FELC's Drama Night

 

 

On June 6^th, in Yunshan Hall, a fabulous Drama Night was presented by the Faculty of English Language and Culture (FELC) to celebrate the 450^th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth. Officials from the British Consulate-General of Guangzhou, led by Consul General Mr. Alastair Morgan, leaders of supporting corporations and professors of GDUFS attended the event.

 

Shakespeare is the most famous author of all times and is the writer of 37 plays and 154 sonnets. To pay tribute to this literary giant, students of FELC took four wonderful dramas of Shakespeare on stage including The Tempest, Julius Caesar, Macbeth and Othello.

 

NO.1 The Tempest

By the Department of Culture and Media Studies

 

Twelve years previusly, cheated by her beloved brother Antonio and Alonsa, the Queen of Naples, Prospera, the Queen of Milan, was exiled to an isolated island with her three-year-old daughter, Miranda. Prospera was a well-read person knowing a lot of black magic, when she was young. She happened to meet the Elf, Ariel, who was trapped in an oak tree by a foul witch. She rescued Ariel and became the queen of the island.

Twelve years later, Prospera now has the opportunity to punish her enemies when she raises a tempest that drives them ashore on her island. She uses magic to assure the mating of her daughter, Miranda, to a suitable young prince, Ferdinand，and more importantly, to punish those people who betrayed her.

Richly filled with music, magic and romance, the play's theme of love and reconciliation offered a splendid feast for the senses and the heart.

 

 

The Queen of Naples, Prospera

No.2 Julius Caesar

By the Department of Advanced Translation and Interpreting

 

Julius Caesar, valiant general of the Roman Republic, comes back in triumph on the day of Lupercal. Encouraged by Mark Antony, Caesar's most loyal soldier, the people of Rome hail Caesar as "President". However, Caesar's ambition vexes his best friend Brutus, the noble Chief Justice, as well as Cassius, the leader of the Senate, and a murderous scheme unfolds on Election Day-the Ides of March. In the meantime, two women, Calphurnia, wife of Caesar and a mysterious Soothsayer, seem to foresee the bloody conspiracy and the following destruction of Rome. Blood, betrayal, death and more, the drama tells the truth of the Republic.

 

 

Julius Caesar and his wife Calphurnia

NO.3 Macbeth

By the Department of Advanced Translation and Interpreting

&The Department of British and American Literature

 

The Feng family is a rich and mighty warlord family in southern China in 1920's. Hanting is the elder son of the family. On his way back home after winning a war, a sorceress greets him with prophesies, hailing him Lieutenant, Colonel and Great General at last, while descendants of his younger brother, Hansen, will take the ruling place in the future. The moment Qiukui, Hanting's wife, learns of the prophesies, she insites Hanting to kill, and ultimately replace his father as the General in the army, with Hansen, who has run away from home, to be blamed for it. After the murder, Hanting is plagued by the thought of Hansen's revealing  his crime. So, he commands two scoundrels to end Hansen's life without informing Qiukui. When Qiukui learns of it, her sense of guilt starts to drive her crazy. With time, the black conscience makes Hanting fear being haunted by his  Father's and Hansen's ghosts.

This play, with Chinese characters and setting, presented a great adaptation of Macbeth.

 

Hanting and his wife Qiukui

NO.4 Othello

By the Department of Linguistics

& the Department of Information Management

& the Department of International Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Management

This is a story of love, conspiracy and suspicion. As love stories go, Othello, the valiant soldier, met  a beautiful young lady, Desdemona. They broke through all the obstacles and finally got married. However, the story didn't end there; that was just the beginning. A series of conspiracies, all coming from Iago, awaited them.

Iago, the perfect candidate, should lose the election! He started his intricate scheme. The way to launch his revenge will be unimpeded only if the hypocrite, Cassio is removed; and with better use of the simple-minded Roderigo, who had long lusted after the beautiful Desdemona, his plan would proceed even more speedily.

Iago's words stirred and tortured Othello's heart. Who should he believe? His most trusted soldier who had stood by him all along; or his beloved wife that abandoned her father? They are floundering; they are struggling; they are suspecting.

A heart-wrenching story, along with the ups and downs of these people in love, hatred and status, catches every audience's breath.

 

Othello and his wife Desdemona

 

AWARDS LIST:

 

First Prize for Best Play: Othello

Second Prize for Best Play: Macbeth

Third Prize for Best Play: Julius Caesar & The Tempest

Best Stage Effects: Julius Caesar

Best Script Adaptation: Othello

 

Best Female Dubber: YAN Yuwei (The Tempest)

Best Male Dubber:  GUO Jiantao (Othello)

Best Supporting Actress: ZHOU Lizhu (Macbeth)

Best Supporting Actor: WEN Hao (Othello)

Best Leading Actress: WAN Ying (Macbeth)

Best Leading Actor: WANG Chenghui (Othello)

Best Director: YUN Mai (The Tempest)