving the theatre. This was because the play was done exceptionally well. I would recommend this play to anyone who is looking for a good and fun time. The experience is one of kind not only because LIVE play is unexpected and can turn into anything, but because of the mood and energy from not only the audience but the performers also. The performers were very excited and thrilled to be in this play. This made the experience one of a kind.

Variety Video and Picture and Facts

     Unlike Noh, a tradition that is only for the high class and very slow, Variety theatre is very unexpected, loud, and exciting. They hold the audiences attention by performing things that seem unimaginable to the mind as shown in the video below. Variety is made up of many acts as well as many musical performances. It also includes juggling, animal acts, and acrobatics according to Hussey. The variety theatre came from the Victorian era. It then moved to radio then television. Its most popular days were in the 1970s to the 1980s, but it still has some popularity now. Variety theatre is also very lively, the "audience joined in with their favourite songs and performers"(Hussey). This was often the sight in Britian. 

This video shows several variety theatre shows. As seen in the video, anything can happen in variety theatre. It is very unexpected.  In the Max Miller bit, you can see that the audience is very interactive with the performer, and that they are having fun. In the beginning of the video, you can see that variety theatre also takes amazing physical strength and dexterity.

This is on the stage of the Branson Variety Theatre. They have multiple shows and nothing can be expected. 

These two images are from the same show. This is the Wing Project at Relix Variety Theatre in Knoxvillle. It has transformed into an art gallery, circus, and concert venue according to knoxnews. Although its centered on aerial performance, it has also incorporated live music and dance. There are belly dancers, drum players, and even various string instruments. 

Random Facts
- If you wanted a good seat to see Scotland's first Royal Variety Show at the Alhambra Theatre in 1958, it would cost up to fifty pounds.
- A business is a piece of unscripted action meant to be comic and used to establish a character.
- Accordion virtuoso Will Starr was the Scottish Amateur accordion champion at the age of ten, after this he went on to great renown in concerts home and abroad, variety theatre and television.

Work Cited

Felner, Mira, and Claudia Orenstein. The World of Theatre : Tradition and Innovation. Boston: Pearson,  
2006. Print

Hussey, Paul. History of English Music Hall and Variety Theatre. N.p., 7 Mar. 2011. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://thegreatarticles.com/history-of-english-music-hall-and-variety-theatre/>.

Interesting facts from the Scottish Music Hall and Variety Theatre. Scottish Music Hall and Variety Theatre Society, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://scottishmusichallsociety.webs.com/didyouknow.htm>.

Newbell, Trillia. knoxnews.com. KnoxNews, 20 Aug. 2011. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/aug/20/wing-project-takes-flight-at-relix-theater/>


Images from Google.com

Peking Opera (a Traditional Chinese Opera)

      Peking Opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which includes acrobatics, music, vocal performance, and dance. This tradition started in the 18th century, but did not become recognized until the 19th century. It was mainly popular in the Qing Dynasty. Peking Opera has evolved throughout the years, and is now what we know to be Peking Opera through integration of other traditional art forms, "through a period of more than a half a century of combination and integration of various kinds of opera evolved the present Peking Opera" (Hyaunge). Peking mainly consists of styled fighting, acrobatics, dance, and music to depict a story of what each character is going through.

     Training for Peking Opera starts at a very early stage. Most performers started training at just the age of 8. These children are picked by their physical ability, endurance, stamina, and flexibility. Training for these young children is extremely rigorous, but the outcome is what makes Peking Opera beautiful. Training sessions consists of most of the day. At a younger age, sessions are usually a class full of students, but as they grow older, sessions are one on one depending on which role is given. One famous performer that had to undergo this training is Jackie Chan.

     There are usually four main characters that represent gladness, happiness, anger, sorrow, fear, and sadness. Elegant music greatly helps represent which character has a certain role, "performance is accompanied by a tune played on wind instruments, percussion instruments and stringed instruments" (Hyuange). The four main characters consist of one male called a sheng, a young female called dan, a painted faced male called jing, and a clown which can be either male or female called a chou. These characters are "graded" on how smooth their movements are throughout the play. Costumes in Peking Opera are bright, elegant, magnificent. They are usually handcrafted and embroidered. This makes "the costumes of high aesthetic value (Hyuange).

Peking Opera (cont.)

Peking Opera can get very loud at times. This video shows how loud it can get and a fighting scene. 

Watching a Peking Opera like watching a carnival. It is very loud and lively unlike Noh. People watch this Opera to have fun. Whenever a fight scene is done or something truly amazing happens, the performers stop letting the audience know to applaud. There is also the occasional female yelling for the male performers. 

Weapons are also a major part. Weapons are a spear, Halberd, long tailed sword, sabre, staff, horsewhip, and hammers. Each main character has a specific weapon that also goes with what they represent. 

Peking Opera (cont.)

In this video, we can see that humor exists in Peking Opera. We can hear the audience laugh. Peking Opera has a more relaxed feeling unlike Noh. People are there to have a good time and enjoy themselves. They also display excellent acrobatic skills.

Peking Opera (cont.)

Jackie Chan

He endured training of Chinese Opera. Look at the outcome of this rigorous training. 

This is a female performer. Female performers are usually young and beautiful. Her name is Shi Yihong. She is Yang Yuhuan from the Opera, Da Tang Guifei. Yang Yuhuan is one of the most beautiful girls during her time. She lived in the highest ranking imperial consorts too. 

This picture (although blurry) shows both what the costumes look like and what acrobatic skill they must have. Her costume is very elegant and magnificent; therefore, she is the dan (young female). 

(Girls have a hard problem walking in heels, I wonder how hard it is for these girls to do flips with such costumes.)

This picture depicts what acrobatics and skill they must show during the play. Most of the characters must be able to do this. 

Facts about Peking Opera

According to Venere's Top Chinese Facts, you haven't visited China until you have watched Peking Opera because it is a unique show.
One famous Chinese dish is the Peking Roast Duck.
Locals practice their opera parts at parks and all throughout the city.
Jackie Chan trained for opera as a child.
Peking Opera is also known as Beijing Opera.

Work Cited

Felner, Mira, and Claudia Orenstein. The World of Theatre : Tradition and Innovation. Boston: Pearson,   
     2006. Print

Hyaunge. Introduction of Peking Opera. China the Beautiful, n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2011. <http://www.chinapage.com/opera/intro.html>.


Talatala, Isey. 7 Fun Facts about Beijing. Venure Travel Blog, 16 Aug. 2009. Web. 3 Oct. 2011. <http://www.venere.com/blog/beijing-fun-facts/>.


Zeng, Peng. Talk at the Festival of Peking Opera on Contemporary Themes . Foreign Language Press, n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2011.    <http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/peng-zhen/1964/07/01.htm>.


Images from Google.com