W!ld Rice - Animal Farm

My photoshop is rebelling from all the abuse that I have inflicted upon it so for pictures and also another review, you can visit youth.sg. Or you could stay here and hear me rave.

The actors were fantastic! They were the cast with the most synergy that I've ever come across. It's already a daunting task to be brilliant, but to build upon that and support each other, feed off each others' energy, complement each other so seamlessly and magically, just made the play incredible to watch. The animal cries, one after another, together, in different pitches, different tones, varied volume, made me feel as though I was in an actual farm. Every single one of them gave impressive performances it would be unfair to pick a favourite. Their presence on stage was really powerful and that's coming from the person sitting at the very last row and high up on the mezzanine.

Okay fine I particularly liked Lim Yu-Beng and Pam Oei.

I prefer "real life" stuff. I'm not one for fairy tales and I keep a distance from sci-fi and fantasy when it comes to TV. In fact I was a little uncomfortable at the beginning. But when the entire thing ended, I saw the beauty in using the animal world to parallel humanity. I understood George Orwell's brilliance, that he had created a story that transcended time and culture.

I have been reading too much news for my own good in recent times because of the nature of my job and some parts of the play hit too close to home. The truth was so glaring that it made me feel kinda weirded out at times.

Yes, it's about the relationship between the ruler and ruled. It's such a powerful theme, one that Animal Farm has come close to being unrivaled in its exploration.

I need to read the book.

I enjoyed the discussion that followed after. I think everyone went off the deep end, especially the kiddies with their, "what does this mean?!" Ivan Heng impressed with his eloquence and worldliness. The way he carried himself... he was such an inspiration. Thoughtful, nurturing, confident. He used theatre to share how he saw the world and in the process, opened our eyes. For that I am thankful.

Looking forward to catching Boeing Boeing if I manage to get tickets! Why must plays be so expensive!

Snuffed

The gang was out in full force to support Ros' on her second hall play as playwrite - Snuffed.

Everyone agreed that this one was better than the previous one. The way that the information was leaked throughout the play made it interesting and engaging. The start was a little slow but when the momentum built up, there wasn't a moment where they lost it and let it down. Some of the scenes were a tad transparent in their purpose but that was probably because I've had a tiny bit of experience in writing.

The acting was really strong too. Admirable efforts from everyone in the cast... it was really much better than I expected. I especially liked Aunty Cheong and Tony. Some might find Jolene's character somewhat stoned but I thought it was a very realistic portrayal. Overall I found all the characters very endearing and was rooting for all of them.

All I wanted was a really sick ending (because Ros wrote it). And Nessie and I came up with a sick ending that was what Ros' wanted initially! So I was a small bit disappointed. Another thing was that there was that the use of stage space (I forgot the term) was a tad uninspiring.

After that we went drinking and I was very high. You guys are just... awesome.

Love Labour's Lost

Last Friday, an entire bunch of us from acting class went to watch Love Labour's Lost which was co-directed by our acting teacher, Michael, and presented by The Young & Co. I must admit that it was difficult to follow but there were some bits that were absolutely fantastic.



Us with Michael. Trying to move upwards from a Z - -.



With Daniel, our Playwriting course-mate!



And Andrew, who's character drew the most laughs out from all of us.

Alright and I was bored awhile ago and editted more DND photos. I don't know... there are tonnes of DND photos floating around, just that, you know. Bah. I shan't explain myself.









And it doesn't end there! Next week is WSCI's DND which is called Bright Like Neon Love. I am looking forward to another crazy night of fun and hardcore partying on Tuesday. BRING IT ON!

Lift

I saw Daniel Ong, my favourite DJ ever, yesterday at Bugis.



Dinner was fantastic but the queue was horrible. It reminds me why I like to stay home on the weekends. Yeah, I'm such a no-lifer. Liqi and I then made our way down to The Room Upstairs.



Lift was the title of the play we were going to watch.

It was quite hard to find the place but we got there just in time.

I liked the first act, first of all, probably because I got to see Mike in the flesh for the first time. I think for most part I didn't see some of the flaws such as the fact that there was no underlying storyline pushing the act through. It was mostly introduction of the characters. It was quite a giveaway, as it progressed, that these people weren't going anywhere because of how they would not appear in the second act. What worked for me was definitely the multiple roles that each actor took, having screen shots of the characters' lives, although that could probably have been more consistent across all 4 characters. I related a lot to the male characters, probably because I sucked at a lot of stuff and felt pressure to do well academically in my childhood. I probably would tell my mom that I felt my childhood was a tad ruined, but I don't hate her! Their monologues were gripping for me because I felt that it was almost as if my what I've always wanted to say was being put out there. The Brechtian elements of the play worked very well.

It all led on to the second act which was Realism in action. I enjoyed the rapid fire dialogue, the build up of tension, the clash of personalities... there were some parts of the script that didn't contribute that much to the climax and slowed down the pacing of it all, but it was great feeling the characters' desperation and the push for a resolution that was in everybody's interest. For me the gem was definitely the last scene where the Corporate Comms person wrapped up the thing with a speech which displayed fantastic PR skills... another something that I could relate to! Haha...



And a photo I took with star actor Michael Quilindo. Haha... Looking forward to the next one (if there's one)!

The Pillowman

I can't remember when was the last time I watched a play, which is rather disgusting considering the fact that I intend to minor in Performance and Theatre and that I'm already doing my second module in Drama! It was therefore apt that I got wowed, along with Ros, Yiling and Chun Yan, by such a fantastic play.



The Pillowman stars Adrian Pang, Daniel Jenkins, Michael Corbidge and Shane Mardjuki, all of whom were brilliant and brought magic to the stage. Every character was dark, sick and twisted... to such an extent that it was so real. It explored various themes such as child abuse and it made us all think of whether it was that painful growing up and if we'd do it all over again if we knew that it sucked. The catch was that I learned a lot about playwriting itself from this play as the playwrite made his opinions on writing known through one of the characters, Katurian, who wrote 400 twisted short stories. Katurian made statements like the fact that writers who were only comfortable with writing what they aren't good with imagination, and probably when he dies, the only thing that's of any worth left is his writing.

The pacing was tight, and it didn't feel like 2 hours 45 minutes at all! It was climax after climax, punch after punch. I could feel myself understanding everything that was going on, but scratching my head at what more the second half could offer. When it started again after intermission, it felt as if I was taking a crazy rollercoaster ride and held my breath countless times, as if it was taking me straight into a wall, or about to throw me out when it went upside down.

It was exhilarating.

And we agreed that the script must've been crazily thick! There's so much juice, so much content in there that revealing it here in parts and pieces which just do injustice to the story because it's so tightly knitted and woven!

Okay, so maybe I can say somethings about it. As mentioned there's the writer. And then there's his mentally retarded brother, Michal, who was guilty of the things that Katurian was charged for. Adrian Pang and Shane Mardjuki acted as police who were trying to get to the bottom of the crimes.

The twists and turns were phenomenal!

So. I haven't been to many plays, but I've been through enough movies, TV shows etc. to appreciate good acting and story-telling. There are reasons why this play has been so wildly popular with the critics and public alike. I wanted to watch it again, but it's already sold out.

Okay, then again I would be crazy to spend another $50 on it, but the experience was just mind-blowing.



That was the exact word I used to describe how I felt after the entire thing was over. We managed to take a photo with Michael (who, by no coincidence is our playwriting tutor) and chatted with him for awhile with regards to the play. It really gave me an idea of how a successful play is like and allowed me, as well as my classmates to apply all we've learned in the past 2 semesters, into analysing the play.



Which was the other more intellectual thing we did other than cam-whoring while waiting for Ros' boyfriend to come fetch us back to hall! Haha...

I'm inspired to write already!

Last Lesson

This was a week of last lessons - last lectures and last tutorials before the exams. The teachers go through exam tips and everyone gets nervous and hangs on to every word. CDP101 though, is so outside the norm. It's the reason you sould take non-examinable electives. The elective itself is just so fun and we all got along smashingly well after working with each other for the past 11 lessons. The potluck was amazingly good.



The variety was incredible! We didn't manage to finish everything though. And we each had personal cups with our own nicknames such as those I mentioned in the previous Theatre post. Mine was Dustbin Boy but sadly it got changed to...



Yeah, I should've taken photos of the rest such as Sexy Girl and all! Haha... While we waited for people to turn up, we took a bite of everything. We only managed to watch the video our performance about an hour after the lesson started! It was a hilarious and cringe-worthy experience. It was made all the better since we weren't watching for the first time, and we knew all the funny parts. We were all laughing madly at the humorous performances and each other's mistakes such as forgetting the lines. Apparently we did a good job of improvising I think, but just admitting the mistakes was a like sharing a dark secret! Haha... I forgot to take an essential prop, a piece of paper, on stage and I had to grab one from Ros during the office scene! Ridiculous!

Eh, after that they all tried to sabo me to dance a Britney dance, again. And again and again. If we actually sat through the entire video of random things that Melvin filmed of our last lesson, there'd be a good 30 minutes or so of people chanting my name, Britney or Gimme More. As much as I'm cool with dancing, I'm not so... attention-whorish! So I didn't do it! We took a class photo, which I haven't got, but here are some of photos of the final project groups and our teacher Joanne!



The Overcoat ft Akaky Akakavich, The Important Person, Mrs Gobshka, Petrovich and Bully!



The Three Fat Virgins!

After that Noorlina came in to tell us about other modules that would become available in the next semester, which include directing, acting and playwriting. I think I'll probably take playwriting if it fits ninto my timetable. I think I'm cool with a 5 day week even. I just want to do something I really like.

Arhm. Screw maths.

Anyway, everyone demanded that I do the dance again, and the only good part about it all was that I got to drag Ros and Chun Yan to dance with me. We made a rather lame attempt, and it was funny of it to be caught on video. I think I've had enough of being in videos. Watching myself act was painful enough, now I've been caught on camera dancing... Traumatised!

We then went outside to take a couple more photos...



Ah yeah, my co-dancers! Haha.. they actually climbed the ladder up there!

We cam-whored a bit more at random places. It was really hilarious... I'm going to miss these guys!

Theatre

The sun is shining incredibly outside now, but I'm stuck inside preparing for exams. That's pretty much what's on my mind now, but it'll end soon enough I guess. Anyway, I can't stand this nonsense anymore. I've had it with being stuck with books on weekends. I'm going to find someway to have fun in the sun tomorrow. I'll probably go Sentosa tomorrow. Probably.

I'm currently working on all the journals and essays that I'm supposed to be doing for CDP101. It's great that there aren't exams, but these are the things that I'm going to be graded on, so I'm struggling to do a good job with them. Anyway, last Wednesday we had our final performance and everyone did a great job! I enjoyed all the performances. Everyone stood out in one way or another. Brilliant stuff.

I was quite freaked out when it was my group's turn to perform but I think I did the best job that I've ever done. The part that freaked me out was this guy who rehearses scolding people in the mirror and then bursts out laughing. The cycle of scolding and laughing goes on two times. The character is kind of psychotic so it was a challenge for me. And then I forgot to bring an essential piece of paper on stage, but I improvised a bit and grabbed one from Ros. The timing wasn't as good as it could have been but... it's all over and we're done! It was great still! Next week's the video viewing though and I'm tempted to shut my eyes at the part where I play the Important Person!

I think everyone did a great job and they were all memorable for me. Working with the two groups for lighting was great too. I think I did a decent job and they were all very encouraging and appreciative. Cool!

So after the entire thing was over we took a couple of photos!



Here with our teacher Joanna. A couple of them left early because they had lessons, or there'd be about another 7 people or so!



And these are my groupmates, who coincidentally are from CS. Shannon and Linda left early so I guess we'll be taking another photo next week. We went through so many rehearsals together, fruitful discussions and doing a whole lot of nonsensical stuff while preparing for our performance... It was really a great experience.



And this is the crazy group of people with shitty powers. There's Dustbinboy, Jokerboy, Vulgarboy, Emogirl, Bullshitgirl... and some couple of others that I can't remember!

Next week we'll have our final lesson and celebrating the journey that we've taken in this course. There's going to be potluck and the current list is already making my mouth water!

1. Cheese cake from Shannon
2. Drinks from Kherray (ooh. alcohol... nice.)
3. Samosa from Yen Nee
4. Potato Chips from Chun Yan
5. Melvin from Melvin...haha..just kidding...i will bring my camcorder!! and err...fries from Macdonalds!!!
6. Mango & Macadamia Nut Cookies + SEXY DANCE from Jason spears
7. Oreo wafersssss from ros =]
8. Tissue papers (never underestimate the importance of it) + Xiaolongbaoxxxx (flown in from china). kindly sponsored by xiang.
9. Ham and bread by Yiling

I suggested dressing up to a theme that's related to theatre but I don't know if we'll come to a conclusion before then! Anyway, Melvin included in the e-mail that's being forwarded around, "Jason should dress up!!! u need to dance britney!!!" and that led to Xiang Yu adding that I'm going to do a sexy dance.

Arhm.

What nonsense!!!

On a sidenote, I think CS people (me excluded) are hilariously witty and crazy.

This is the only lesson that I'm going to miss when it all ends.

I'll Give You Moar

Ah... yes. You guys have already voted for emo entries, so I'll give you MOAR! Okay, I'm kidding, but I am feeling kind of emo. The lights are turned off except for my table lamp and the screen of my laptop. My roomie's sleeping because he's sick, but he still went to school today. Hope he gets well soon. I'm feeling emo because I'm tired and hungry. After a long day's work, I guess it's natural to feel the way I do.

Rehearsing for theatre was damn fun though. Despite all the waiting, Ros and I did renditions of Gimme More no less than 500 times. It started from merely singing it, to dancing along to it, to doing dumb things with it, to imitating her VMAs performance. I don't need people to love her. I don't need people to buy her album. I just need people to acknowledge that Britney is Britney! And for that Fabian and Ahmad deserves a shoutout too! There was a make believe advertising agency called Spears Lohan during lecture and they got my attention and we all laughed at it together. Kind of like how, in JC, my classmates would turn around and ask me if I was high whenever the Chemistry lecturer said "Toxic".

Rehearsal today was good. I've more or less settled into the shoes of my psycho role. I've to scold my refletion and then collapse into peels of laughter. Twice. It's been frustrating for me but my groupmates have been extremely supportive and gave me a couple examples. I've ran through the scene a couple of times in my mind especially when I'm walking alone (which explains the weird stares that I've been getting when I look serious and then start smiling to myself). The lights and music... everything looks good and I'm really excited about the performance tomorrow. No matter how it goes I know I had fun doing it, and I'm glad to be part of a bunch of talented people. We were really havoc. As of now I still smell of Febreeze. Okay, so it was my fault because I sprayed Melvin when he came into the Wardrobe and then he tried pinning me and I sprayed Ros and it became a rather messy affair which ended with strange white gob staines on one of the shirts. I'll leave it to your imagination.

Anyway, I'll put the video of our final performance tomorrow if I manage to record it!

I'll also be doing the lights for two other groups tomorrow and yes, I'm freaking out. It's a scary thing, listening out and looking for cues. I know I volunteered but I hope I do a good job and not screw up anything. I've just doubled my chances of doing so! Haha... I'm really nervous because I felt I haven't practised enough with them!

Theatre is the only elective that I'll miss when it's all over. I'll have to go back to seriously facing books and mugging for the rest of the subjects.

I don't know if I'm good at acting but I'm certainly interested in taking on more projects as time goes!

I'm on my way to mastering the art of zi high, and I'm getting more and more keen in performing in front of an audience. Doing a presentation, however, is a different story. My group finally presented our shizzle for Speech and Argumentation and we were all ecstatic that it was over. Every week that we weren't called was another week that we had to prepare and feel stress and fret about being chosen. Three cheers for Amos, Jinyong and Joan! You guys rock and it was fab working with ya'll!

Ooh yeah and I'm super prone to losing stuff recently. I'm kinda sad after my file, my thumbdrive, and now I've left my pencilbox in the lecture theatre. I'm going to try to hunt for it though. Unlike the other two cases, I won't give up hope so easily. Rawr. I don't know what to blame my recent episodes of forgetfulness on...



+ Ahmad who took the photo. Just wanna say I couldn't possbily stay in school without you guys. Sorry for not going on the Thailand trip, but if there were something else in the future I'd definitely go. Let's weather the exams together first! Haha...

Dammit... I'm getting a headache. I'll look at Britney's VMAs performance just for a laugh, then I'll be ready to sleep.

Joke

Due to issues of timeliness (I know a bit of journalism), the birthday post has been pushed back yet again. Haha... there're more interesting things that happened today anyway! I think I'm addicted to blogging. First, the sad news out of the way. I lost my file containing my draft to my COM203 term paper as well as the research, and journal entries for theatre, not to mention my bloody notes. I can get the notes easily though. It's my work that I'm upset about. I think I left it on the bus when I was headed to tuition. I fell asleep, my mom called, distracted me and as I hurried off the bus I forgot about it.

Maybe I left it in Can 13 instead. I'll go check it out tomorrow morning. I'm still trying to be optimistic. I've given up on doing work today because I have nothing to work on! Ah well.

I've learnt that you should always read the scripts given to you before you go for theatre lessons. I was smart to run back to hall to get it after I forgot to bring it along with me. But I was quite stunned when I started reading the part where I was supposed to try out. There weren't too many guys to begin with, so I was lucky enough to be performing that scene. Obviously I played Gallimard.

The "Love Duet" creeps in over the speakers. Special comes up, revealing, not Song this time, but a pinup girl in a sexy negligee, her back to us. Gallimard turns upstage and looks at her.

Girl: I know you're watching me.

Gallimard: My throat... it's dry.

Girl: I leave my blinds open every night before I go to bed.

Gallimard: I'm shaking. My skin is hot but my penis is soft. Why?

Girl: I stand in front of the window.

Gallimard: What is she going to do?

Girl: I toss my hair, and I let my lips part... barely.

Gallimard: I shouldn't be seeing this. It's so dirty. I'm so bad.

Girl: Then, slowly, I lift off my nightdress.

Gallimard: Oh, god. I can't believe it. I can't --

Girl: I toss it to the ground.

Gallimard: Now, she's going to walk away. She's going to --

Girl: I stand there, in the light, displaying myself.

Gallimard: No. She's -- why is she naked?

Girl: To you.

Gallimard: In front of a window? This is wrong. No --

Girl: Without shame.

Gallimard: No, she must... like it.

Girl: I like it.

Gallimard: She... she wants me to see.

Girl: I want you to see.

Gallimard: I can't believe it! She's getting excited!

Girl: I can't see you. You can do whatever you want.

Gallimard: I can't do a thing. Why?

Girl: What would you like me to do... next?

Ahhh, yes. I was reading my part happily until I came to that particular line where I just could not help but gasp. Of course I freaked a bit (actually a lot because I started pacing and feeling tensed), read it out real loud, caught everyone else's attention, and then the initial looks of surprise turned into laughter. Then everyone gave their two cents worth about referring to my "equipment", my "happy friend", wanting to check if it was really soft etc. etc. It was really awkward and I don't know if I did the play justice and whether I was more hilarious than serious. But to do something so provocative, interestingly enough, was kind of liberating. It was probably the first time I acted as someone that is quite different from me in real life. I admit to being horny, I'm a guy, but this in front of almost 20 students, and 16 of them girls... was just... a very freaky moment! As I got into the role, and felt more relaxed, I kind of enjoyed it - the heavy panting, clutching my arm, shaking my leg, horny stares and all. It was just really different. Upon further reading though I was supposed to be acting a guy who was 65 so I don't think I was entirely right in my portrayal!



And my room has never been this full of stuff before! Daniel got his key today and he moved in with such efficiency I didn't even have a chance to help!

A big welcome to my new roomie (and Twinkle and Full Moon)!