This learning log is about the literature performances, Romeo and Juliet. I still remember vividly during the Mid-year Examination period where Mrs Woo used the number selector to choose our group mates. I was extremely fortunate to enter such a great team, having people like JiaLe who is capable of acting very well. Then, it was after the examination, where we needed to choose our role. Knowing that I spoke quite montonously, I chose the role of the serving man. We soon chose Dawn as our group director, knowing that she have great leadership. It was the term 3, where we stayed back one every fortnight or sometimes every week to reherse. It was somewhere near, term 3 week 4, where we decided to use the theme 'Comedy' we changed our dances quite a lot of times, ranging from chicken dance, umbrella dance...... to finally, our very own" London Bridge is falling down" dance. Starting from Term 3 week 8, Mrs Woo started conducting our Literature lesson as rehearses for us. She made quite a lot of positive changes to our group. It was then, we learnt how to position ourselves in front of the camera. From term 3 week 4 to the day of the performance, we started having many rehearses, sometimes 3 to 4 times a week. During the rehearses after school, we practiced with our lines and dances. To be frank, it was quite boring, as I was serving man, a character who did not need to dance and just said a line, "I know not, Sir". I needed for quite a long time to rehearse, as my group struggled with our dances. It was somewhere neared the holiday, then I learnt that my role was not just to say a line, but to nod head and fletch Jinghan, our group's Tybalt his rapier. I struggled in balancing the cups using one hand during the rehearses. My hand trembled a lot. During the school holidays, we went to the Republic Poly to rehearse. We organised meeting to go for shopping for our props and making the backdrop. Lets go fast forward to the day before the performance, all of us learnt that our venue will be change to the music room, where 2 Thinking will be our audiences long ago. Many people were extremely unhappy, started a 'quarrel'. Luckily, Mrs Woo solves the dispute, claiming that she will ask 2 Thinking to be in their best behaviour. It was after school, I was practicing with balancing my cups. My hand still trembled a bit. Vanessa, then went all the way to AMK hub, which was in Ang Mo Kio to buy the "umbrella Rapier" I felt that it was a great final rehearse, especially for Jia Le, Jinghan and Shun hui who have to rush back from NPCC to rehearse.
It was then 15/9/11 the day we were waiting, I had butterflies in my stomach. despite the fact, that I finally mastered how to hold the cups using one hand without trembling. Immediately, after English period, we brought our props, costumes and backdroup to the music room . It was 3.20p.m., where everyone was in their costumes. then, the first group from 2Respect started their performance. In the mid of their performance, our backdrop fell off the table that we laid for support. Everyone was stunned and disgusted at the same time. We then quicky fixed our backdrop after 2Respect's performance which was very crucial in the play. Everyone in my group was running like a frightened chicken. After that, we came out of the music room to calm ourselves down. It was very soon 4.15 p.m., the start of our performance. as Mrs Woo counted "Ready,3,2,1 action". My heart was pounding furiously. I knew I could not afford to be nervous and I managed to maintain calm. It was very fast the performance ended. All of us were then relieved. After all the groups had completed their performances, we were in ecstasy where we begun tearing our backdrop to mark our four months of hard work. I think our performance as a group is well done and we learnt a lot of great values ranging from teamwork to determination to excel. I also learnt that regardless of how small is your role, your's individual performance will definitely be great factor to the team. I strongly recommend this Romeo & Juliet, play to our juniors as this is a very well known play from William Shakespeare. This will also served as an enriching lifetime experience which could help them to get more socialised with their classmates and to help them learnt essential values/skills such as time management which is crucial to survive in such a fast-paced working society in Singapore.
