Extra Credit Assignment

Going into the performance, I decided to throw out all expectations I had for the
show. I always appreciate things that can open my eyes to different cultures, so I sat back
in my chair and listened attentively. The first thing that really got my attention was the
outfits everyone had on. They really looked authentic, and it was even more impressive
that the students were able to create them from scratch. Furthermore, everyone had such
passion for the performance and seemed to act so cohesively together on stage.
I also enjoyed the portrayal of Ram and his encounter with the aggressive
Brahmin. The characters were all accurately conveyed in my opinion, and the story itself
was well organized and shown. I have never been exposed to depictions of cultural stories
such as this. Although Ive been told of stories from my parents and grandparents, the
Korean culture does not openly express them through theatre such as the Ramlila
performance.
The final aspect of the performance I was highly fond of was the use of chant and
singing in the performance. The actors were so expressive when singing these chants
showed me the uniqueness and beauty of the culture. The chants add to the ingenuity of
the stories themselves. Instead of only reciting lines and statements, the play has these
oral expressions that connect with the story so well. Though I had my initial concernsanxiety, unfamiliarity and the thought of being late to my 6:30 PM class-, I walked out
very satisfied from the performance.