You have just attended a drama performance. Unluckily, it was a disaster. In your opinion, not only you, but the audience in general was rather disappointed. Write an email to your good friend, Pat, to share your views.
Dear Pat,
How are you in Australia? I hope you’ll be having a great hot Christmas. Things here are still the same, but I’ve something disappointing to share with you.
Yesterday, Mary and I attended a drama performance. The title was Lost in Space performed by a local young theater Budding Theatre. Of course you know how much we love dramas and movies, so we decided to show our support to the young local performers. According to the leaflet, the plot was about a group of scientist travelling to the outer space in search of a new home for the humankind. However, humanity was questioned by the unforeseen circumstances in the journey … Woo, sounds so profound and futuristic, right?
Holding the same hope, we sat in the theater with excitement. Then light’s out and the curtain opened.
Huh? The set looked rather childish. The stars at the background were literally star pentagons in yellow. So realistic that I wanted to cry. The interior of the spacecraft also looked simple – any school drama club can make one. Pardon for the bad words, but I was already disappointed at the first sight.
So, the scene began with the scientists arguing which planet they should go to. It’s just … not arguing, you know? It was an obvious acted-out fight. OK, the physicist was not that bad I’d say. I told myself, Chris, be tolerant, they’re just fledgling actors who are not much older than you. Mary must’ve had the same feeling. We exchanged a bitter smile and continued to watch the act.
As the scientists were heading to the planet, they found out a meteor flying straight to them. ‘Boom!’ There was a huge sound effect, so loud that even a part of the set collapsed! One actor quickly put it up and pretended nothing had happened. Oh lord, I felt so embarrassed for them. They oddly continued to act as if the spacecraft was shaking heavily. But somehow there were zero light effects. Normally, there should be flashing red lights in a dimmer environment to indicate the dangers, right? Without the flashes, the actors looked like they were drunk rather than unable to stand straight in turbulence. Another thing to mention is the horrible sound effects. I guessed it’s the mistake of the backstage. A clip of joyful and uplifting music was put on for seconds before being replaced by the rattling and beeping noises of equipment. That was indeed quite a disastrous scene.
The show must go on. The scientist finally reached the destination. But they’re appalled by the unexpected terrible conditions. Barren lands, dry lakes, but no resources they had expected to find. ‘Haha! You fools!’ It’s all a lie from the beginning!’ the physicist suddenly shouted. He took out a gun and killed the rest. End of story. What a surprise! No transition at all and the story was suddenly wrapped. Maybe the relatively good acting of the physicist was already the hint?
When the show was over, there was little applause and I could hear the audience whispering criticism. I mean, lots of areas could have been improved if they had rehearsed more. It’s not a matter of lacking talents and resources, but efforts! I didn’t expect to see something like the grand mega-movie Interstellar, but I didn’t expect to watch such an insincere act, either. I don’t mean to dash young theatre, but I have to say I’m really disappointed.
Anyway, I hope I’ll see other young talents in the future. Write to me soon!
Cheers,
Chris
Yuen Yin Kiu Christie
6E 2015-16