Sepia rox too…very oldish
Review June 21, 2005
Had a break from mugging yesterday night, a break that I obviously DO NOT deserve, having been slack and lazy for the past few weeks. Nevertheless, I went to watch PCK Musical with Aloy who had an extra ticket.
OMG!!! I think they were lying when they said that 3 million bucks was spent on the production. What did they use the money for? Buy toilet paper? Buffet dinner for production crew? Hwa Chong ELDDFS could have done a better job with 500 bucks. Signs of commercialisation and consumerism were everywhere, the stage set was made up of blatant, unsightly advertisements with GIORDANO, BEST DENKI, KENWOOD and other weird brands hanging around. Hello? That’s a stage for acting for Pete’s sake. In addition, the programme booklet was half filled with advertisements and nothing informative. The killer was a segment entitled Ken Woo which was ostensibly to sound like Kenwood( a brand for home appliances)- they brought out the appliances and started singing about the virtues of the products. I can’t believe people pay 80 bucks to watch some an A-grade advertisement. Further in your face promotions include a segment on TOTAL DEFENCE which was totally unexpected and it did not even tie in with the plot. Although I advocate NE and believe in its importance BUUUUT not like THAT!!!
The greatest flaw in the whole musical is a tie between its cliched storyline and the seeming incoherence and irrelevance of the scenes. The story goes like that: hero turns 40, gets conned, lost everything but family held on (tears are cued here), saved villain’s life, villain is touched, and gave back the hero his property. AND they lived happily ever after. One, they thought that Singaporeans are too low class and stupid to enjoy a production in good english. Two, they are afraid that Singaporean cannot catch the storyline if it was made more complex and interesting. Three, they are too stupid to think of one like that. I don’t know..what do you think? Many scenes an mini-performances are added in just for the sake of adding in, making the whole musical forced and patchy. It was really a disappointment.
There WERE redeeming features in the musical although its difficult to remember any. At least it was moderately funny at certain parts- It is never easy to stage a comedy. Perhaps, it’s just that I get irritated with the use of English and the fragmented way that they speak especially when I know Gurmit Singh and the rest can speak perfectly good english. But I like Gurmit Singh and I think its quite brave to stage such an unexpected and fresh production therefore I would have gone for it even if I knew the quality wasn’t all that good. Its a quintessential Singapore production-with Singlish; a Singapore icon; even complete with National Education; held at the SINGAPORE Indoor Stadium.
Mutterings of a mad woman June 20, 2005
Yes, well..I am alive and well-a situation that is not going to last for long if I remain cooped up im my room and staring at my chem notes till I go cock-eyed. Besides from the fact that I need to pass my block test, I honestly see no other legitimate and sane reasons I have to read about stupid substituition and addition and nucleophilic or not. I can’t even attempt to profess that I do so because of INTEREST. Interest my ass.
On the subject of interest, let me quote something of profound SELF-interest. I was just reading the ST when I came across this piece of report.
‘I guess you can say I wanted people to see that she is really a very decent person. It’s the least I can do for her,’ a shocked Miss Tan, who works in the beauty industry, said in Mandarin.
That came from a report that revealed Ms Liu Hong Mei’s picture-the lady who was murdered and dismembered by her boss, a 50-year old MARRIED man. Oh puh-lease!! Are we to believe that she supplied the picture out of the goodness of her tender heart and only because she wants to show Miss Liu’s DECENCY. How does a picture show that when there are plenty of reports depicting her carvorting with her MARRIED and OLD boss. No disrespect for the dead but perhaps her behaviour was a mitigating factor in her murder. And the dear kaypoh aunty promptly whipped out and brandished the dead woman’s picture to the press, from her work permit no less. In any case, whether she was decent or not, the bastard who murdered her can hope to enjoy life imprisonment or a death sentence almost for sure unless he pleads culpable homicide, then that remains to be seen. Although innocent until proven guilty, the only suspect which is the OLD and MARRIED boss of hers is truly an asshole. With a loving wife and a family, why the hell must he go around having an affair with his surbordinate(who is young enought to be his DAUGHTER) and to commit murder in such a horrific way, he obviously was besotted or heartless. The victims,apart from Ms Liu includes his family who has always believed in him. I think I sysmpathise with them the most. Humanity is really unpredictable. Isn’t it?
Besides from morbid matters, another highlight in the recent news is that Singapore is going to play host to the IOC and the IMF which will bring in many dignatries from all over the world and not forgetting the impending charity concert which will also bring in many tourists and celebrities. How exciting it is for Singapore to step onto the world stage!! PLUS imagine the revenues generated from tourist..ka ching $$$$. OK. Though exciting but none of my business, I am going to be busy studying..o yeah right. Nevertheless, I really think that it is great for us to do things that wll thrust the littl red dot into people’s face so that our existence doesn’t get forgotten. Kudos all around for STB and the relevant bodies!
June 14, 2005
Sumptuous spread on BANANA leaves, that came from ATP’s backyard, which we used as plates.
