PS: To navigate through my blog, move your mouse cursor over the words 'ME, SCRIBBLES, TAG, ETC' and just click on them :) i know. it's cool. Thanks, Fedoragirl ;)

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-Is an English Language major undergraduate who likes to Take It Easy.

Words and languages, Jane Austen, period dramas/films, Vitagen, Korean dramas, good songs, better books, Green, wanderlusting, Culture, writing, Experimenting

Things I'd Like

- A Nitendo Wii gaming console
- My own set of rollerblades
- More nail polish (bought just one, neon pink in colour)
- Concert DVDs! (Back to Basics: Live & Down Under by Christina Aguilera, The Black Parade Is Dead by My Chemical Romance , Mika: Live In Cartoon Motion, Where The Light Is: John Mayer Live In Los Angeles )
- A cat

Old Stories

Deep-night
Day 4 @ the canyon
Day 3 @ Grand Canyon
Day 2 @ Flagstaff
To dad: Day 1 @ Phoenix
I feel like I should change my blogskin, as it's b...
A park affair
The real importance of being earnest
Firstly, let me get this announcement off my chest...
I've got a secret

Older Stories

March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
July 2009
August 2009
October 2009

Great Clicks

Twitter
Rapture
Heaven
Mraz
Mayer
Xiaxue
Andrea
Retro Music
Music blog

Thanks

Designer: fedora_girl :)
Image: Pride & Prejudice (2005) screencaps
Brush, Pattern: The Magic Box
Edit: Adobe Photoshop

Trying to mug the whole day...is darn borrring. And the fact that my mind is on all the numerous preparations which I have to make for my impending US trip! Such as, maybe checking out eyewear shops tomorrow for contact lenses, especially if I wanna go surfing in San Diego or something. I've been googling and read that if I'm wearing contact lenses for water sports, I have to wear tight googles with them. Also, I've only worn contact lenses a couple of times in my life and suck at putting them on, so I need to practise. Manually putting something foreign into my eyes just makes me squirm, you know?

Can the week(s) go any slower? After I have taken my 4 exam papers for this last semester of my schoollife, I won't necessarily feel so lost as I have all the planning details of my trip to look forward to and keep me busy :)

Hmm, tomorrow I have to drop by the US embassy again to finally collect my passport. Speaking of which, I have yet to update on how my visa interview last wednesday went. It was so informal, taking place at the counter itself, and not like, in a private room. The very thorough lady behind the glass wall asked me questions like, "what do you intend to do after you graduate?", ans- I was prepared for this as my program agent had told me to answer "I plan to start working/looking for a job", and then she HAD to go, "what do you plan to do?". I was a caught a little off-guard so I hesitated a moment and then just blurted out (i mean, she was asking in such a quick-fire way and we musn't show we were unsure with any of our answers), "I'm considering joining the police force (not really)" and refused to look right or left to see if anyone had any reaction to this. haha. especially my other program mate who was waiting with me the whole time. And then she asked "what do your parents do", and then when I went "my father is a civil servant(long story)", she gave this tiny approving nod and go, "civil servant huh?" So when the interview ended and looking back, I think I portrayed myself as such an upright modal citizen, don't you think? It was certainly a truimph when I heard the lady say, "ok, I'm gonna approve your visa...blahblahblah". That was honestly the first time I heard her saying that because she was rejecting others' one after the other the whole time I was there. And so I HAD to leave off saying, "thank you, Have a nice day" which she totally ignored because she has no sense of friendliness about her, only uptightness and efficency. bleh.

K so ANYWAY, I met up with my lovely bestie at the nearby botanical gardens. Personally, I know how being there physically for the person on the day of her birthday is uber important, so I MADE SURE I made plans with her that day. I had asked her if she wanted any present (cuz again, personally, I know how sucky it is to get a present one doesn't like) and could she tell me what are some of the things she had in mind but she wasn't really keen on that. She just really wanted to hang out at a cafe and chill. So i treated her lunch instead, yay. And she returned my birthday gesture by paying for my drinks during our walkabout in the park. We spent like, 5 freaking hours with nature and was wild with photo-taking. Did I mention it was Earth Day too? Which made the occasion doubly special. Whoo! Happy 22nd Birthday my dear tush! (Dunno where we got the mushy nickname for each other, probably while we were making horny jokes about the word one fine day and it just stuck! hehehe)

What can I say about her. Hmm...I don't know, with some people, you just have that special connection(like, out of my various old friends, she's one of the few I click with the most) . We are very much alike but different in that we complement each other too. Like, most times she's the crazy ever bubbly one while I'm the cynical, more grounded one, and then sometimes it's the opposite. We both love cats, cute boys, xiaxua (haha!), music (but she only likes radio hits and chinese boybands while I like mraz and angsty sensitive girl musicians), boy-bashing, feminist inclinations, wishings of more exercise and the occasional actual jogging together, and many many more. Anyway, here's to 2(x friends) 2(x joy)/4(x fun)/ 09(x yrs of friendship):





I'm Yours babe!




And follow me on twitter! I post more thoughts now on there than I blog here.




[^the guy in black is one of the leads. i think. i'm still a bit in doubt whether it was Brendon Fernandez cuz he actually had nicely geled hair in the play. the guy in pink is a malaysian actor.]

Ok, one week has passed since I watched Wild Rice's superb production, "The Importance of Being Earnest". Here are my thoughtsssss. read on.

Prelude to the play:

-I think the timing was very ripe. It’s been a long time since I last caught a play. Probably since my JC days. Lol. I mean does movie-musicals count? (knowing how i love them and the last one i caught was The Wizard of Oz which I bought at Chinatown. Yes, the one with Judy Garland and her infamous rainbow song inside.)

-Around the second week of Feb, I saw the promotion of this play in the newspapers or something. And the name caught my attention because I thought, “I’ve heard of that name somewhere before!” I really thought it was a shakespeare play and got really excited. I had a gut feeling it would be quality stuff. And the actors were a big pull factor too- Chua Enlai, Hossan Leong. So I asked anyone and everyone if they wanted to go catch it with me. Only when one friend told me it was written by Oscar Wilde did I find out it wasn’t Shakespeare. Silly me. But I still wanted to catch it, firmly believing it would be a good-quality show. So a few days of enquiry and sms invitations sent to friends (with a bit of haranguing and pressure tactics I admit), I finally got 2 to go with me. And on the morning of 16th Feb (says on my receipt) while I was still fervently discussing with my mates which date to go and which seats to get (imagine the luxury of early-bird purchase where the seating is for your picking), I rushed down to the sistic outlet at IMM to get all three tickets (at student prices which means 20% discount. *big grin*).

-And yes, I COULD triumphantly get the exact seats for our chosen date: 9th April (eve of public holiday and includes a post-show dialogue session with the cast), front 2nd row dead center. Not first row cuz it would be a bit of neck strain (even 2nd row was) and not 3rd row cuz it costs $10 more. So 2nd row it was for us.

-On the event night itself, I told my friends to meet at the venue earlier cuz I read in online reviews that the Tang Quartet would be playing first. And I also warned them Ivan Heng may be serving people at the front sandwiches. Speaking of the venue, it is at a freaking cozy place on the 5th/7th? Floor at the National Library at Bugis. The actors didn’t need any mics (I think. I was seated too near to tell if they were using mics. Sounded like they weren’t using). The place is called the Arts Center.

-anyway, one friend turned up in a t-shirt with a printed tuxedo picture in front to give an illusion. She told me she had flippantly chosen that shirt when I asked if she had purposely chosen it for the occasion. As for me, I finally could wear my white cheongsam top (cuz I thought, don’t some women wear that when they attend plays? Dunno where I first got the idea from) with golden sparkly butterflies printed on it, and my golden flower hair rubber band (which I impulsively bought last year and was for my hairbun) for the first time. Why do I have a cheongsam piece of clothing you ask? I have 2 in fact. Because I recently saw a Chinese lady (think PRC) at the busstop who worked it very well (looked casually elegant) and thought, ‘why the heck don’t ppl wear cheongsams anymore, even for Chinese new year, let alone for casual wear? Screw the notions of cheongsam being uncomfortable and only worn upper-class ppl. I’m gonna find myself a cheong sam top pronto!” And what do you know, few days later, I found what I was looking for in West Mall’s Tom & Stefani. They were slashed to half price and I bought two. One in green (naturally) and one in white. Success.

-I really wanted to take a picture of us (brought my camera and recharged the batt and all), but I guess we were just all camera-shy that night :D Anyway, I wore my top with dark skinny leggings, and beaded slippers (I wasn’t going to wear no heels). Haha. Was wondering if it was appropriate footwear so I packed extra shoes in my handbag, just in case.

-And I did see another person wearing a cheongsam top that night. A teacher, who was bringing a bunch of male students to the play. Oh yeah, come to think of it, I think I got the cheongsam-top for-plays idea in secondary school when I saw MY own Lit teacher wearing that for our school production :D

- And folks, let me proudly say it was a full house that night (I’m so happy for Wild Rice’s ‘overnight’ success). A sign was put up at the ticket counter saying tickerts were sold out. I think it was 600 in total, they provided the statistic.

-Anyway, when we made our way into the venue to our seats, I was very relieved to see that it was indeed the 2nd row and not like, obscured by anything (like the orchestra) or on lowered ground or anything. Cuz when I bought my tix, I had asked the sistic lady why the first 2 rows were cheaper and she couldn’t give me a definite answer, only guessing that some people may not like those seats. lol

-Our seats were so awesomely near that I could see the actors spitting saliva several times during the play. And, I couldn't have sneakily taken any pics or videos, even if I dared tried. Imagine the actors spotting me doing that and calling me out.


-Soon, the Tang Quartet came on. On stage. And played like, 5 pieces (Mozart, Bach, etc)? And the cast also came out to watch, milling onstage, staring intently at them, and also at the audience. It was surreal, it was hilarious. I asked my friend what was the point of them standing there and doing nothing and commented that ‘they are very extras leh. Calefares.”

-Let me just say it felt so weird to hear the quartet playing such high-class sounding music. I was hear (pardon the pun) for a comedic play dammit. Lol. Instead, I felt like I was on Titanic or something. Later on, the director said their purpose was to make it seem like a soiree (pronounced swah-ree by the director), a party. Which IS kinda fitting I guess, in view of the context and of the era the play was set in.

-And sandwiches were indeed, served. But only to the first row :(

About the marvelous play itself:

[^This scene was in the very last moments of the play, where the lead (in the center), an actor from the UK, found out that his real name was indeed, Earnest.]

- I refused to read the story before watching the play. The written word has a way of letting our imagination take flight and sets up too many expectations from us for the adapted movie/play versions, you know?

-Therefore, all the lines delivered during the play, I was hearing for the very first time. At first, I was in the ‘rolling my eyes at the recycled quotes/philosophies’ mode. And then as the play progressed and I was starting to enjoy the characters’ development, I was in full ‘laugh-out-loud/ giggling at any moment’ mode, especially in the last few scenes. I’m glad I CAN actually enjoy a play after all and not let my viewing experience be marred by my seemingly jaded cynical exterior cultivated from my drama CCA days where there were always all the drama, demands and pressures on the cast and crew.

-to find out that the play was set in the Victorian era pleasantly surprised me. Loved all the drama. Oh, and the costumes were very stylized and GORGEOUS. I never knew a men’s suit could look so freaking fashionable. Me thinks more Hollywood actors should walk down the red carpet like this. But sadly, I can only imagine one or two doing that like Johnny Depp or even, gay celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. haha

-but I would have loved to see women play their respective parts. Like, a young Singaporean Keira Knightley actress perhaps? :) However, since this play was a blatant display of some of Singapore’s finest talent (veteran actors like Ivan Heng, Hossan Leong and Chua Enlai), the cast did not disappoint that much (and no, the stage did not smell of Men, Laura! in fact, i could smell hossan leong and his cologne). The actors actually made very effective use of the gender-bendering, by changing their characters’ voices to be manly when they were in the midst of one of their ranting scenes. Imagine if a real woman (actress) had used the same tactic, she would just have been seen as a shrew, and it might have made me as an audience member very uncomfortable and not appreciatively amused with her voice-acting skills. She would have reminded me of my own mother. Nope, NOT amusing indeed.

-Speaking of the controversial ‘female’ roles, Gavin Yap (the ang moh looking guy holding the flowers in a squealing-face post in the promotional posters) was the most believable of them all. He had adapted the young little girl’s mannerisms well. So I was really surprised to learn his real voice was actually manly and low during the dialogue session. Yes, I’m guilty of dismissing his role as too easy and didn’t think much of his acting skills. But reflecting back, I think he did good. (I mean honestly, who wouldn’t after they’ve had sufficient practice right? I should know because I’ve seen my sch mates who had no acting experience before shine onstage)

-Brendon Fernandez’s character Algernon did not hit me so much at first because he appeared right from the first scene as the archetype young, rich fella (ho-hum). But as the play progressed, he rubbed off immensely on me in a really good way. That boy has talent! He truly pulled off all his scenes with much vigor, gusto, enthusiasm and competence.

-Ivan Heng was SUPERB as the archetype intimidating madame in the play. Just a natural for his role. A word that describes him- MATRIARCH. I’m glad I caught this talented director acting. There was this Ang Moh guy sitting 2 seats away on my left (beside my friend) who was always suppressing his devilishly cheeky laugh several times especially during the Ivan Heng moments. and so yes, there was one point where I too couldn’t keep my focus on the play and burst out giggling (and quickly rearranging my face at the same time) at the fact that the male thespians were seriously immersed in their female roles and not so much parodying as trying to really act out their roles. I think Daniel York (when his character was just keeping quiet and listening to the other characters delivering their lines) caught me laughing at a few absurd inappropriate moments. it’s really amazing how the actors can keep a straight face while the audience are laugh, laughing away. Haha…(i am guilty myself of laughing while onstage before :P)

-Speaking of Daniel York who was the lead, I couldn’t help feeling he was channeling Alan Rickman aka professor snape actor just that little bit. What with the bored lazy voice and deadpan manner. There was one point in the play where he was just standing onstage while the other characters were talking and his boredom just hit me. Like, I could feel real boredom emanating out of him, you know? haha I thought he lost his focus there for a moment, or maybe at that point, he couldn’t distinguish the line between reality and acting. Anyway, it was really cool to actually feel (or think you do) what the characters are feeling, and it’s not hard, being seated 2nd row center and all :D

-And surprisingly, Chua Enlai was kiiind of a let-down to me (I was really rooting for him. He reminds me of my brother at the moments when he is a riot and not a brat, that is). Whyyy did he have to play a female?? He seemed out of place with the strong male looks & voice he has. Therefore, I actually regarded his role with a pinch of skepticism. I wasn’t all convinced with his role with the super-feminine name, Gwendolyn.

-I really thought the butler was Alaric Tay and kept thinking why was he given a role like that or why did he took up a role like that. But it wasn’t him, it was Crispian Chan (you know that balding guy in the M1 ad where there are 3 guys seating in the boardroom giving suggestions to their ang moh boss and then bopping to the music? whew). He should have been given more stage time though. His role had the potential to be that comedic, disapproving and wise character, clearing up the messes while tsk-tsking away to the antics of the foolish rich men/(wo)men characters.

-Coming away from the play, I sigh with such admiration at the fact that stage actors have such great comedic timing as well as excellent emotive and expressive abilities. They’re such fascinating open books. It’s a real delight to watch every move of these seasoned actors (but too bad half of the cast are gays eh?). I am such a fangirl now. If you’re looking for ‘idols’ to admire, look no further than our own shores, people! Brad Pitt can suck it. Why didn’t Brendon Fernandez appear in my life sooner? :D (and to think before the play I kept wondering, “Brandon WHO?”)

-AND finally, digest this fact for a minute: the actors only rehearsed this play for 3 weeks. True story.




PS: Check out professional reviews of the play in the media here:

1) The Straits Times
2) The Business Times