An English Composition Contest for Students: “Write a theatre

An English Composition Contest for Students:
“Write a theatre review in English!”
～第３回
英作文コンテスト～
2014
聖心女子大学
英語英文学科
受賞者
部門 B
部門 C
優
秀
賞
島田
和泉さん
優
秀
賞
宮地
御寧さん
最優秀賞
越
智
梢さん
優
秀
賞
伊井
絵美李さん
優
秀
賞
井上
かおりさん
=各部門概要=
部門 A 100 語以内、中高生のみ。
「今回観た劇で、印象に残った一つの場面もしくは一人の登場人物を選び、その理由を具体的に説
明してください」
部門 B 300 語以内、中高生および大学生。
「今回観た劇で、印象に残った一つの場面もしくは一人の登場人物を選び、その理由を具体的に説
明してください」
部門 C 500 語以内、中高生および大学生。
「演劇の構成要素には、台本（セリフ、言葉）、演出、俳優の演技・舞台上の動き、衣装・メイ
ク、舞台装置・背景、小道具大道具、音響効果、照明などがあります。今回観た劇について、この
なかの複数の要素について、おもしろかったと思ったところを複数挙げて、なぜおもしろいと思っ
たのかを具体的に説明してください」
最優秀賞
<Category C >
How small elements of changes and additions can change
the way we perceive a play.
Ms. Kozue Ochi
On May, 18th 2014 the ITCL (International Theater Company of London) came to the
University of Sacred Heart in Japan during their tour to perform the tragic play of Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare. The performance itself had many visible differences from the original
script by Shakespeare. Two unique alterations that were seen in the play was the fact that the
character of the Prince in the original play had been alternated to a female role which can be seen as
a Queen or Princess, as well as Juliet’s possession of a doll in ITCL’s performance. I have
interpreted these changes with several reasons.
The switch between the Prince to a female role changes the fixed idea of the play itself. The
play Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona, and has been said to be based on an Italian folk tale. During
the period when Romeo and Juliet was thought to be written, Prince Escalus was the monarch of
Verona; therefore a Prince being a ruler in the original script makes absolute sense. However at the
same time, in England Queen Elizabeth 1 was the Queen. So I felt that they may have been
following Shakespeare’s timeline which was interesting.
Further suggested meanings that can be seen are by linking to the end of the play. The last
lines by the Prince is “For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo”
(5.3.325-326) in the play. While there are many ways to analyze the reasoning of the positioning of
this line, the reason why I think Shakespeare has placed the order in this way was to show the power
of women. Women even now, are described to be of a lower status compared to men. I believe that
in Shakespeare’s time, this was the same. Despite this fact, Juliet has been a very strong character
and had been leading Romeo throughout the play. Thus by changing the Prince to a female character
I felt that it reflected on the ending of Romeo and Juliet, showing power of and role of women by
doing so.
Another element that was seen in the play by the ITCL was the use of props. One of the
props that were used was a doll that Juliet had in the beginning of the play. One reason I felt this
was used is to show that because Juliet is the only child and to indicate and show the idea that in the
play she is only 13, turning 14. It seemed as if they wanted to show that Juliet is no different to any
other 13 year old out there. Within a few scenes the doll disappears. I felt that this was a way to
show that Juliet has found something that is more compelling to her than a doll. That is, a man that
she truly loves, which is the reasoning behind the disappearance of Juliet’s possession of the doll.
The two elements, the change in script of the Prince to a female leader and the addition of
Juliet’s doll not only gives originality and flavor to the performance but makes us think more
creatively and the reasoning behind these changes. (534)
Work Cited
Shakespeare, William Romeo and Juliet. Ed. Rene Weis. London: Bloomsbury, 2013
（越智
梢さん聖心女子大学英語英文学科 3 年生）
＜講評＞
原作と異なるふたつの要素から ITCL の舞台における「女性」に焦点を絞り、論理的かつ多角的に
検討しつつ演出意図にまで迫る、秀逸な劇評です。議論は舞台表象の観察に留まらず、原作の解釈や原作
制作当時の社会の考察にまでおよび、分析に深みと鋭さが感じられます。自然な英語を自在に操る英作文
の技量が高く評価されました。
A highly intriguing and insightful review focusing on two aspects in which the production departed from the
text, and widening out to analyse the aim of the director while attending to the nuances inherent in the lines. The
writing is excellent, allowing room for both subtlety and resonance of expression.
1
優秀賞
<Category B >
The strongest character in the play
Ms. Izumi Shimada
Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous plays of William Shakespeare. Also, this play is my
favorite work of Shakespeare, so I enjoyed seeing this play.
In this play, my impressive character was Juliet, because I thought that she grew up to be a woman
who could love someone, even if she risked her life. In her first appearance, she was just a young girl who
did not know the love. She came on with Nurse, and she brought a soft toy. In short, she was just an
innocent girl who was always protected by her supporters. However, she changed into a strong woman
through meeting Romeo. Therefore, when I watched the play, I thought that Juliet was the strongest
character in this play. She may be a little girl, but she was courageous. This is because she persisted in her
belief until the last. In other words, she continued to love Romeo until her death, even if she lost her
family. Moreover, she drank medicine which made her a state of apparent death, and finally, she followed
Romeo to the grave. I thought the reason why she became strong was love of Romeo. Her love made her
strong. When she met Romeo, she looked so happy. Especially, I was impressed by the scene of balcony.
When I saw Romeo and Juliet in this scene, I felt happy, because they looked so lovely. Juliet believed that
she could spend a happy life with Romeo. Therefore, she drank a medicine. When she drank it, she was
scared, but she raised her courage. When I saw this scene, I assured that she was so strong. In addition, I
thought her countenance also changed from childlike to womanhood through the play. Because of Juliet, I
could understand love makes people strong.
（島田
和泉さん
聖心女子大学英語英文学科 4 年生）
＜講評＞
劇を通じてのジュリエットの成長というテーマに焦点を絞り、ロミオへの愛によってたくましく行動す
るジュリエットの様子を丁寧に描写したことが評価されました。さらにご自身ならではの解釈も加えていける
とより生き生きとした文章になるでしょう。
You wrote coherently and developed your topic with a clear focus. Well-chosen examples contributed to a
persuasive composition.
<Category B >
Ms. Mine Miyachi
I am a junior high school student now. I entered the International Class at Tokyo
Jogakkan School and this class performs “Romeo and Juliet” every year, so I will perform
“Romeo and Juliet” this year.
I like reading books, and my favorite writer is William Shakespeare, so I had read
“Romeo and Juliet”, but I had never seen “Romeo and Juliet” performed. I was really
excited to watch it in May at Sacred Heart University. I watched “Romeo and Juliet” with
some of my friends and English teachers. Everyone was impressed by the actress’ and
actors’ great performances!
Actually, I was very surprised that six actors played all the parts and set up the stage
in short time. They played many characters, but no one used the same voice and intonation.
I want to use this skill when I perform “Romeo and Juliet” later this year.
And sometimes some of the actors spoke to the audience who sat in front of the
stage. I was surprised at this action, because actors usually do not join the audience in
Japan. So, I want to sit in seats in the front row of the theater next time.
Lastly, I was charmed by the actress’ and actors’ playfulness. It’s their character. For
example, in my favorite scene Benvolio and Mercutio looked for Romeo on the street.
Benvolio shouted out Romeo’s name. Benvolio’s voice was so loud and long. I was very
surprised by that. Everyone laughed and clapped their hands after his performance. Just
then Benvolio started to shout out Romeo’s name again. Everyone laughed or clapped
again.
“Romeo and Juliet” is a tragedy, but it’s not always sad. I thought that the play
would always be sad until I watched this performance of the play last month. I want to
perform a great “Romeo and Juliet” like them.
（宮地御寧さん東京女学館中学 3 年生）
＜講評＞
劇団の特徴を見事に捉えた、躍動感のある文章が評価されました。ご自身の
演劇体験と結びつけたことを素直に表現することができていました。今後、客観性とパラグラ
フの構成を意識することによって、文章がよりアカデミックになるでしょう。
Your composition reflected your ability to effectively articulate your original impression of
ITCL’s production of “Romeo and Juliet”. Your composition communicated your fresh and insightful
analysis in a lively tone.
<Category C >
Indirect expressions in Romeo and Juliet
Ms. Emiri Ii
I saw a performance of Romeo and Juliet by the ITCL on May 18th, 2014. I think
that a performance’s advantage is that the audience can enjoy the play by seeing and
hearing. In this performance, they used sound, music and other devices. I felt that there are
some indirect expressions in the performance.
Firstly, I think that there are some music and sound effects, and these effects
inform characters’ personalities, relationships, and what love is to the audience. For
example, this performance begins with a song. Although Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, the
audience do not feel solemn mood and can see the performance without constraint because
of the song. Next, Juliet appears singing. It shows that Juliet is a young and pure girl.
Moreover, there is a scene in which Romeo, his companions, the Nurse and another servant
meet and sing to celebrate Romeo and Juliet’s marriage. I feel that although they have been
contending for the honor of their houses, most of them actually prefer peace. The song,
sung in the happy mood, emphasizes the ironical sadness of fate. In another scene, before
Juliet drinks a potion while worrying about it, there is an eerie music. It shows that she is
confused about their future and the potion. This performance uses some sound and music,
but the especially impressive scene is the one in which Romeo and Juliet meet at a feast. In
the scene of Capulet’s feast, cheerful music is playing. However, when Romeo and Juliet
see each other for the first time, that music stops suddenly, and quietness appears. I think
that it means Romeo and Juliet are seriously falling in love in a matter of seconds. Thus,
sound and music inform some elements naturally without detailed explanations to the
audience and make the audience concentrate on the performance.
Secondly, there is an interesting direction of characters. In this performance,
unexpected characters appear. Each character is drawing on a cloak and appears sometimes
in the performance. For example, a man in black cloth appears in the death scene and a man
in white cloth appears behind Juliet and manipulates her. From these scenes, I think that the
black men express the fear of death and white men express desire or fate which comes from
satisfying the desire of human beings. Neither of the mysterious characters appears in the
original play, so the audience has interest for the characters. Moreover, by seeing
supernatural existence which is not human beings, the audience wonder what a human
being is and what a human being’s weakness is. This is a very interesting effect and
effective for making the memorable performance.
Expression in this performance is devised. These devices are sound and music and
the direction of character. Moreover, by using these devices, the audience can enjoy Romeo
and Juliet from different angles. I was able to realize a new aspect and deep meaning of
Romeo and Juliet.
（伊井
絵美李さん聖心女子大学英語英文学科 3 年生）
＜講評＞
着眼点のよさが光る、意欲的な劇評です。俳優の演技や演出を細やかに観察し、とくに前
半は刻々と変わりゆく舞台のダイナミズムを描き出してすばらしい効果を上げています。難
解な議論に挑みながらも、構成に工夫が見られ、よくまとまっています。
A wonderfully evocative and inspiring analysis of ‘indirect expressions’ in the performance.
You have observed each scene with great care, and evince an admirable grasp of the dynamism of a
theatre production.
<Category C>
The tragedy is covered by the mask
Ms. Kaori Inoue
I watched the performance of Romeo and Juliet in the University of the Sacred
Heart on 18 May. I am interested in the mask in the performance. In the scene in which
Romeo and Mercutio and Benvolio talks before they go to a ball, the person with a mask
do the action of shooting an arrow to Romeo from the rear of Romeo. I focus on this action
by considering both the mask and Cupid.
Firstly, I think about this action by focusing on the mask. I wonder why the person
with a mask does the action like a cupid in this scene. In my opinion, this action means the
suggestion that cupid as the god of love visits at Romeo. Actually, after Romeo is shot an
arrow by the cupid, Romeo and Juliet fall in love. However, I think that this action means
not only the news of love but also the tragic ending of their love in this scene because their
love is tragically expressed by using the mask which hide a true figure. That is to say, this
action suggests that their love is what is covered in the darkness and it does not appear on
the face in this play.
Secondly, I think about this action by focusing on the Cupid. I wonder why the
person like a cupid puts on the mask in this scene. There is the following line in Romeo
and Juliet. Benvolio mentions “Cupid hoodwinked with a scarf” (1.3.106). Actually, a
cupid is thought to be blindfolded and have an arrow. However, the cupid puts on the
mask, not a blindfold, in this scene. I think that the reason that a cupid changes from a
blindfold to a mask is because a cupid can shoot an arrow surely using a mask with holes
for the eyes. I think that the arrow which the cupid shoots to Romeo is shot not only the
figurative hearts of love but also the physical hearts of Romeo and Juliet and they finally
die. Therefore, the tragedy which waits for the young lovers is expressed as the inevitable
destiny which they cannot avoid wherever.
Benvolio says, “Blind is his love, and best befits the dark.”(2.1.34). I also feel that
“Blind is love” in Romeo and Juliet. It is emphasized by using the mask and Cupid in this
scene. This tragic ending of love is led by the blind love of the young lovers. On the other
hand, the audience can already expect the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet in this scene.
Therefore, this action in the performance is for leading us into the tragedy.
Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Ed. Rene Weis. London: Bloomsbury, 2013.
（井上かおりさん
聖心女子大学英語英文学科 3 年生）
＜講評＞
原作を踏まえつつ mask に焦点を当て、独特の問題意識に貫かれた、まとまりのある劇評
で、考察に深みが感じられます。原作からの引用も生きています。今後、ひきしまった英語
表現を心がけると、さらに効果的な文章が書けるようになるでしょう。
A coherent and well-planned analysis of the use of masks in the ITCL performance. You have
engaged deeply with both performance and text, and skillfully quote from Shakespeare’s lines to prove
your point.
制作：聖心女子大学英語英文学科
2014 年７月

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