Taming of the Tongkang.

*Just ignore the title*

Last night I was discussing with Herne about the script which I was obliged to write. The script is for our final project for Shakespeare course, we were assigned to stage an adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew. These few days, trust me, I've had this kind of mental block. The reason was probably because of two contrasting demands in my mind.

The theme that we chose for the play was a combination of a high school setting and masquerade. Thus, my script will be based on an adaptation of The Taming of The Shew - 10 Things I Hate About You, as it really suit our theme. Without compromising originality, of course. Then, I asked Mr. Arif, our lecturer, he said that there will be a bit of problem. We were trying to adapt and adaptation, so it will be an adaptation of an adaptation. The fear is that the originality will deluge. Yeah, I admit that is indeed a problem. Thus, here's my list of ideas after discussion with the director.

List of ideas and pros/cons:

1. The play will be based on the original work and language, but with modern high school environment.
Pro: It's freaking original.
Con: The actors (us) will shit brick memorizing the script and the audience shit more bricks trying to understand the lines. And students hate Shakespeare. Really. Look at me.

2. The play happens in a contemporary high school. The lines and the story.
Pro: Easier and more interesting to be done.
Con: Each time I try to write the script it seems to mimic 10 Things I Hate About You. It's such a pain the arse. Can you tell me anything that can represent dowry in high school setting?

3. Lose the high school setting.
Pro: Problem solved!
Con: High school setting = cheaper and free costumes. Free props.

4. Keep the high school setting, jumble up roles and characters.
Pro: It's brilliant and twisted. Kate will be a sissy male, Petruchio will be a shrew female. Lucentio and Bianca roles are kept, only gender switched. So Petruchio's job is to turn Kat into a shrew.
Con: Lack of actors and trust me it's a brick-shitting work, but still possible to be done. But with this time constraint, no.

5. Lose the theme and revamp everything.
Pro: Profit!
Con: No. No. No.

So these are the ideas. Anyway, don't worry. I'll try my best to finish it before this holiday ends.

Oh, last night Herne asked me this question.
"Joe, from your observation, among our group members, who is the hardest one to act?"

So I answered,
"Huh? Honestly, me! Hahaha!"

She laughed and said "I'll slap you!". But really, I mean it. My pictures, as you can see in this blog, they have no expressions. So are the others. Naili also told me once, "What's with your picture? Macam takda perasaan je?" In other words, I am expressively challenged.

Somebody, teach me how to express. Teach me how to smile.
Is 'Expressions For Dummies' available in nearby bookstores?