Seen.By.Ice.Queen: coming to my senses

As a non-TV hogger, I have serious problems sitting down in front of the goggle box and going through an entire programme without moving around the house or multi-tasking with another activity. Hence, I can only vaguely remember the series, Do Not Disturb, that aired on Arts Central last year.

My vague collection tells me that it involved a lot of sex, nudity (well, as far as MDA would permit on our airwaves anyway) and budget hotel rooms.

Now, one year on, some of the cast and crew of the TV series are remaking a theatre act, similarly titled Do Not Disturb with additional description of Late Checkout Please!

I would love to watch the play cos I am certain it will not be as heavily censored as if it were on free to air TV. This means more creative expression, and for you sex(porn)-hungry peeps out there, more raunchy material for the brains in the gutter.

What excites me about this production though is the directorial debut Tan Kheng Hua is making with this play. I've been fascinated with this woman since watching her as Margaret on PCK and something about her aura just intrigues me. But having never met her or spoken to her, I have never quite gotten to her 'soul' and can only see her representations of characters that she plays.

With directing though, I can get a peek into her style beyond playing a character. Some people says that directors are playing out their own fantasies through puppeteering their actors.. so I'll see ;)

Well, to quote her for the directorial effort of this play, she sometimes feels like a 'porno' director because the scenes can be quite intimate - after all they're set in a budget hotel room!.

The other reason to watch this act would be Joanna Dong, for me. Never seen her in a play but have definitely heard her sing as Oosh. We'll see how she fares in this play baring more than just her soulful voice.

So the challenge for me now is to get the tickets. o_O

What happens between two people in a budget hotel room? Four of Singapore’s most exciting writers – Kelvin Tong, Eleanor Wong, Kaylene Tan and Ken Kwek – explore sex, illicit love, claustrophobia, secrets, regrets, revenge and role play with some of Singapore’s finest actors.

Featuring Tan Kheng Hua in her directorial debut, “Do Not Disturb – Late Checkout, Please” opens the door to a place where people hide away and forces to the surface what we don’t want others to see.

“Brunch” by Kelvin Tong featuring Dan Jenkins and Janice Koh
A man and a woman await their adulterous spouses with plans of sabotage. But to what end?

“Duet” by Eleanor Wong featuring Karen Lim and Serene Chen
Two old friends, a whole lot of baggage, some great songs and that point in a woman’s life when she doesn’t know if she’s coming or going.

“Teacher’s Day” by Kaylene Tan featuring K Rajagopal and Hadri
A teacher and his male student have been meeting in this budget hotel room. Who’s teaching whom? And what lessons have they learnt?

“Real Actors” by Ken Kwek featuring Timothy Nga and Joanna Dong
Two Singaporean actors have been cast to play intimately opposite each other in Ang Lee’s next big movie. They’re in the budget hotel room to discover chemistry, or the lack of it.
Directed by Tan Kheng Hua
Produced by Tan Kheng Hua and Janice Koh
Music by Lim Yu-Beng
Lighting Design by Mac Chandran
Production Design by Night&Day

In collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Dec 18&19, 8pm; Dec 20, 3pm: “Duet” & “Real Actors”
Dec 20&21, 8pm: Dec 21, 3pm: “Brunch” & “Teacher’s Day”
Esplanade Theatre Studio
Tickets $35* from SISTIC. $30 concession tickets available.

(This stage production is based on the critically acclaimed TV series, "Do Not Disturb", which was created by Tan Kheng Hua, directed by Kelvin Tong, produced by Boku Films for Arts Central and supported by MDA).