The play, POOP, staged by the Finger Players, is easily one of the best plays I've watched. This is by no means a sweeping statement, since almost every aspect of the play, in my opinion at least, was good. POOP tells a story of how a family copes at first with the death of the sole breadwinner, the father(played by Julius Foo) and then the death of the child(played by Jean Ng).
The script itself was average and it was the weakest point of the play. Although the genre of the play was “dark comedy”, I felt that the inclusion of some jokes were unnecessary, and it was although the only point of the jokes was to break the enormous tension that the actors had and the audience was feeling. One example would be when the child was hallucinating about the ghosts outside the MRT, and one of the ghost said," Jesus said I could be Mother Mary's tampons!". The audience stilled laughed since it was a welcome break of tension, but it was quite a forced insertion of the joke.
The script's theme was that of how death could bring a family together. I felt that the theme had been already well explored in many other pieces of art, and that both the context and theme were both slightly unoriginal. However, every other aspect of the play brought the play to a whole new professional level. Which brings me to comment on my next point, the staging and directing.
Although Director Playwright Chong Tze Chien had slight weaknesses in his script, his directing was simply sublime. His staging was amazing; he managed to use the depth of the stage to bring out his usage of puppetry, to show the conflict between the Mother and Grandmother(especially in the underground tunnel scene, were the child is forced to follow one or the other). He managed to using the wonderful space to show the anger in the child when she was forced to draw a family photo. He managed to use perceptions of size to make the child's character more believable. He managed to use puppetry to show the beautiful relationship between daughter and father. His use of props was masterful. I could go on, but my fingers are tired. However, it wasn't a one-man show; his lights manager, puppeteer, sound manager, stage manager, production manager and publicity crew were important too, so kudos to them too.
However, I felt that what really made the audience cry was not the script, but it was the actors. All of the actors didn't just portray the role, they WERE the role. All of the actors were so in their role and as an audience so physically close to them, I could not help but feel the grief and emotion of all the actors. Janice Koh was sublime in her portrayal of a deeply hurt wife. She tries so deeply to be the sole pillar of sanity in the family, but the grandmother's constant blabbering to her granddaughter about how the father is just disappeared, like poop, really brings her to her knees as the mother(Janice) didn't want to remember anything of that dreaded husband of hers anymore, who was so selfish as to let go of his life for happiness and leave his family behind. Same for Neo Swee Lin, whose portrayal as a grandmother humiliation by her son's suicide, but yet tries to keep the whole family together. Julius Foo, as a man unhappy who just leaves his family, his connection with his daughter is really touching. Jean Ng, as a confused girl, was so naive and innocent I couldn't help to feel sorry for her. Each actor's dedication, training and passion shone through in their acting. Their stage presence and energy was so strong I didn't feel the need to check the time, wipe away my tears or even move. I just watched this wonderful piece of theatre come to life. At the end, when the Grandmother and Mother both embrace each other and finally accept death and move on, something deep inside me felt warm and growled in agreement. And no, I wasn't hungry.
*Does weird crunk dance, the sort you see in the 80s videos that doesn't really look like dancing, but more like arms and legs in particularly pattern-like movement, like what the Zohan dances like, you know that sort of dancing*
*Cools Down*
*you might see so many typos that you'll think that i'm insane, but I am, SO GET USED TO IT*
*does the pop'n'lock dance wildly. wiki/google that*
Phew. Alrite. Now that i'm sane, or less insane than my usual self, let me chronicle my life thus far in this harrowing eoy period. *pauses*
LIFE HAS BEEN AWESOME.
Yup, contrary to what most people would feel, life in Boarding gives the EOY period a new freshness, I guess. I mean how often do you actually have the discipline to sit down and do 400 marks worth of math? Only when eveyrone around you is doing that same. And how often can you just pop by to your neighbours room and sit down and eat cup noodles(free.btw) and study bio, or teach them chem(rhymes). ITS FRIKING AWESOME. Anyway, i've got one week left in boarding, i've got an awesome/weird roomie(no not awesomely weird) and hes got similar views with me on life and all and we can tlak about stuff, AND he's in a external chinese drama club, and how cool is that! So i'll be missing him once boarding life is over, and altho we'll meet in school it'll be different as friends nia. ROOMIES FTW! And erm everytihng boarding ghas with it as well. Really missing the lifestlye soon even thou i have like 1.5 weeks of boaridng left.
Right, now to talk about other stuff. Those from SHPS, ya'll know Sanat? The 6/9 dude? No?
*silence*
Okay anyways he was my classmate in p3 and we always compared abt who was funnier and all, and I guess he is now, but after I left for GEP never tot I would see ihm again but we're in the SAME FRIKING CLASS NOW, and hes so lame lunch with him is truly awesome. Although I am still smarter than him I mean 3.65> 3.2-3.3 right? Anyways, never tot and it truly been a great surprise to meet him again. Sanat most probably will never read this but if your seeing this, you're a great friend!
Right. about yesterday. I was STARING at clare on the train and my ri friends tot I was looking her up(wtf, classmates?!) and I kinda looked like a pervert. but anyway, it took clare a total number of 6 stops before she was like SHAWN! SORRYX10. I was kinda amused. And we didnt talk , since ti would be awkward for the 2 groups of friends. Really wanted to walk over and ask u where mg is today, and what to do since our exams are over(take that AYJ) at mg, and I DONT HAVE CARDS, but my immature friends were teasing me. GROW UP CLASS MATES. Buh if you're thinking why i was on the train with them in the first place, it's because there the only ppl in my class to live in the east.
And about MG. CLAR YOU HAVE to show me the fonnian lore, I keep hearing about and it already sounds like such a deep unirverse with so much to explore! I heard i got a tribe names after my barbequing expertise. hmm. waiting for that. And there so much to it I HAVE TO READ/SEE IT!
And about after exams plans I HAVE NOT IDEA WHAT IMA GONNA DO? Im thinking of finding a job, learning a new language, getitng fitter, learn a new skill and slack. COME ON 6.12/3c/RP give me ideas and things to do!
hmm. about RP. I really wonder whats gonna happen next year. I can only hope and wish.
ps. Bryan seethor are you happy now that I;ve given you Sb+ for your bday! HUH? HUH? gah why am i so nice to you
I went to watch the play "The importance of Being Earnest" yesterday night.
It was absolutely awesome. It was an all-male cast, I was seriously afraid that it would become an all out drag affair. It almost did at the beginning, but that was because the audience was squeamish, and the audience soon got desensitized and managed to look at the play the way it was. Which by the way was so many things that made so much sense.
I will not type out a review, but real props to Mr Ivan Heng, whose portrayal was unbelievably convincing. His(or her) presence simply dominated the stage, and he brought the ensemble to a whole new level of energy. Not to mention he was hilarious too. Got his autograph haha.
Also Oscar Wilde is a true genius for writing this script, which themes still holds true until now. Unlike Shakespeare and his totally out of touch Winter's Tale. Had fun with you all Rp guys!
OK i will also use this post as a homework list.
1. English commentary and prepare of the in class assignment. 2. history preparation for in class deabte(essay) 3. Math Assignment. 4. Chem equations.
Hope to do at least one of these at the mugger group.
I'm still watching the oscars. Why am I watching the damn oscars? I still have so much hw.
I'm just gonna use this blog as a to-do list.
What I've done(hehe linking park pun):
1.Physics wrksht exercise 5 2.chem diff. assignment on atomic structure 3.chem assignment on Ionisation energy(subshell) 4.Bio e-learning on DNA tech application 5.read stuff on obAMa
Unfinished business
1. wrksht and classnotes 4 on wave properties. 2.ss e-learning 3.hist e-learning 4.english narrative/e-learning(must finish by today!!!) 5.math e-learning 6.chem e-learning 7.Chinese elearning(ESSAY AHH DEATH)
BEYONCE WAS GREAT AT THE OSCARS OMFG SHES THE DIVA!
NOw i've been into listrening to crazy vocal shit these few months. Hear this: French soprano sings what is perhaps the highest note ever sung on video, or audio, for that matter. It is a real high Bb OVER high C(Bb6)!! You won't be able to watch it only once!! it is at 2:46, but i recommend you lower down the volume, or else your neighbours will think it a bloody alien.
Next is something closer to home but still impressive, at 0:46, nikki from msia idol, sings a scary stratospheric high note, a F6. nowhere close to the opera standard, but my gawd, it even had a vibrato to it. Notice that right after the note, 1 jugde mouthed the words:holy shit! with the appropriate facial reaction
Welcome to SHAWN'S blog.
It's alright if you don't know me time will tell if you should.
612/Twelvian
Green-tinted
2P'08
4C'08
RP'10/Proud of it
Dramafest-ing since forever
yellow-plated Click Here or Press Alt F4 if you hate me.
Multiple Personality
Hello i am S_H_A_W_N T_A_N
You should know me
I'm a different person everywhere.
At least you should know i love to
Sing
Act
Talk to Friends
Noise Percussion
partners-in-crime Just so I can reach y'all easily
Freedom.
As of right now, _____
Nicki Minaj,Beyonce and MariahCarey
My Sister to grow up ultra talented
Know my own strength
Fly around the world.
What you want is also what i want (: