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

it's been quite some time since i updated anything on this blog. it's really not so much a case of nothing happening. rather, there's so much going on with so little time.

i used to scorn at people who say that they're too busy. to me, it was always about how you prioritize. and that still holds true. but now, i can empathize.

anyway, i won't be updating anything interesting in this particular blog entry. it's more as an akan datang.

look out for a few things coming up:

Duck n Dive: I'm taking my son to watch that in November and we're involved in a meet and greet session so will talk about that after.

Victor/Victoria: that is pending if Zebra invites me to their media night.

towards the end of the year, we're also looking at many celebratory parties and events so we'll see what happens then.

till then, i'm just trying to keep breathing ;)

I am a first time parent. And I believe as is the case with most first time parents, much of what I put into my parenting manual is either from advice given by well-intending people or by gut feel. Being the stubborn and opinionated person that I am, it is often the latter.

One of my major challenges recently has been getting my four-year old to NOT LIE. I started by trying to reason. And when that failed to work, I resorted to... lying.. I've thus far told him that if he lied, his teeth would all come off.. I don't think he cares much about his teeth though.. since this tactic doesn't seem to be working. o_O'"

Yes, yes.. I know I'm not setting a good example. But honestly, when you are a FT working mum like me, getting things done efficiently is of optimum importance. That, is not to say that what I am doing is right. But honestly, I am at my wits end.

This is why I am utterly grateful to SRT's timely (well, at least in my opinion and to me, that means EVERYTHING) release of a play about THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF. Most of us would know the moral of the story. So to this play, I am going for sure. I'll probably try to buy a storybook on PINOCCHIO as well in the meantime..



DATES: 30th July to 12th September 2009 – please see SISTIC for performance schedule
PRICES: Mon-Fri $18 – Weekends $20 excluding SISTIC fee (Group discounts/Family Packages available)
VENUE: DBS Arts Centre – Home of SRT
TICKETING: SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg/www.srt.com.sg

It is this dynamism that is seeing Jazz sensation Laura Fygi breaking from her comfort zone, that being a Jazz performer, to join the ranks of being an artsy, Theatre/Musical artiste. This sultry-voiced dynamite herself set foot onto our sunny shores on April Fools' Day 2009 to grace the press conference for the musical she is starring in November 2009, Victor/Victoria.

Without delving into the musical and spoiling the fun for all you musical fans out there, I shall share the funny story that led to Laura's (oh do indulge me in addressing her on a first name basis..) sparkling appearance on our little dot of a country called Singapore.


As Loretta mused, the idea to feature Victor/Victoria had brewed years ago but it was not easy casting the lead character cos you need "not just anybody who can sing but a professional Singer who has lived the life of a Singer", in order to portray the character in its essence.

Laura Fygi sprang into her mind and of course, with Felina Khong's strict fingers over the purse strings, Loretta knew there was no way in hell she'd be allowed to even attempt casting Laura in this production.

However, Loretta being Loretta (read: unconventional, out-of-this-world crazy, no-box-needed-to-think-out-of style), she thought, What's the worse that can happen if she just sends Laura an email? At most, she'd delete it. End of story. So the story goes that Laura, at that same point of time was deliberating her performing career, thinking, nobody's ever going to cast me in anything else but a witch.. blah blah blah in a play. Talk about cosmic telepathy! And just when Laura's manager was about to reject the role on her behalf, Laura decided, wait a minute, I want to explore all possibilities, no matter how small it might seem.

The next thing you know, the email exchanges between Laura and Loretta progressed to SMSes (all these still done behind Felina's back) and before you knew it, Laura called Loretta one night while Loretta was stark naked (hehe.. what a twist eh? and before your dirty minds plays it up, she was getting dressed to go out for dinner!) to chat and before long, Loretta had to confess the 'relationship' to Felina before they could take it to the next level.

And that is how yours truly is seated in Victoria Bar @ Hotel Intercontinental, wolfing down cakes and tea while trying not to choke over the hilarious anecdotes of 'How Laura Came To Be'.

And may I just say that I am totally mesmerized by Laura Fygi's combination of sultry voice and comic-timing (yes , the Jazz Queen is funny!). I am sooooo looking forward to the production of Victor/Victoria.

For more ticketing information, please visit: Zebra Crossing Productions Pte Ltd

Went to catch this play on Saturday at Drama Centre and was seated at Circle 2's front row. Before watching this Oscar Wilde comedy, directed by Glen Goei and starring an all male cast, I was wondering if I might be revolted by the portrayal of the males in their gender-bending depiction.

Don't get me wrong, I am not gay-phobic but most times, males acting as females in theater tends to overplay the 'feminine factor' and the dramatized depiction gets a little uneasy and unnatural.

I was glad to experience none of the unnatural-'ness' as the gender-bending characters played by Ivan Heng (Lady Bracknell), Chua Enlai (Gwendolyn Fairfax), Hossan Leong (Miss Prism) and Gavin Yap (Cecily Cardew) were a natural balance of masculine-femininity. Much like how a normal girl might be in real life. Of course, I'm not referring to a dainty, 'manja' girlish type but a typical new age female.

The actors did not try too hard to up the girlish-ness of feminine factor and in fact interjected masculine outbursts at certain points for comical effect.

The direction given to this play by Glen Goei, from the beautiful classical pieces serenading the crowd by T'ang Quartet, to the laid-back setting of an otherwise 'snooty' era the play is set in, made the play very 'consumable' to non-theater goers (in my opinion anyways).

Particularly commendable are the portrayals by Brendon Fernandez (as Algernon Moncrief), the cheeky young lad who is never serious about anything and lives life beyond his means, as well as, Gavin Yap's portrayal of a ditsy and pretty 18-year-old Cecily Cardew. Together, their young, romantic antics and comic timing brought many laughs to the audience.

Ivan Heng in 'her' royal-highness, did a grand portrayal of diva-ness and Hossan Leong as usual never fails to entertain with his shrilly, old maid style. However, it failed to impress not because they were not great but simply because I expect them to be this good.

Kudos to T'ang Quartet for being so candid in their segments, being part of the lively act between cast and musician. I can definitely bear a late start to the show simply because their music make time irrelevant.

Another point to note is the beautiful costumes designed for this cast by Frederick Lee. I used to model for his bridal shows but seeing his creations in this play makes me wanna be living in the play just to wear his clothes all over again.

You don't have to be an 'artsy' theater-goer. If you are a comedy-buff, fashionista, music lover or simply wants to be entertained, this play is worth being at. And at the price the tickets are going for, Wild Rice is definitely pegging it to current financial situations.

Rating:


Show details:
Date: 25 Mar - 11 Apr 2009
Venue: Drama Centre Theatre @ National Library Building
Tickets: www.sistic.com.sg

Following the hugely successful launch of the "Shakespeare in the Park" series w­ith A Midsummer Night's Dream in May 2007, SRT is delighted to present another c­omedy that will bring audiences from all walks of life to Fort Canning Park in t­he biggest local theatre event of the year.

In May 2007, over 20,000 people picnicked while 40 actors transformed the park ­into a magical theatrical experience. This year's Much Ado About Nothing - set in 1930s Singapore - will be even more spectacular, engaging and twice as­ much fun.

A major coup for Singapore is that the comedy will be directed by London-based ­Edward Dick, who has directed A Midsummer Night's Dream for the Sydney Theatre C­ompany, Romeo and Juliet for Shakespeare's Globe, and Twelfth Night at Regent's ­Park in London.

The cast will be lead by MediaCorp Artiste Adrian Pang, who also starred as Ham­let in SRT's production in 1997. Adrian will be joined on stage by Jason Chan an­d Wendy Kweh (Life! Theatre Award winner for her role in SRT's A Midsummer Night­'s Dream) and a cast of local and international actors.

Synopsis
Beatrice, independent and forthright, and Benedick, a self-confessed 'woman-hat­er', pass their time constantly goading and scorning each other. When they are t­hrown together to defend a friend's and family's honour, their true feelings beg­in to be revealed.

Date:	From 7th May 2009 (Thursday to Sunday)
Time:	7:30pm (Ticket holders are encouraged to picnic from 6.30pm)
Duration:	2 hr 30 mins (not including 20 minutes interval)
Price:	Advance sale: Sunday - Thursday - $33/ Friday - Saturday - $38 At the Door: Sunday -Thursday $43/Friday - Saturday - $48 VIP Packages (Incl. 2 glasses of wine and canapés - seating under marque­e) Only advance sales $78 Sunday - Thursday and Friday - Saturday $83 Student price $25 on Thursdays and Sundays
Venue:	Fort Canning Green, Fort Canning Park
Ticketing:	SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg for concessions, wet-weather plans and VIP packages
Website:	www.srt.com.sg

Presenting a project by Toy Factory. Directed by Goh Boon Teck, The Crab Flower Club was inspired by poems from A Dream of the Red Chambers.


In the original text, characters in the novel enjoy gathering in a pavilion garden to consume river crabs and compose poems of flowers. In this contemporary theatre piece, Goh Boon Teck borrows the sense of vulnerability and decadency in Cao’s context to create a contradictory space where his original characters communicate and confront.

The newly created set of protagonists are five related women in a respectable household in Qing Dynasty, all ready to embrace each other’s wholesomeness as well as bringing one another down to ashes. During their preparation of a complex crab feast and creating metaphorical poems about Chrysanthemums and Begonia, we are enlightened by their multi-faceted world of morality, conspiracy and philosophy.

The pillar of sound for The Crab Flower Club will be Franz Liszt’s Symphonic Poem Les Preludes. This symphonic poem is a pure display of emotion, and subtle on depiction of messages and meanings. Liszt felt that the language of music could be cross-pollinated by other arts, such as poetry and painting. This symphonic poem was composed during the era of this play, the fusion brings sensitivity of the west into an oriental story. The music will be treated with contemporary sound design.

Video Art will also be incorporated in this production. Working closely with ink painter Hong Sek Chern, her LIVE painting will be projected to create the multiple changes of visuals on stage. As the leading female artist in Singapore, her powerful and sensitive visuals will provide extraordinary dimension to the play.


Performance Information
Performance Venue: Drama Centre
Dates: 03 - 05 June 2009 (Wed – Fri)
No. of shows: 3 shows
Duration: Approximately 90 mins - no intermission
Show time: 8PM
Language: English with Chinese subtitles
Ticket Prices: $50, $40, $30, $20
Ticket Agent: SISTIC hotline 63485555 or visit www.sistic.com.sg

Am seriously overloaded with tasks and am falling behind on updating my blog. Quite a few things to look out for coming up.

There's FHM Girl Next Door 2009, Miss Singapore Universe 2009 and Manhunt 2009. Will try to update on those whenever I can. For now, catch the trailer of WTBS coming to you from 7 Feb 2009.

I truly applaud SRT in their 'workaholism'. Just within the first quarter of 2009, they are presenting 3 shows!

And thanks to SRT, it appears that hunk-a-dory Ethan Hawke will be visiting our sunny shores soon!

The Bridge Project is a major new trans-Atlantic venture for director Sam Mendes (Academy Award winner for American Beauty), Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and The Old Vic in London, which is run by Kevin Spacey (Academy Award winner for The Usual Suspects and American Beauty).

Sam Mendes will direct The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare in 2009 starring Simon Russell Beale, Sinead Cusack and Rebecca Hall from the UK; and Richard Easton, Josh Hamilton and Ethan Hawke from the US.

Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) is proud to be one of the five co-commissioners of The Bridge Project, which involved investing seed money in the creation of what will arguably be the most prestigious global theatrical event in 2009.

Singapore will be the first – and only Asian stop – on the world-tour in March 2009. SRT will present the Singapore leg in collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.

Over the past 15 years, SRT has produced high quality theatre in Singapore with a very international edge, benchmarking itself against the best. A testament to its investment in and commitment to quality is a very loyal and rapidly growing audience-base in Singapore. SRT’s strategy of working with the best stage talent from around the world fuels its mission of created a name for itself, and for Singapore, as a leading arts capital. The end-goal is to build a relationship with international producers who will then help tour original Singaporean plays and musicals.

SRT entered a very successful partnership in 2007’s with the Royal Shakespeare Company by presenting their productions of King Lear and The Seagull, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn and starring Sir Ian McKellen which. Singapore’s involvement in The Bridge Project is a direct result of the success of the RSC project.

“It is a major coup for Singapore to be the first stop (and only Asian destination) on this international tour of what is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This will be the most important theatrical event anywhere in the world in 2009. To have Singapore Repertory Theatre listed as one of the co-commissioners on every poster and newspaper ad around the world is incredible,” says Singapore Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director Gaurav Kripalani.

Commented JP Nathan, Director of Programming, The Esplanade Co Ltd: “We are very pleased to be working in collaboration with SRT again. Last year’s collaboration on the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of King Lear gave SRT valuable exposure in managing productions of such a scale. Working together allows Esplanade to help local companies like SRT shoulder the risks of presenting large productions while deepening their expertise in managing such works to place them more firmly as credible and trustworthy players in the international arts market. Just as we did for the Asian leg of the RSC production, Esplanade will also be lending its technical expertise to the project by overseeing the construction of the sets which will be used for the Singapore and New Zealand productions of The Winter’s Tale. Having the sets built in the region will not only make economic sense but will also help train up local expertise in the area. We look forward to more of such collaborations and knowledge sharing in the future.’

Ticket information
DATES: 26^th to 31^st March 2009
Thursday to Tuesday 8pm/ 3pm matinee Sat, Sun and Tuesday
PRICES: From $40 to $325
VENUE: Esplanade Theatre
TICKETING: SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg
WEBSITE: www.srt.com.sg

Another production by SRT that is set to show in March. A little teaser to decide if you wanna go for it.

Defending the Caveman, the longest running solo play in Broadway history, is now a worldwide, rock-solid tour-de-force. This blockbuster has won the hearts of millions in more than 15 different languages.

Defending the Caveman, a hilariously insightful play about the ways men and women relate, is an international hit with productions in 30 countries including the United States, Canada, South Africa, Iceland, Sweden and Germany.

Comedian Rob Becker wrote Defending the Caveman over a three-year period during which he made an informal study of anthropology, prehistory, psychology, sociology and mythology.

This prehistoric look at the battle of the sexes played for two years on Broadway and is full of hilarious scenarios that celebrate the differences between the sexes.

Starring Daniel Jenkins (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Pillowman)
Directed by Tracie Pang (The Pillowman, Boom)

“An outrageously funny and surprisingly sweet exploration of the gender gap…"
- Chicago Sun Times

“Hysterically Funny! Couples who were seen arguing before the show, stroll out into the night holding hands.” - Variety

“A comic phenomenon!” - The New York Times

With hilarious insights on contemporary feminism, masculine sensitivity and the erogenous zone, Defending the Caveman addresses the common themes in relationships that go straight to the funny bone.

Ticketing Information
DATES: 11 – 15 March 2009, Wednesday – Sunday 8pm
PRICES: $40 - Group discounts available
VENUE: DBS Arts Centre – Home of SRT
TICKETING: SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg
WEBSITE: www.srt.com.sg & www.defendingthecaveman.com

Woohoo, another play by The Little Company I'm looking forward to taking my son to. This will be sometime in March so while waiting, here's a teaser:

Bear and Chicken Go Camping

A new play about the sun, moon and shooting stars

Written by Katerina Tiapula
Directed by Michael Corbidge

SRT’s The Little Company will stage a new production called Bear and Chicken Go Camping in March 2009. Written by Katerina Tiapula, the play is the second part of a highly successful original series that began with When I Grow Up.

Synopsis
Best friends Chicken and Bear go on a camping adventure in the Great Outdoors. Throughout the night, they make lots of amazing discoveries about the world such as shooting stars, what happens to the Sun at night and how come crickets can make such loud noises.

Written for children from 2 to 6 years old, Bear and Chicken Go Camping is a delightful and educational tale that stresses the importance of friendship even under difficult circumstances. It features a professional cast of actors who will perform catchy songs and dance routines against a colourful set.

“We have wonderful position in the market as the leading producer of children’s theatre in Singapore. We are proud of this investment in future audiences for the entire industry and are also very focused on creating new original Singaporean works for children with touring potential like the Bear and Chicken series”, says Artistic Director Gaurav Kripalani.

DATES: 5 March to 11 April 2009 – please see SISTIC for performance schedule
PRICES: Mon-Fri $22 – Weekends $28 excluding SISTIC fee (Group discounts/Family Packages available)
VENUE: DBS Arts Centre – Home of SRT
TICKETING: SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg
WEBSITE: www.srt.com.sg

A quick intro of the characters for those who have yet to watch:

• Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie: Pippa, the seemingly bimbo, sexpot receptionist who in my opinion is a lot smarter than her fellow colleagues give her credit for.
• Michael Corbridge: Bob the slob, whom I have absolutely no idea what he does in the ad agency. I can only guess that he is perhaps the Art Director? to complete the make up of an ad agency.
• Susan Tordoff: Patty (the accountant?) The stuffy divorcee with two kids who has a constant tension with Bob leading to a sexual brush - literally, at one point.
• Wendy Kweh: Jo the beautiful, smart and womanly Accounts servicing person who came down from KL and is the object of fantasy for all males in the agency.
  
• Jason Chan: Andy the mopey and serious Copywriter who is attracted (sexually or soulfully?) to Jo.
• James Shubert: Gavin, Managing Director of Chapman & Howard who is both friend and foe to his team.
• Shane Mardjuki: Lee the rookie graphics guy who has the hots for Pippa.

With enough friends in the advertising agency, I can only say that this play is as real as it gets in its depiction of the characters (and might I dare to disclose, some of the activities) that resides in some ad firms.

There's not much plot to it really but the entire play is about the uncovering of the issues that each character plays have.

Stereotyped casting appeared in the form of Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie, playing the ah girl style, bimbo, ah lian. This is not to say that she did not do a great job with it but I cannot for the life of me imagine her playing Jo or Patty for example.

Jason Chan's portrayal of Andy was captivating with a lot of inward emotions (something difficult to achieve in a theater setting, in my personal opinion) that were successfully projected to the audience (or at least those seated close enough to the stage)

Another wow actor was James Shubert who, without missing a beat or getting out of scene and character, responded to interaction with the audience and got the floor hooting with laughter at one point.

Hilarious lines with great comic timing (and the audience OBVIOUSLY loved the photocopied butts), the act was engaging in a way that the audience were participating like they were part of the cast at several points. My only grouse is that there was way too many lengthy rants from the characters and that got me yawning intermittently - or maybe it's just my antihistamine taking effect..

What puzzled me throughout the play is also why there is such a strong American and British accent in the various characters who supposedly helmed from Singapore and Malaysia.. hmmm..

I applaud each actor for the depth of show in the characters they play. However, i think this play would have pulled off better should the platform be television because much of the details in the actors' expressions were probably lost on those who were seated further away from the stage. Plus, I am extremely curious about the mentioned but never seen wives of Andy and Bob. TV directing next, Tracie?

Ratings:

Took my son to watch the play by SRT's junior arm - The Little Company. True to it's target audience, at least half the turnout were kids.

The play had a boring conversational beginning with the kids, Ruth and Raoul played by Stephen Whiley & Julie Wee bantering like typical kid siblings would.

The funny and at times witty lines were lost on the younger kids in the audience.

Enters Dr. MacCavity played by Judee Tan, came the gripping lighting and sound effects. The setting together with the very realistically uglifying make up of Dr. MacCavity had my son totally sucked in and within moments he panicked, trembled in fear and wanted to get out of the theatre!

No amount of hugging and soothing could convince him to stay in the act and soon i had to take him out so as not to disrupt the enjoyment of the other audience.

As we were leaving the theatre, he spat out the candy i had given him just moments ago to pacify him because Dr. MacCavity said she would take the rotten teeth of kids who ate candy. My son was COMPLETELY freaked out!

One usher was very kind and came up to me when i was at the foyer soothing my son. She told me I could go back in whenever he was ready to and take a seat further in the back so he would not be at such close proximity to the 'evil' MacCavity.

We finally went back in when MacCavity left the stage and enjoyed the following scenes where Ruth, Raoul and the tooth fairy got acquainted and ensued to leave for Fairyland.

The graceful while animated Fairy, played by Tiffany Wrightson, who obviously is a trained ballerina enchanted the kids. Erstwhile, Ruth and Raoul engaged the audience with interactive sessions where we had to help them with certain tasks by either clapping, shouting or following instructions.

The sequence of hip hop, rap style performance also got many tiny hands and feet clapping and stamping.

Despite having to leave the theatre on several occasions that Dr. MacCavity made her appearace, my son enjoyed the play and even agreed later on that MacCavity was no longer scary (she smiled at the ending cast intro).

As a mom of an overly engaged and sensitive toddler, I also appreciated the initiative of the ushers who were helpful in trying to pacify my frightened son and even pre-empted me about MacCavity's appearance at the audience floor so that I was able to avoid further traumatizing my frightened child.

The best part of this play? My boy is now highly cooperative about keeping his teeth clean so that Dr. MacCavity would not be able to visit him for his rotten tooth :)

Rating

At the advertising company Chapman and Howard, the staff have taken great pains to prepare for their traditional Christmas bash, and to ensure that they avoid any scandals similar to last year's which resulted in a visit from the police and the Managing Director's divorce! But when the drinks flow and the good times roll, the party lurches from one disaster to another.

Picture "The Office" meets "Love Actually" and you know you will be in for a rollercoaster ride of laughter, love and tears in this comedy which leads seven diverse characters - Bob the office buaya, Pippa the sarong party secretary, Lee the goodie two-shoes and a host of other crazy characters, through the minefield of office politics, petty differences, sexual harassment and hidden desires. And that's just another day at work!

Directed by Tracie Pang. Starring Wendy Kweh and Cynthia Lee Macquarrie.

Ticketing Details
DATES: 27 November – 13 December 2009
TIMING: 8pm (Monday - Saturday), 4pm (Saturdays)
PRICES: $58, $48 (Friday – Saturday, 8pm), $50, $40 (Monday – Thursday, 8pm & Saturday, 4pm)
VENUE: DBS Arts Centre - Home of SRT
TICKETING: SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg

Got a media release about an upcoming play from Zebra Crossing Productions. It's showing only in Feb 2009 so look out for some upcoming sneaks that I'll be putting up as I cover the production leading towards it's performance.

Left to Right: Gerald Chew | Vernetta Lopez

Left to Right: Elizabeth Tan | Shane Mardjuki

Left to Right: Vadi PVSS | Timothy Nga

Performance starts from 7 - 22 Feb 2009
Drama Centre Theatre, Level 3, National Library