Theater Review - Public Enemy (2015)

This article is imported from a blog that I decided to discontinue...

A Wildrice production, watched 16 April 2015

http://www.wildrice.com.sg/productions/162-public-enemy

"Let us get down to fundamentals. Is this an open, or is this a closed society? Is it a society where men can preach ideas - novel, unorthodox, heresies, to established churches and established governments - where there is a constant contest for men's hearts and minds on the basis of what is right, of what is just, of what is in the national interests, or is it a closed society where the mass media - the newspapers, the journals, publications, TV, radio - either bound by sound or by sight, or both sound and sight, men's minds are fed with a constant drone of sycophantic support for a particular orthodox political philosophy? I am talking of the principle of the open society, the open debate, ideas, not intimidation, persuasion not coercion..."  Lee Kuan Yew, Before Singapore's independence, Malaysian Parliamentary Debates, Dec 18, 1964

"The minority - the men hi see things from a different angle" the men who are true to what they see, who dare to disagree with how the stupid majority see the world - we are right." Dr Thomas Chee, Act IV, Public Enemy

When being different is not a crime. When a lone voice is the only truth. These are the messages that this play explored. The acting is powerful and emotional. The set is modern and every change of scene is so uniformly choreographed to the point of being military. Sleek. Neat. Clean.

The truth will surface with time. 

Theater Review - December Rain (2016)

This article is imported from a blog which I decided to discontinue.
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I wasn't sure what to expect from a Chinese Musical, really. I was at once pleasantly surprised and distinctively unsatisfied with December Rain... I wanted more!

Although it is the 3rd time that the Toy Factory is producing this musical, it is my first time watching it. I can imagine in 1996 how modern and popular this musical would be; in 2016, it is still superb in many ways, but there are parts where one wonders if there could be a more contemporary feel to it.

The scene was decidedly enchanting pre-start, with the raining sound, not a drizzle, definitely the kind of rain that you know will last a long time... A lone figure stopping over a box, occasionally tinkling away at a metal.... later, it was dawn on me that it was the ding-ding sweet seller. Brides and grooms in all white gradually appear, haunting at various corners of the stage, some arms stopping in mid-air. A recital of a passage unfamiliar to me opened the first scene. Strong voice, bilingual, yet I wished it would slow down a little and take time for us to savor the words longer.

First half of the show was set in 1950s, with the backdrop of the bus riots in Singapore. The oppression of the Chinese educated at that time spurred the 2 main characters - Yingxiong and Liqing to take on very different routes of their lives. Yingxiong was an activist and supported the riots, which caused the death of some students. However, the reason to therefore go to China and support the revolution there eluded me. There wasn't enough support for the character to reach this point, and it wasn't that convincing to me that this was the logical thing to do. On the whole, first half was nostalgic, but it does not feels like Singapore.  It had me wondering if the story was set in 1950s China instead, until the bus riots scene puts it in context. The first song at the grand wedding at the start of the scene was so China-variety-showy that I thought it would be a stage performance and not a theatre.

The theme, rain, became more and more obvious as the scene moved towards the faithful day where both of them were scheduled to depart for China. The rest of the show revolved around this theme - rain - as reference to this faithful day where Yingxiong decided to leave for China without Liqing, a decision that haunted not only the 2 of them, but the ones who stayed with them throughout their lives - Mingli and Ah Ling. The story remained tight with constant references, double meanings and rhetoric on this rain that never did stopped for 30 years. One very significant scene where Liqing and her mother sat by the bed asking each other/themselves what should be done, and her mother asked her "If you step out of this house, have you considered if your umbrella is reliable?" Simple question, loaded meaning. A strength for this show, the story line could not be stronger.

As a musical with songs written by the veteran Father of Singapore Chinese music - Liang Wern Fook, the singing was impeccable with many singers from the local singing contests. The gentlemen's strong baritone voices were most enduring. The ladies carried the melodies smoothly and effortlessly, with just an occasional flat at the end.   The showy performance were kept largely at the start and as it moved into the second half the scenes were a lot tighter and the songs made sense. The trio at the end of first half between Yingxiong, Liqing and Mingli was one of the highlights of the show, perfectly blended, totally captivating!

The story between Yingxiong and Liqing, was it a tragedy? A love lasted and lost for 30 years? The real tragedy were Mingli and Ah Ling, the 2 person that stayed beside Liqing and Yingxiong all these years, waiting, wanting and wishing for their love and attention. Finally, when Liqing and Yingxiong realised their regrets and finally noticed them, it was too late. Liqing and Yingxiong were fortunate to have them all these years, in contrast, Mingli and Ah Ling lost much much more. Yet, did they? The one sentence that echoed in the show was "so long as I can stay beside the person I loved most in my life..." they've got exactly what they wanted.

I enjoyed this musical very much both in the story and in the singing. I smiled, I cringed, I sobbed, and I laughed. I applauded so hard at the end and celebrated the success of a musical and a theater group that matured over 25 years. No regrets.

Perseverance - The Story of Michael Jordan

I found this so inspiring, so I thought I should forward it:

Michael Jordan was born in 1963, in the slums of Brooklyn, New York.

He had four  siblings and his father's earnings were not sufficient to provide for the whole family.

He grew up in a poor neighborhood. Exposed to mindless violence and heavy discrimination in the slums, he saw for himself only a hopeless future.

His father saw in Michael, a lost soul and decided to do something.

He gave Michael, who was 13 years old, a piece of used clothing and asked: "What do you think the value of this outfit would be?"

Jordan replied,"Maybe one dollar."

His father asked, "Can you sell it for two dollars? If you can sell it, it would mean that you are a big help to your family."

Jordan nodded his head, "I'll try, but no guarantee that I'll be successful."

Jordan carefully washed the cloth clean. Because they didn't have an iron, to smoothen the cloth, he levelled it with a clothes brush on a flat board, then kept it in the sun to dry. The next day, he brought the clothes to a crowded underground station. After offering it for more than six hours. Jordan finally managed to sell it for $2. He took the two dollar bill and ran home.

After that, everyday he looked for used clothing, washed and ironed it, and sold it in the crowd.

More than ten days later, his father again gave him a piece of used clothing, "Can you think of a way you can sell this for 20 bucks?"

Aghast, Jordan said, "How is it possible? This outfit can only fetch two dollars at the most."

His father replied, "Why don't you try it first? There might be a way."

After breaking his head for a few hours, finally, Jordan got an idea.

He asked for cousin's helpto paint a picture of Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse on the garment. Then he tried to sell it in the school where the children of the rich study.

Soon a housekeeper, who was there to pick his master, bought that outfit for his master. The master was a little boy of only 10 years. He loved it so much and he gave a five dollar tip. 25 dollars was a huge amount for Jordan, the equivalent of a month's salary of his father.

When he got home, his father gave him yet another piece of used clothing, "Are you able to resell it at a price of 200 dollars?" Jordan's eyes lit up.

This time, Jordan accepted the clothes without the slightest doubt. Two months later a popular movie actress from the movie "Charlie's Angels", Farah Fawcett came to New York for her Movie promos. After the press conference, Jordan made his way through the security forces to reach the side of Farah Fawcett and requested her autograph on the piece of clothing. When Fawcett saw this innocent child asking for her autograph, she gladly signed it.

Jordan was shouting very excitedly, "This is a jersey signed by Miss Farah Fawcett, the selling price is 200 dollars!" He auctioned off the clothes, to a businessman for a price of 1,200 dollars!

Upon returning home, his father broke into TEARS and said, "I am amazed that you did it My child! You're really great! "

That night, Jordan slept alongside his father. His father said, "Son, in your experience selling these three pieces of clothing, what did you learn about success?"

Jordan replied, "Where there's a will, there's a way."

His father nodded his head, then shook his head, "What you say is not entirely wrong! But that was not my intention. I just wanted to show you that a piece of used clothing which is worth only a dollar can also be increased in value, Then how about us - living & thinking humans? We may be darker and poorer, but what if we CAN increase our VALUE."

This thought enlightened young Jordan. Even a piece of used clothing could be made dignified, then why not me? There is absolutely no reason to underestimate myself.

From then on, Michael Jordan felt that his future would be beautiful and full of hope.

He went on to become the greatest basketball player of all times.

Taken from a facebook post of a very learned friend.

Book Review - The Secret Life of Anna Blanc by Jennifer Kincheloe.

There is a certain charm to this novel, especially with the endearing nature of our heroine, Anna Blanc. At the turn of the century, before the world hears of gender diversity and women in leadership, Anna Blanc was the epitome of a lady of proper upbringing. Boring, but proper. Respected. When she decided to use her brains rather than be a pawn to her father's business dealings, it looked like the men's going to get a good education of what the fairer sex can actually do. This is such a promising start to the story. It reminded me of Peggy Carter from the Marvel, also a lady of this era, born out of turn. What Anna lacks is the gusto, wits and intelligence of Peggy. I missed the resourcefulness and sharp insights that you see in Peggy. In many sense, Anna is the untrained Peggy, lots of potential, but just not there yet. Entertaining nonetheless, but left more to be desired of a stronger plot, unforgettable character and the intelligence of a clever crime.