1、Unit 4 Stage and screenWhen HAMLET meets PEKING OPERA(P38-39)Unit 4 Understanding ideas P38-39.mp3I thought I knew a lot about Hamlet.As a high school student with English literature as one of my main subjects,I have to!Shakespeares Hamlet is probably the most important play by the most important wr
2、iter in English.Almost everybody knows“To be,or not to be”,right?Having seen quite a few productions of Hamlet and read the play many times,I was full of confidence-until the Peking Opera came to town!Dating back to the 18th century,Peking Opera has over two hundred years of history.Does this mean i
3、ts easier than a Shakespeare play to understand?To find out the answer,I just had to go and see The Revenge of Prince Zidan-the Peking Opera version of Hamlet.Starting with an orchestra playing traditional Chinese instruments,the opera brought a completely new sound to my Western ears.At first,I tho
4、ught what I heard was a violin,but later I learnt that it was an instrument with two strings called jinghu.Then,seeing the main characters come on stage,I was surprised!The costumes and masks were amazing.The performers of course sang in Chinese,but the music,exaggerated movements and mime helped ge
5、t the meanings across to the audience.The voices themselves sounded really unique-some of the female voices were so high that I was sure they could break glass!And the stage was really simple:a decorated whip represented a horse,and a screen with Chinese characters,a study.Using such techniques,the
6、opera had transformed a small stage into the whole universe.Easily my favourite part of the show was how the characters moved on stage.I had never seen Prince Hamlet do a backflip before!That was simply incredible.It was so dazzling and energetic that I wasnt sure if the characters were performers o
7、r athletes!Everyone was clapping.Before experiencing The Revenge of Prince Zidan,I wasnt sure if I would enjoy it.But,in fact,I was on the edge of my seat!Feeling the strong emotions of love,anger,fear and grief in the performance,I could easily recognise the theme of Hamlet.So,if you want to see a
8、show that combines music,singing,drama,poetry and costume design with explosive effect,The Revenge of Prince Zidan ticks all the right boxes!I thought I knew a lot about Hamlet.As a high school student with English literature as one of my main subjects,I have to!Shakespeares Hamlet is probably the m
9、ost important play by the most important writer in English.Almost everybody knows “To be,or not to be”,right?Having seen quite a few productions of Hamlet and read the play many times,I was full of confidence-until the Peking Opera came to town!When HAMLET meets PEKING OPERA Dating back to the 18th
10、century,Peking Opera has over two hundred years of history.Does this mean its easier than a Shakespeare play to understand?To find out the answer,I just had to go and see The Revenge of Prince Zidan-the Peking Opera version of Hamlet.Starting with an orchestra playing traditional Chinese instruments
11、,the opera brought a completely new sound to my Western ears.At first,I thought what I heard was a violin,but later I learnt that it was an instrument with two strings called jinghu.Then,seeing the main characters come on stage,I was surprised!The costumes and masks were amazing.The performers of co
12、urse sang in Chinese,but the music,exaggerated movements and mime helped get the meanings across to the audience.The voices themselves sounded really unique-some of the female voices were so high that I was sure they could break glass!And the stage was really simple:a decorated whip represented a ho
13、rse,and a screen with Chinese characters,a study.Using such techniques,the opera had transformed a small stage into the whole universe.Easily my favourite part of the show was how the characters moved on stage.I had never seen Prince Hamlet do a backflip before!That was simply incredible.It was so d
14、azzling and energetic that I wasnt sure if the characters were performers or athletes!Everyone wasclapping.Before experiencing The Revenge of Prince Zidan,I wasnt sure if I would enjoy it.But,in fact,I was on the edge of my seat!Feeling the strong emotions of love,anger,fear and grief in the performance,I could easily recognise the theme of Hamlet.So,if you want to see a show that combines music,singing,drama,poetry and costume design with explosive effect,The Revenge of Prince Zidan ticks all the right boxes!
