GLIDES 31st Edition

NOTE EDITOR'S

Hi everyone,

As many of you may know already, World Theater Day falls on March 27th every year This marks the annual celebration of theater as an artform that has the unique ability to transport us to other worlds, to evoke deep emotions, and to connect us with each other and with the human experience It allows us to see the world from different perspectives and to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and others Whether we ' re laughing, crying, or simply sitting in awe, theater has the power to move us in a way that few other artforms can.

In accordance with this year ’ s celebration of WTD, we ' ve packed this issue full of all things theater, from the ancient art of Chinese opera to modern Broadway musicals And if that's not enough, we ' ve got one more special treat for you in this edition: a short, one-act play submitted by one of our very own student playwrights

We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together Whether you ' re a seasoned theater-goer or a newbie to the world of drama, we hope that this edition will make you appreciate the magic of theater

Jawad Yuwono Editor in Chief

by Clarissa Tirta Arief

The Wonders OfChineseOpera ChineseOpera

The world of theater is broad and unique From operas to musicals, theater is a well-loved and renowned form of performing arts. Among the many forms of theater that are spread all around the world, Chinese opera is one of them. Chinese opera is a form of theater often musical that is deep-rooted in China’s history. Sounds unfamiliar? Well, fear not. In this article we’ll be uncovering the many wonders of Chinese opera.

Brief History

Chinese opera is known as one of the oldest forms of theater in the world It was popularized in the year 712 during the reign of the Tang Dynasty Emperor Xuanzong, who was leading at the time, created the “Pear Garden” trope; the first national Chinese opera trope Since then, Chinese opera has grown into a beloved art form in China. Most of the aspects that define Chinese opera come from the northern part of the country (Shanxi and Gansu Provinces) However, there was a period of time when Chinese opera was forbidden This was during the Cultural Revolution, which took place during 1966 until 1979 During this time period, many traditional arts including Chinese opera was banned as troupes were disbanded and composers were purged Fortunately, starting from 1976, Chinese opera was slowly allowed to return Past performers could bequeath their knowledge to their pupils, and since then, Chinese opera has been performed nationwide; even worldwide

Unique Aspects

What makes Chinese opera, Chinese opera? There are several defining characteristics in Chinese opera that help set it apart from other forms of theater One of the most prominent aspects is the elaborate, exaggerated makeup Actors sport heavy makeup to shape their facial features so they portray the personality, role, and fate of a character well Due to the amount of details, several painting techniques are required The simplest form of Chinese opera makeup includes face paint as its base, stylized eyebrows and eyeliner, and red paint to highlight the eye socket area. The colors used as a character’s base face paint represent their personality. A character with a red face is loyal and brave, a character with black face is full of valor, whereas a character with golden and silver faces is full of mystery

Besides the makeup, the costumes used in Chinese opera are just as extravagant and eye-catching Like the makeup, the costumes show the audience a character’s personality and role This is done in many ways: for example, a palace dress is usually worn by a character who is a woman of nobility, an official robe is worn by civil officer characters, whereas ordinary characters wear robes called xuezi. Despite all these different outfits, there is one feature that is present in most costumes: long white silk sleeves on the cuffs of their robes These cuffs can create beautiful waves when shaken, and it’s utilized to emphasize hand gestures and create breathtaking effects when dancing

It’s also worth mentioning that Chinese opera differs from region to region China is a big country and each region has their own unique flair In Yue or Shaoxing opera, their plays boast an all-female cast Another regional variation, Canton opera is a form of Chinese opera that has arguably been the most influenced by foreign countries, as it has been brought all over the world by immigrants There’s also Sichuan opera, known for its more natural and less stylized singing and acting. Each region also specializes in different types of opera For instance, Sichuan opera specializes in ghost stories, whereas Shaoxing opera is known for their romance plays

Modern Day Relevance

Unfortunately, Chinese opera isn't as appreciated in the current times While many still watch Chinese opera, the younger generation have a lesser interest in the art form As a result, there's a significantly smaller audience nowadays Some are simply more interested in modern entertainment such as television, while some find Chinese opera to be too odd for their taste In this digital era, the youth are significantly more intrigued by new and foreign things rather than old traditions, which is part of the reason why traditional art forms, such as Chinese opera, are experiencing declines

However, some youngsters have grown interested in the art form due to the well-known game Genshin Impact The character Yunjin is a Chinese opera performer, and she piqued the fanbase’s interest as most of them had no knowledge of Chinese opera prior to playing the game After her character was revealed, several fans, especially those who live outside of China, grew interested in Chinese opera and started to learn more about it While some were averse due to the unusualness of Chinese opera compared to the theater that they were used to, many actually appreciated the unique nature of Chinese opera and were actually intrigued by it

As it is an important part of their culture, it is crucial that Chinese opera is preserved accordingly In the current digital era, representing your heritage through modern media is crucial Newer generations tend to learn and get interested in things shown in modern media, as can be seen from the uptick of interest in Chinese opera due to its representation in a game Chinese opera performances are also often shown on television, so that people can watch from home. Utilizing modern media to help introduce Chinese opera to the general public exposes it to a larger audience and draws more interest to it So, while the relevance of Chinese opera has decreased, it is still persisting and making its mark in today’s world

That concludes our journey! There’s a lot more that Chinese opera has to offer outside of what we ’ ve covered in this article, so don’t hesitate to look up more about it if you ’ re interested I hope this article helped you learn more about this wonderful art form

Theatre Musicals Over The Years

by Audelia Indraatmaja

Theater, by definition, is a dramatic performance that takes place in a building. Dating back as far as the ancient Greek civilization, it has long been an art form much cherished by mankind

Theater is an art form that consists of other subcategories, one of them being musicals. Theater musicals have, like theater in general, also evolved over the years Although they have been popular for quite some time, they have never garnered quite as much attention as they have in recent years, with the exception of classic and well-known plays

West Side Story (1957)

As social media platforms shining a spotlight on the best theater musicals are surging, the already well-celebrated entertainment is only going to be more loved

There are many theater musicals to name, given their lengthy existence The following is a list of classic and modern well-praised musicals for a dive into the world of this timeless art form.

A spin on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story places the two main lovers in 1950s New York City as they find themselves amongst a war between four street gangs The musical now has two movie adaptations, with the most recent one released in 2021

A loved homage to the film, The Rocky Horror Show is about a couple who find themselves in the midst of their old professor’s science experiment that later causes them to question everything

1.

2. The Rocky Horror Show (1973)

3. Sweeney Todd (1979)

5. Little Shop of Horrors (1982)

Alan Menken indulged himself with a 1960s pop/rock score in this musical of sci-fi/horror genre A soft-spirited and despairing assistant at a floral shop, Seymour Krelborn finds himself a strange plant that speaks and thirsts for human blood.

Adapted into currently one of the most famous movies, Sweeney Todd is the story of a Victorian-era barber who seeks revenge on the human race as well as the corrupt judge who had exiled him for a decade and a half

4. Les Misérables (1980)

6. The Phantom of the Opera (1986)

The Phantom, a musical genius who lives in an opera house in Paris, was ostracized from society because of his facial deformity He then takes a girl with a soprano voice under his wing and helps her bloom into fame, falling in love with her in the process

Set in the 19th century, Les Misérables chronicles the life of Jean Valjean, a former convict who spent decades in prison, embarking on a journey of lifelong redemption and finding love

A group of artistic friends living in poverty with unfulfilled dreams, and suffering from losses and tragic love stories, Rent paints a harrowing depiction of NYC life sometime around the 1980s, when HIV/AIDS was consuming lives

8.

Tracy Turnblad, a teenager advocating for racial inclusivity in a TV show she wishes to one day star in, faces scrutiny because of it. The musical’s message to fight for equal rights earned it public acclaim and a Tony Award, usually given for renowned Broadway

An Oz, chara the t Glind the

The Book of Mormon follows a pair of Mormon missionaries as they spread the Gospel, while being faced with trials in their wake

7. Rent (1996)

Hairspray (2002)

10. The Book of Mormon (2011)

9.

Of course, there are now other modern musicals almost just as adored, beginning with the breakthrough of the 2016 musical Hamilton and closely followed by other musicals like Dear Evan Hansen, which now has its movie adaptation, Waitress, Beetlejuice, Hadestown, Be More Chill, and so on. They are also great starters for those newly into theater musicals

The mentioned breakthrough of Hamilton had further launched theater musicals in general to fame, all due to it being so well-received People who were previously not into musicals have reportedly flocked more to the theater as a whole

These musicals are treasured through time for a reason They are a medium of art just as deserving of praise as other forms. The fact that people’s love for theater has not faltered to this day is a testament to that.

Here’s to further recognition of this! We can keep theater alive by incorporating our investment in it to other facets of life, such as emotionally It helps to train to discern our emotions before we react, which can be beneficial for our brain’s health in the long term.

a one act play by Karen Olivia

HAPPENED ON A TRAIN

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

SULLY, train passenger (young male) IRIS, train passenger (young female)

ACT I

SCENE 1: Moving train Private train booth Night time

[SULLY and IRIS are sitting opposite of each other. IRIS is fidgety, SULLY is calmly looking out the window]

IRIS

When do you think the train's gonna arrive?

SULLY

When you stop talking.

IRIS

I haven't even said like five words, come on-

SULLY

I know you, your mouth's like a dam Once it opens and the water starts flowing, there's no stopping anything

[The train moves faster.]

IRIS

Okay, first of all, I know how to control myself. Secondly[SULLY puts on a sleep mask]

IRIS

Are you for real right now?

[SULLY ignores her]

IRIS

Wow Just great

[The train moves slower. Silence.]

SCENE 2: Half an hour has passed

[IRIS pokes SULLY. Then pokes again. And again. SULLY throws off his sleep mask. IRIS pretends to be busy looking out the window.]

SULLY

Don’t do that.

IRIS Do what?

SULLY

Don't act like you weren't poking me profusely

IRIS

It’s sad that you just can’t have fun with your friend

SULLY

Your kind of fun is an annoyance towards other people.

[The train moves faster.]

IRIS

Not everyone agrees with you, ya know. Ever think that you're just no fun?

[SULLY stares at her. After a few seconds, SULLY sighs. Then, SULLY looks out the window. The train moves slower.]

IRIS

Don't you feel like this train is moving so slow?

[SULLY ignores her The train moves even slower ]

IRIS

I mean it's not just me right who feels like it's literally moving like a sloth?

[SULLY continues ignoring her.]

IRIS

Okay, I guess you're just gonna be that stubborn huh? You're just sitting there looking like a twig, your face looks like someone who eats sandpaper for breakfast-

SULLY Sandpaper?

[The train moves faster ]

IRIS

Yeah that's right. You're the type of guy who would try to talk to pigeons because no one else wants to talk to you, your breath smells like you just ate a sandwich with too much mustard-

SULLY

I brush and floss three times a day! My mouth does not smell like condiments.

[The train moves even faster.]

IRIS

Hold on, the train’s moving pretty quick now. Wait, if we argue with each other, does it go faster?

SULLY

Iris, don’t be ridiculous, that's impossibleIRIS

Well, your natural hair looks like a toupée.

[SULLY and IRIS stare at each other.]

SULLY

Iris, I know what you’re doing right now, knock it offIRIS

You knock it off with your “I’m better than everyone” attitude. When people talk to you, they immediately want to throw up just from hearing your voice-

SULLY

Oh yeah? Well your voice makes everyone’s ears within a 50 mile radius of you bleed!

[The train moves faster than ever before ]

SULLY

You yap around, god knows how long it goes on, how loud you are! You sound like an ambulance and the siren never stops-

IRIS

Can you imagine what it's like to interact with someone like you? You're all like, [IRIS makes her voice sound like SULLY’s.]

IRIS

"I'm Sully, if you wanna know what it’s like to constantly fail at communicating with other people, you should take my advice and-

SULLY WHAT KIND OF IMPRESSION OF ME IS THAT?!

IRIS

IT’S THE BEST AND ONLY IMPRESSION OF YOURSELF THAT YOU’RE EVER GOING TO GET!

[The train slows down. SULLY and IRIS immediately look out the window. The train stops. SULLY and IRIS have reached their destination. IRIS looks at SULLY.]

IRIS

Told you.