Culture
23:02, 26-Oct-2017
Shanghai students adapt Hollywood classic on stage
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An adaptation of the Hollywood classic "12 Angry Men" into a stage play by the Shanghai World Foreign Language Middle School played to full houses over its three-day run.
The school began its preparation for "The Twelve", as the play was styled, at the end of 2016, and the 14 selected male actors had been rehearsing for months before hitting the public stage this month.
The crew of the play "The Twelve". /Photo via Drama Club of the Shanghai World Foreign Language Middle School
The crew of the play "The Twelve". /Photo via Drama Club of the Shanghai World Foreign Language Middle School
The 1957 film is based on a jury holdout's attempts to prevent a miscarriage of justice by forcing his colleagues to reconsider the evidence.
In order to present the original process of the case discussion at the court, the students were required to recite a large amount of lines in English.
To vividly portray the different occupations of the twelve people in the jury, the actors even learnt some laws of the United States as well as the historical background of the story.
During rehearsals, students as well as teachers persevered in spite of the challenges. Even it was 40 degrees centigrade in August, they still insisted four to five hours’ work every day.
Wang Yifeng, one of the actors, said that he had learnt critical thinking from the play, making him much braver to argue questions with teachers.
Students take part in a drama lesson. /Photo via Drama Club of the Shanghai World Foreign Language Middle School
Students take part in a drama lesson. /Photo via Drama Club of the Shanghai World Foreign Language Middle School
Li Xiaoying, headmaster of the School, was quoted as saying he was satisfied and even surprised by the public performance.
“Every character has fitted in the play with students' outstanding oral English and great performance," he said. "The justice, rationality, bravery and perseverance are the most needed essential competencies during the growth of young boys. And I believe children who acted this play will be brave enough to carry on when facing any difficulties.”
The school said the drama club has already performed seven plays to the public with different genres since it was founded three years ago. Besides, it has set a weekly optional course of drama to enhance students’ creativity, sensitivity, imagination, morality and communication capability.
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