Yesh this will be a not so short but sweet posting.
I hope lah.
Feeling like I wish I was more free to just keep
on writing & writing, but the days & things to do just
keep on piling and piling.
Apologies if I have not replied any e-mails or msgs,
want to do justice to them, truly!
For those who know,
things are a-changing and that just equals more
stuff to do. Exciting nonetheless, I’m not complaining.
Recently saw this at SS2. Wonder if it’s their new plan
for added security in “hot” crime places or something.
Thing is the two cops inside looked like they were absolutely
DYING of boredom. They were just sat there, looking at everyone
and everything, awkwardly facing out, not talking, not reading
anything. Even if it is their job, I think I’d be okay with them doing
a bit of self-improvement or what have you with decent books
or newspapers, or something? Anything? If nothing is happening lah.
Or should they just be doing more patrols?
Oh I don’t know. I just didn’t like the looks of them just …
sitting there.
Someone pass them some inspirational novels or
summat, quick.
Went to see Short & Sweet 2009 with Wai Li at KLPac on
Thursday and it was an enjoyable night.
Thank you Jon Chew, who was so kind to gift tickets!
Known him from his reportah days
and now he acts as well, he was in one of the 11 ten-minute
plays this time around.
For those who have not heard of Short & Sweet:
This innovative and fresh theatre festival features ten-minute plays that showcase the best of Malaysia’s established and emerging writers, directors and actors. For more information go to http://www.shortandsweetmalaysia.org/ or KLPac’s page (They are running till August 16)
Wasn’t going to do this but I might as write a little
personal review for meself, since I have
the play list in front of me now.
Sorry no pictures, they weren’t allowed.
Think I shall refrain from directly critiquing the ones I thought
were a little rough, and just give a nod to the ones I really enjoyed.
I’d venture to say the stronger parts were in the second half
or near the end, for there were several in the beginning
that I though were hampered by the inclination for either
the playwrights or actors to want to people-please,
either by over-acting or putting in lines that angle for
cheap laughs. I don’t mean to sound harsh but it just really
is that – the tendency to want to engage the crowd by
adding a gay/sex/curse/aiyo factor to elicit an intended
response from the crowd.
While it often works, I don’t see how the roars of laughter
enhance or add meaning of the piece, especially
when humor does not go or is ill-fitted to what they are
trying to say.
At other times I thought while the execution and acting were
brilliant (for instance in “For the love of… beans”),
the story line and message worked itself up to
a crescendo only to leave one just a wee bit disappointed.
Truly nice accents (You Texan folk, you!) and performances
for that one though (high energy levels).
I spied with my little eye KLue’s Claudia Low in that, which I
hadn’t expected, so it was nice to watch her vamping it up in the
play.
For the love of beans:
Playwright: Jude James
Director: Kevin Larken
Viewpoints was a touching piece, and I think
Wai Li’s favourite, no?
It was about a man who looks after special children
in a home, and he talks about each children
with much care and affection. He speaks about
them in a lot of detail, so much so that it starts to
feel … perhaps a bit draggy? But then this then allows
you to get hit with the realisation later,
when he relays his
own questions about what will happen to the boys
once they grow up and have to leave.
How will they cope?
How will the world understand them and their worlds?
This all comes rather quickly (but elegantly) in comparison with
his earlier languid cerita-cerita about the boys.
Nice touch.
Also in the cast for this one was Roger, who was with Mark Teh
and the 5 Arts Crew in Penang for Gostan Forward. Another
surprise, and a pleasant one, because he was such an interesting
character to behold in Penang, and was a little scene stealer here.
Viewpoints:
Playwright: Martyn James Fellender
Director: Kimmy Kiew
The last two I shall list here were my favourites,
and not just cause Jon acted in the last one!
They both dealt with relationships.
When the lights first came on for Unsaid,
I grimaced. Oh no, not another gay-themed play, just to
camp it up and pull in the laughs. (Which happens a lot these
days) But boy was I wrong.
I think of all plays Unsaid did the best, within the 10 minutes,
to balance entertainment (humour, cuteness) with message
(why does one find difficulty in saying ‘I Love You’?).
The beautiful thing is that the couple discussing the
topic in question (played adorably by .. oh I don’t know
their names!) were gay, but this discussion could have been
had by any couple, of any age, anywhere.
So they kept the cute factor up (oh we can’t show the affection
we want in public etc) but also asked the right questions.
(“Are you using your abandonment issues as an excuse
for your commitment issues?”)
Adorable, and not overdone. Just right.
Unsaid:
Playwright: Nandang Abdul Rahman
Director: Kelvin Wong
And for the one Jon was in, Fuckin’ Food, I don’t know
how many times Wai Li and I (and everyone else) were giggling
and muttering ‘omg’. Anyone’s everyone has had arguments
this couple was having. [Couple. In Car. Arguing. Over...
What to eat??] Just how the argument transpired and morphed
into other bouts of ridiculousness – it was so real, Wai Li
whispered “Omg that’s me”, just as I was thinking every girl
and every guy on planet earth has had one of these sessions
before. The ridiculous argument starts out of no where,
and then ends just like that too. (Well, not exactly always
ends like that, i guess!) Extra points for the charming
car noises (left turn, engine start, doors slamming) LOL!
Fuckin’ Food
Playwright: Kevin Larken
Director: Christopher Ling
I loved some of the topics the other plays were exploring,
though I think the message or issues were perhaps not
formed well enough or delivered effectively and thus,
there was no punch. Oomph, as they call it.
The ones like these were Shelter, (a close relationship
that on paper, is “unhealthy”, is better than a “proper”
relationship which is unloving and unaware), Concealed
(using make-up or the concealer to disguise your anguish
or scars) and Poo By Any Other Name Smells As Bad
(Supporters/activists of oppositional who have questionable
motives and reasons for their actions).
All in all though, all actors had great enthusiasm and obvious
dedication to their roles. For 10-minute plays, where you have only
so much time to deliver your intro, message, come up with good
ending and entertain, it must a big challenge for all the playwrights,
directors and actors to come up with their pieces.
A challenge met.
Will be looking forward to Short and Sweet next year.
xo
Disclaimer: Pls don’t bother taking any offence for anything
whatsoever because I only review chewing gum and
milk brands on a personal basis from time to time and
as such, am a flake. If you give me food I’ll tell you you’re
bloody Master and Commander of the Universe, I will.
