Wednesday, January 31, 2007

movement

1st consultation today!
did the theasthai piece again, for the 1st time after theasthai in actual performative space.
I think something was not there. The magic of the girl.
ok my fault for not really reheasing =/

I'm susposed to imagine that the tree is 10 times bigger and I am 5 times bigger.
meaning gesture and hand movements got to be BIG.
ie the "skin all cracked" got to use the whole arm to move not just the wrist.

movement props:

skipping rope
-start by skipping normally.
defined movements.
pulling of rope-->tension-->emotions

EMOTIONS
LOVE. totally involved in tree.

hola hoop

hopscotch

the feather thingie malay boys kick

tree dance
PLS KRIT! PLS PLS..
-observe movement of trees (w/o wind)
-angularity, awkwardness
-flow, smoothness
-roundness, circular quality
-chinese folk dance
-rolling on floor
-jumps

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

=x from someones blog

One tiny size girl (PETITE I MEAN) did the SILLY LITTLE GIRL AND THE TREE!Well I think she did pretty well protraying the girl, I mean the girl has to be somehow normal-like yet weird at the same time.

There's this girl like acting about the cons on petite/skinny-ness in the modern world and MAN SHE SHOULD GET SOME NIPPLE TAPES ehem I mean some binder OR some silicone stick on bras, it'll help honeh.Gosh those nipple don't look good under the harsh bright lights.Another girl called Viki, DAMN SHE'S SOOOOOOO GOOD IN AUDITION.Frigging funny y'all with the red shawl, the red umbrella, godamn she's funny as hell.Elina and her partner in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST,it was funny too with the accent and all, but I don't like the acting of her partner.No i'm not being biased here.O.M.GI know you totally have to be articulate, but BENVERPOOT and I couldn't stop giggling at some SPIT SPEWING ACTORS unnecessary parts I mean.Seriously we were totally blessed the whole night cause we sat 2 rows away from the stage.2 girls worth mention I can't remember their names but both were SUPERB,FANTASTIC,AWESOME,GRIPPING!Well, that's practically the vocabulary I can think of right now about them.But both were so damn good they put the rest (excluding Elina of course) in shame.But what both girls had in common is that both were potraying disabled characters.CHINA DOLL was pretty good, with HENRYK TAN in it, well he just dance abit and that's about it, but the girl was good and got a nice bod!

OH OH OH!I saw both SHANE AND HENRYK TAN. (they have a super uber long ang moh-ish surname which I can't remember.)Can I say that I'm utterly disappointed by their looks?I mean I know I'm in no position to say anything since I'm not that good looking myself that I have to blur my pictures to prevent giving people nightmares a fright, but hey AT LEAST I'm admiting!Henryk have skin that looked like orange peel okay fine, not so fantastic in looks department in real life.I shall just continue admiring their photoshop pictures from SEVENTEEN magazine.His brother Shane is hotter though,and pfft that Henryk who was directly behind me when we were meeting Elina kept on bumping into me.Like hello I know I'm frigging short but heck,I guess it's the crowd so he's forgiven AHAHAHA!OKAY ANYWAY BACK TO THE PLAYS.Actually I can't remember much anymore cause most of them were boring and totally forgettable.But I remember the MC who was like a row of seat away from me was sitting down with his legs wide open EHEM SITTING INAPPROPRIATELY.Man next time he should sit with his legs closer lor got kids watching leh.AND AND ANDHenrk forgot his lines on stage.He suddenly stop at one point of time and seated and staring on the floor for a good 3 minutes with his forehead and eyes stamped with "OH SHIT/FEAR/TRAUMATISED/OH FUCK/OH CRAP" look.The lights went off THEN he continued with his lines and the lights went on again.I think that's pretty humiliating,but oh well I just got the impression that he didn't memorise his lines well enough or he's plainly just being cocky.

But overall it was fun!HAHA A GOOD NIGHT INDEED.PICS OF HENRYK AND SHANE FROM MY MOULDY SEVENTEEN MAG.I swear their skin don't look like this in real life, so girls don't be disappointed when you see them in real life

slg

12:25 a.m. 2004-04-18 the silly little girl and the funny old tree

watched the silly little gal n the funny old tree:) it was great!
char, lingyi, mad, wanying n mr tang all did a fantastic job:)
lingyi's singing was great! she can sing so so so well:) char was so like a lifelike tree! n i love the part where they were trying to capture the little gal in the box...n the part where mr tang stormed into the library!so funny..

it's so so nice..right from the begining..when those words appear..so meaningful..n the part where the gal was guarding the tree with all her life..touching sia..n the walk! so slow..so calm..across the whole stage..she was real good.

n the lights were cool too..the torches were bright though..shinning right at our eyes! hee..( middle of 4th row)plus the set..at the beginning the tree was artistic:) n then the christmas tree..haha...i love it when the singapore song came on too..there was a time..haha
the questions..what plant dun haf flowers, leaves, grass? mushroom.y r tears salty? y do stones cry? dun fish get tired of swimming? y turtles crawl so slow? y do ppl cut down tree?
n it's sad..i dun wan them to cut down the tree..n they did..they r so mean..i love the tree..
it simply just rox..go theatre alumni! yay!

update: i took it from genn n found out the many meanings behind it So basically. Uncle Jack's bro tells us about the problem Singapore is facing. Ageing population. Then the actors stand infront of the moving lights and move slowly, growing. Just like trees, and people. Going through the walk of life. Slowly growing to mature. Then the tree. Having leaves at bottom. Christmas tree. Yep. Four trees at the side, growing at first, then cut down. Forestation when Sang Nila Utama landed on singapore. Industrialisation. Raffles founded Singapore. "Organised" the place, British people. Then LKY, planting more trees. Flower garden. Government wants to cut down trees. People who love trees are tricked to believe that they won't cut trees down. Girl is placed in box, perhaps the asylum. Thinks she's mad. Then they cut down the tree... The library scene. Showing that people should not always stick to the same old rules. Must be challenged with new stuff. Plus the asking of questions by the tree. Shows that there's no definite way of doing something. One should always try new ways. Adapt and succumb to changed. One shouldn't be too proud. One's success is gained corz of another. "Only when trees dance, is there wind. Wind musn't be too proud". About the A asks B and etc thing. The walking is our journey of life. There's no end. And if there's an end, No one will continue to walk, continue to strive. We do not work towards death. We work towards old age, eternal life. Why are tears salty? Cause they contain bitter feeling. Sour feelings within us. So they come out salty. At the end, replanting occurs. More trees are grown. The new generation of both, trees and humans. One more thing to add. "Tree, old already no use (Lao le bu zhong yong)" Just like humans. When old, what do companies do? Throw u aside, think you''re too old, think you're slow. The problem Singapore is facing. I like this production. also, the 10 minutes walking across teh stage. Shadows... Lights were the sun shining. I thought it cud have been better. The middle part was quite unnatural. Best if it was around the same intensity. Or something. Was great nevertheless. It depicts the looking at the tree from morning to night. As how tang said the scene before, "she comes to look at the tree everyday .

ivle

6:51 p.m. 2004-04-28 taken from ivle the silly little girl and the funny old tree

1) What is the video clip on the old man crossing the road all about?
Answ: He's not only crossing the road but in the process is also going against traffic, against the flow of things, probably against all things modern. You can see him as those people out there - plenty of them, if you ask me - who are overwhelmed with how fast we're moving today and are still trying to come to terms with it.

2) What were those figures doing in the beginning (and the end) of the play?
No, they were not having fits. Its from a Japanese dance form called butoh and this particular move signifies the growth of a plant emerging from the ground until fully grown.

3) Why did the actress take 10 minutes to walk across the stage?
I think she took less than 10 minutes on both nights of the performance. She was clocking 10 minutes during rehearsals! Really, the walk embodies everything about her obsession with the tree and the relationship between them. Its a move from butoh, again, where the emotions and thoughts of the characters are all brought out through the walk. Think along this line: By not moving, everything moves. The changing of lights to represent sunrise to sunset help tell time. Its a bit like time-lapse photography.

4) Why do this play?
In memory of the late theatre legend Kuo Pao Kun who taught me in university. Another name was later added when I found out that Akiko Motofuji, wife of the founder of butoh, Tatsumi Hijikata, had died in October 2003. I had the honor of performing with Akiko Motofuji at the Esplanade in July 2003 when she visited Singapore.

5) Why such an empty stage?
(A) very strong Zen and Buddhist influence in the set design and overall concept of the piece. When a stage is bare, everything is possible. The mind will start to fill up that space. The moving lights placed upstage are a modern representation of the rock lanterns one sees in Japanese gardens. The consumerist society we live in encourages us to 'want' this 'want' that, to empower ourselves with objects of desire. On the flip side, we can strive to ask ourselves what we don't want and to live with only what we need.

6) What's with putting the girl in a box?
You could say it represents an asylum. You could also say it's about trying to put things in order because the little girl, in the eyes of society, is a kind of deviant.

7) What are those jumping people dressed in white? Are they monkeys?
Call them what you want. They are usually known to many as "highflyers" hence they don't walk but "fly".

8) What's with 1971?
That's the year we were committed to making this island a 'Garden City', the year we started Tree Planting Day every first Sunday of November.

9) What happened to the girl? So the tree was cut down?
Its inadvertible the old tree has to go although many would sympathise with it. Coming and going are just cycles in life. The funny old tree may actually be a stubborn old tree, one who resisted change and ultimately paying the price by being rendered obsolete by society.

done by Mr Gary Tang

Monday, January 29, 2007

theasthai

1:15 a.m. 2006-05-21 THEASTHAI

THEASTHAI!!reported to school at 8 to load stuff. The lorry with only 5 ppl this time is fun too:) we were singing elderwise. heh..SRT so rocks. This huge huge sense of belonging just overwhelmed me as soon as I stepped through the door into the right wing. Then there was the dressing room trama. The stupid stupid sofa/couch that's so damn comfortable to sit. I'm so glad that at that time only like 3 other ppl were at the SRT..thks for the concern n stuff..really appreciated..but as usual, madam choose the wrong time to step into the dressing room. :x and sat down on the sofa right next to me. wow. lols.

went out to buy lightsticks almost immediately after that. yupps. found out how limited the space actually is. I totally will fall off the stage lors. Usually I run like 5 steps to the "other tree", jumping up and losing balance..the fact that we can't see where's the edges of any of the board makes it worse. Phew, they cutted all the interludes except the 1st one (and the 2 hours show still end up a 3plus hour one) so had just that tiny bit of time to move about on the stage and position myself (figured out to move more back in the 1st part, so I could take two running steps towards the other tree..which is roughly at the edge there..)

heex..everyone is brillant! although din get to see many people's piece but still..great job everyone:)

yeah and thanks to everyone who came down to support, though most of ur couldnt find the place..heh..huge thanks to u guys!! :D

profile

8:47 a.m. 2006-05-19 silly little girl (:

The Silly Little Girl!

Family: Mother and Father,
Brother serving NS.
Age:10, Primary 4
FavesFood:Hersleys Chocolates, French Fries
Drink: Ice Lemon Tea
CartoonCharacter: piglet
Best Friend: my funny old tree
Colour: orange

I got full marks for my spelling quiz. The teacher beams at me proudly as she called out my name. But all my classmates didn't clap for me like they do for the others. Some even shot me dirty looks. I can't wait to tell him about my full marks during break. The bell rang, and I was the 1st one of the the classroom. I ran all the way to the far secluded corner of the playground, where the funny old tree is. I love my tree. I can tell him everything and he always listen. He's the only one whom I can trust and talk to. Although he doesnt talk back, I know he is listening. Listening with all his heart and soul. ..

I went to the bubbletea shop on the way home from school and bought Orea Chocolate with pearls. As usual, the house is empty. Father and mother work very late. I hardly see them at all. I stayed up late to wait for them, just to look at them and talk to them. Just like any normal family. But before I could say Hi mum and throw myself at her, mother starts to nag. Have you done your homework? Learnt your spelling? Without even waiting to hear my reply, she starts scolding me for staying up late, telling me how I shouldn't spent so much time playing. They don't understand me! and I don't understand them!! I HATE THEM. They don't love me. They just doesn't bother and care about me. I would rather that father and mother hate me. At least they would have some feelings for me. I ran into my room and hide below the blankets, crying. How I wish Mother and Father would listen to me for once, and not talk so much.

silly

10:06 p.m. 2006-05-15 silly

Haiz..feel exhausted today, especially during times when there's nth to do..I wonder why. Is being the little girl so tiring?

First in pink studio today. Was rehearsing monologue prancing around in my own world when suddenly the door opens and madam walked in. *got a huge shock* lolsThen at the end of the lesson I was suddenly picked to demo in front of everyone. *almost died on the spot* oh wells, at least it was rather ok and I was ok-ly prepared. Was aware of the audience at various parts, I don't know, I'm like looking out for their reactions (ie:laughing)when I'm laughing..thanks everyone for their positive comments and stuff..boasted my morale..heh..although I think it's not that good and u guys are so so much better than me. (OMG ITS THIS SAT!! do not freak out lol)

harr..so is my laughter fake? Is it susposed to be fake in the 1st place? it's complicated. the transition part. also there need to be a transition but yet the switch needs to be obvious. hmm..haizs..ask madam tml. haha..hahaha..heehee..haha..hoho..hahahaa..*think lindis's face today* -laughs- hahahhaha..ROFL.

the weekend

11:59 a.m. 2006-05-15 the weekend.

Missed A for 2.4 hy a bloody 2 or 3 seconds. wadever lors. haha spoil my record. I'm in character during the whole run, going through the lines and everything..yupps..probably help me to run faster:) (and also i didn't count and keep track of the number of rounds I did, so I'm like slowing down to ask the teacher. If not could have sprinted and get an A lah)
heex..after sat's monologue consultation, I guess I'm more confident, thanks Mrs C! haha..I'm also liking the piece even more. Bought the uniform (costume) and I feel great in it, came up with some dancey moves, wondering if they can work. Gonna ask the teachers in 1 hour time. hahahs..I feel like cutting my hair, till around shoulder length just for the monologue..feel that it's too long now..heh shall I?

Mother Day was interesting, went Lot 1 with huimin, shopped for mothers day gifts and took neos. Then went playground with Carrine to play in the afternoon. I don't know, somehow I lie down on the slide, looking up to this 2 huge trees. Their branches intersected, blocking the blue sky. It's damn nice to just lie there looking at the trees and the sky..

the dark night

2:23 a.m. 2006-05-28 the dark night

wadever la. It's 2plus am already and I woke up at 6am today. Real tired after being out the whole day, like from 6plus in the morning to 11plus at night. signs..just that I just don't feel like sleeping.

Sometimes I really hate nights, especially when it's so late and dark and quiet. It can be a conducive environment to study in, but for some reason, I feel really weird tonight. I suddenly become really aware of the surroundings, the quietness of it all. Loneliness. Fear. Fear of the dark. Although mum's in the same room, reading newspapers,also awake. Haiz, I just felt scared, all of a sudden. Fear of the unknown? Sometimes, (like now) I wish the holidays were never here. Going to school definately takes my mind off things and all. haiz. I actually miss school already.

A mixture of emotions. Hyperness and excitement that turn into tears in just 2 seconds. The kind of tears that's unexplainable. I don't understand myself anymore. What's going on? I don't know, just want to let this sudden weird surge of funny feelings and emotions out. Maybe that's why I actually took the trouble to switch on the com to blog, to rant. At this odd hour of the night..