'WHITE TALE' BEHIND THE FOURTH WALL THEATRE – American College Madurai - Onyeuche Godson

English Literary Association (ELA) – The Department of English, American College, Madurai

Hear what He got to say

You would of have heard of Fourth Wall Theatre of American College, or probably your first time. And in case you’ve heard about it, there are tales regarding the theatre which are called WHITE yet to be known, and the story is narrated here. The questions one should ask himself or herself is,

What is this tale I’m yet to know?

First, the community of theatre has got to an era when its exhibition is beyond mere entertainment, and fun. In this present time, theatre and stage plays have come to stay and to fix a thread of million reconciliation of conflict in the society, as well as the global village. This is to say that stage plays have touched lives through purgation of emotional tension, known as catharsis. Tragedy as seen in plays is not meant to break the heart of audience, or to put them in fears; but to help them understand the meaning of life in its totality, in order to be cleansed from their negative and as well as inhuman aspect of life, and by so doing they are psychologically transformed which help one to see the good side of life, and to follow it as well. This is one of the functions of play (tragedy). 

In regards to the above, it is therefore important that people have view of stage plays, as moral life, and one-sided story of life will never remain the same. In case you have a nature of ‘theatre-not-my-thing’, you have not stepped into the other side of life, as the art and act of literature is purely centered in the totality of human life of all creeds, culture and traditions.      

Coming to Fourth wall theatre, American College;

It all started from nothing to something, from ‘play-play’ to ‘serious-play’, and from zero wall to Fourth Wall.  In the early 1980’s the Oberlin Shansi (An International Exchange Programme House), in the campus of American College had its exchange programme students stage plays – mostly comedy, which was then directed by Professor J. Vasantha (A music/drama Critic and excellent Director), who was a Professor of English in American College. Mr. N Elango (Head, Post Graduate & Research Department of English, American College), the Founder and Director of Fourth Wall Theatre was a student of Mr. J. Vasantha then. He worked as a stage Manager, under the theatre group of Mr. Vasantha known as The Curtain Club.

The Curtain Club staged mostly comedies of British Writers, such as Oscar Wilde, Bernard Shaw, etc. Thereafter, Mr. Elango after passing through the institution became an Assistant Professor in American College in 1986, and formed the Fourth Wall Theatre in 1987. The fourth Wall started with plays both in Tamil and English languages, and excelled handsomely in classic plays in 1995 through the head work of Triad – the group of three in one Association. Their first classic play to be staged was Hayavadana by Girish Karnad in 2003 (ran for 12 shows). Other staged plays are as follows;

• The Zoo Story by Edward Albee – 1996; perfomed in Pegasus – Cultural event of the English Department, American College.
• In 2004, Shakespearean drama started – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, and As You Like It.
• In 2010, Eugene O’neill’s The Hairy Ape
• The Bear by Anton Chekhov
• Then, The Twelfth Night

Casts of Hamlet at work to keep the script in the head - October, 2017 

The journey of the Fourth Wall continued in its theatric generation, and brings unique light of White Tales till date. Obviously, the Fourth Wall was the first theater to stage Shakespearean drama in the whole city of Madurai, which drew the attention of great number of audience with 50, 000 students. It ran 12 shows, with 2 shows daily. And talking of earlier stage plays, Hamlet will make the eighth Shakespearean play to be staged by the Fourth Wall Theatre.   

Mr. N. Elango, Director, Fourth Wall Theatre - AMC.

In an interview with the Founder and Director of Fourth Wall, Mr. N. Elango, on Wednesday, 4^th October, 2017; he states that this year’s play (HAMLET) to be staged from Monday, 9^th to Saturday, 14^th October, 2017 is birthed in order to draw attention to human relationship – family and friends. According to him, as we cultivate soil, the human relationship should as well be cultivated. He further illustrates that cultivation cannot do in human relationship, but should be consciously and carefully nurtured. His question is,

What then is human relationship, and can it be taken for granted? –To be answered by the casts, through their artistic recreation of Hamlet, so be there!

Furthermore, He says,

‘Human communication has become inadequate to conserve human relationship’. 

As a result, it is important that the audience out there come to see this year’s play (Hamlet), in order to let them feel what human relationship truly is, and how it can be cultivated and nurtured. His message extends that the theatre stage is highly beneficial, and that cast and characters got to deliver a strong message to be interpreted by them, as well as the audience.    

KMR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (CBSE) – MADURAI - WHAT I SEE IN INDIA (LIVE UPDATE) – MY TOES IN MY MOUTH - Onyeuche Godson

The 4^th Annual Sport Meet/Cultural Day, 2017

Seeing through the bright lights of sports cum cultural reflections, all by these kids; it gives some relief to the body, and waters the souls of those who can’t afford watering-the-soul in any currencies.

Eyewitness is better than to be told, and to be told in reality of undoubtable stance is better than false eyewitness.  

The questions which arise often regarding the cultural differences in the world has got to its peak, to put curiosity in the mind of the concerned. The fact is, peeping through their distinctive nature got nothing of distinction to say, if not for language of such culture. The practices of sports and cultural day, as witnessed here in India is not far from that of Africa (Nigeria), or any other continent of the world. The only thing one can perceive is just the little differences in their dances, and what name such culture is called. Apart from these, the costume is almost the same, and that brings the global entity of humanity to a trace of one ancestor – these kids at KMR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL are a verifiabletool of proof.  

Standing in lines, elevated in the spirit of admiration and acknowledgement in respects to other cultures all over the world. Though happening here in India, but it puts a humane attachment of what can be said to be ‘Culture in diversity’, which only kids can be used to innocently and sincerely portray to be what has no stain in it, as their minds and thoughts are yet tender. Their costume speaks better than words can tell, and which in no doubt is expressed through their dance steps, and the smiles that reflects across their ‘tender cheeks’. 

Placed on the platform are kids, who, without the obvious revelation of their skin colour, or an eyewitness would be taken for any other kids, and one might think it’s all about Nigerian kids or those from any other part of the world. But the fact remains that human nature and characteristics has no strict or rigid symbols – all are same in the head and level of human acknowledgement.

Colours of rain (falling on the umbrellas) – what can one think of this, or assume it could be? What is the meaning of colours of rain? Does rain have colours, or could it be a metaphor to paint lively the event? Anyone should understand that what kids do can be interpreted by them alone, whether it is wrong or right. And when anyone tries to correct them, it would fall on rocky soils. This is not to say that kids are foolish or yet ignorant, not knowing what they say. It takes the eye of those who feel the ‘inside heart’ of kids to comprehend what they say, and how they see it.

The concentration of kids in some issues of life is beyond the comprehension of an ordinary eye, because their inspiration and insightful notions can be seen as metaphysical.

Here, they are raising up their umbrellas in assumption to have some pour on them accompanied by some melodious dances. That’s the genuine nature of kids. Adults cannot do this, because they are adults, and adulthood is unquestionably a period when man is denied the joy of ‘freely-giving-without-dilution’. This is to say that any adult found in the midst of those kids would be labeled a gest or ‘adult-kid’, and that is why the world of kids is the best.

In conclusion, the question is, would you as a school Principal, children Coordinator (in different areas), Parent, Guardian or an Elder allow your kids to participate and flower the water-flow of other cultures other than yours? Many would say ‘yes’ to this. But how flexible and easy does it seem to let happen?  Anyone who love and enjoy childhood, either their own or any growing children around will definitely see through what kids see.

·        The wish they can fly to the skies like the eagle

·        They wish to travel round the world, by physical exploration, visual realism, or even let them do something to feel those places they long to visit.

·        Kids wish to see the global community right in their schools, homes, churches, social gatherings and other places they can be allowed to perform.

·        Kids wish to get into your head and perform some mechanical activities to let you understand how much kid they are

·        They wish to see their big dream come to pass – to make the world a better place; and that is why they sincerely engage in some events of ‘cultural diversity’, which might bring the world to an understanding of unification.

·        Kids wish not to wish to grow older – they actually know that getting old is less worth childhood.

·        They wish to do something nobody has ever done, but they question how it could be possible – it’s time you let them explore through what they love doing.

·        Kids wish to create their own community, as ‘KIDS’ ESTATE’ in order to push away anything that could thrust them into jeopardy.

·        Kids wish to have their own kids (which is only possible in their stream of consciousness), so that they can take care of those imaginary kids of theirs, just to show parents and guardians how much care they need.

·        Kids are kids, and wish to be loved for no reasons. 

This exploration here in India is a source of joy to those who witnessed the day. What kids do cannot be undone, especially their capability to draw maps of joy in the heart of those who never planned to be joyous. However, it is not just about the kids alone, but also about those who care to see what kids can contribute to the society – Parents, Guardian, School Heads and Teachers, children’s Coordinator, and others. These are got to be appreciated for making good kids – just like those at KRM International School, Madurai.