Slapstick comedy probes meaning of life
Farce is no kids' stuff. It can be deep and meaningful, as one local amateur drama group found out recently.
The adaptation of Neil Simon's Fools by Drama Onion, a drama club of past students from St Paul's School, attempts to investigate the meaning of life through slapstick comedy.
'The drama makes you think about the meaning of happiness,' said William Yip Shun-him, the director and translator.
'Is it smart to take advantage of others? Or does it really matter if you are stupid but happy?'
To Yip, ignorance is bliss.
'I have a friend whose sister is mentally disabled. She enjoys a close relationship with her family. It's ironic that we, the 'normal' ones, are trying every means to deceive others at the expense of family bonds and friendship.'
Lee Yick-chung, 21, drama enthusiast from the Polytechnic University who played the teacher in the comedy, agreed that the story was inspiring.
'It seems that every character in the drama is unrealistic, but everyone in real life is as stupid as they can be, especially Hong Kong people.'
Mr Lee thought that Hong Kong people were becoming 'anti-intellectual' because they acted without thinking.
Some followed trends blindly. Some only felt sorry for themselves without trying to come up with a solution.
Yip related the drama to the present social situation.
'Why is the Government eager to promote Hong Kong as the 'City of Life'? Why do local land developers insist on stopping public housing schemes?' he asked.
'It's not for the benefit of Hong Kong people but for their own financial interest,' he replied.
Sally is a summer intern from the Hong Kong Baptist University
