I wasn't a huge fan of the theater, which surprised my instructor (in prose). My family saw the production of "The King and I". I enjoyed watching the 1956 film version. I've seen it twice. I thought there was no other actor who could play the King of Siam better than Yul Brynner. He was acting foolishly in front of the English governess, played by Deborah Kerr. Alas, it was a different story inside the theater. I dozed off twenty minutes after the play began. My sister, who wanted to be a playwright, couldn't believe it. Perhaps this may be due to my familiarity with the story. I got another chance with the theatrical adaptation of Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull". I struggled to keep my eyes open before the end of the first act. Maybe the play wasn't really meant for me, as I've seen too many films. I also read too many books. Let me assure you that I didn't fail in the module due to my lack of enthusiasm in plays.
We were discussing the best books, movies, and TV programs of last year. It doesn't necessarily mean these works came out during the past twelve months, but the professor thought it would be nice to talk about it during the first day of the week. Besides, we should have a short list of our favorites (after indulging in heavy reading and marathon viewing). Let me share my short list:
Monty Python's Life of Brian. This comedy would be almost four decades old (since its date of release), and it became more relevant than ever. No one wanted to poke fun at religion, one of those topics that must be taken earnestly. But that seemed to be the problem nowadays. The world was becoming politically correct (or America was becoming politically correct). But I wondered how would I react if it was my life being filmed. I might react violently, as I can be sensitive at times. (It might not be the case ten years from now, as experience will make me assured. A bit assured.) Nonetheless, there was no doubt about the message. Humor could save the world.
The Flanders Panel. My roommate looked at me strangely after he saw me reading this bestseller by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. Who would have thought that a Flemish painting, which depicted a chess game, would inspire a murderer to concoct a series of wicked games. Truth could be stranger than fiction, and Arturo Pérez-Reverte might have based his novel from criminal homicide in his native Spain. In my case, I was startled after it dawned on me that everything bad could come back.
A Young Doctor's Notebook. I would worship the ground where the producers of Sky Arts stood, as they adapted Anton Chekhov's collection of short stories to the small screen. It did depict the lonely life of a physician, but Alex Hardcastle wasn't being dramatic about it. I loved dark humor, and this show was brimming with it. It should be overflowing, which I wouldn't mind.
As for the play, I better leave it off. No one would be interested after my experience with "King and I" and "The Seagull".
