A Spring Performance
Vibrant April breezes herald the arrival of yet another chapter of SCLS campus life. On April 26, the SCLS International Division Middle and High School Drama Club orchestrated a splendid ancient Greek performance: Dionysia, a celebration dedicated to the god of wine and festivity, Dionysus.
The show brought forth a magical moment where Greek gods and goddesses strode upon the stage of SCLS in all their revived glory. Using fluent English lines, dramatic stage expressions, and stunning costumes and props, our actors and actresses faithfully recreated the atmosphere of ancient Greek theatrics, immersing the audience in a divine feast of classical Greek legends.
Not only did every member of the drama club perform on stage, but they also played the role of an entire logistics division, taking on a series of other front- and backstage work including stage scheduling, makeup, costumes, lighting, and props.
An hour before the show, the students gathered in the classroom of the library and started preparing for the final performance in an anxious but orderly manner. After everyone changed into their respective costumes, the make-up team began to apply make-up for the actors in an ancient Greek style, while the props team checked the required props one last time before the show began.
Finally, directed by Mrs. Chanelle, the drama teacher, everyone entered the stage to finish the pre-show positioning process.
The theatre was filled to the brim by students and parents who had come to watch the play. Everyone waited with bated breath in eager anticipation for the start of the show.
Suddenly, the stage lights flashed and music started to play. Accompanied by the sound and light, various Greek gods made their entrance one after another, including the majestic Zeus, the beautiful Helen, the self-obsessed Narcissus, the jealous Hera, and the misguided Pandora who opened the cursed box. The students vividly portrayed the gods as individuals with distinctive personal characteristics.
At the same time, aside from faithfully abiding by the classical core of Greek mythology, the students also added modern elements to the performance. Those invigorating additions were clearly welcomed, as improvised dances and the interspersed modern phrases never failed to arouse the audience’s laughter.
In the post-performance interview, Mrs. Chanelle mentioned that the students are currently studying Greek theatre art in this semester's drama class. According to her, by actively participating in the preparation and rehearsal of the play, the students were able to transform the theory they had learned in the classroom into hands-on experience. This not only allowed the students to experience the entire process of completing a drama but also gave everyone a chance to step on stage regardless of their previous performing experience. Everyone took this rare opportunity to collaborate as a team, improving in rehearsals and performances, and building their confidence and self-esteem by acting on stage.
Simone Zhu (who played Ariadne) and Janic Liu (who played Narcissus) both reported that the show was created under rather stressful circumstances, since the students had only two months to rehearse and needed to prepare for midterm exams at the same time. However, it also filled them with a sense of pride witnessing different groups collaborate together to bring such a large event onto the stage. The final presentation also exceeded everyone’s expectations, as every drama club member contributed their best performances. They agreed that Drama is a comprehensive course where every student strives to improve their overall ability. The students are greatly encouraged by this huge success, and hope to continue this course in their future studies.
The curtains of the Dionysian festival drew to a close, however, it also marks a new beginning for both drama club members and all SCLS students. Let us look forward to our next grand entrance on stage together!
Photos taken by：侯佳骥 (Jay Hou's Dad)
Written by：田冰 (Angela Lin's Mum)
Designed by：云薇 (Cherry Shen's Mum)
Translated by: 郑奕菁 Naresa Zheng
Edited by: Mr. Joshua Shane Yager
把最宝贵的东西给予儿童
GIVE CHILDREN THE MOST VALUABLE THINGS
