…and I am going to be in this “dressing the look, playing the part” for the next few days at different states in West Malaysia.
…partially the reason I’ve been so exhausted working on it as well. At least I had some company. I can’t reveal too much. But we all carried a piece of weaponary garnering us the license to kill.
Here I am,
awake before the sun shine its beams,
Still feeling cold from the night,
Here I am,
Knowing the day has begun for me,
Facing reality bites,
Here I am,
Wishing more than I should,
Thinking more than I would,
Here I am,
Wishing a smiling morning,
Over the dawning thoughts.
I was having some personal thoughts about writing, particularly my frame of writing and realized something. In most instances, I’ve always thought that writing should be set in an objective manner. I tend to agree. But time and time again, as I revisit my personal portions of scribbles, I found the subjective pieces gave the most impact. That my interpretation of the subject becomes entirely subjective allowing to push the barriers and expand boundaries.
So here I am scribbling in my mind, my heart, during coffee breaks. Perhaps other times, through my PDA phone while waiting for some one. I realize my collection of one liners are never planned, it just comes about. I don’t plan a certain time to write, I just write when I feel like it.
The emotions become my pen, the memories become the ink to my writings and my eyes merely sees the transition of the mind into the paper. Ok, I lied – I actually type because I can’t write straight. But you get the idea. I have always focused on the moment and not the outcome.
I end with a quote I found at the Esplanade library in Singapore that best capture my motivation for writing:
“The first duty of a storyteller is to tell a story. We’ve all only got a small amount of time to leave something behind us” ~ Martin McDough
And maybe, I want all my writings to be interpreted this way – I write so may express, I express so that I may tell a story; a story that you may like to tell someone some day, when I am not here. Perhaps that would be the best time.
…marks history, for last night was bravery and tomorrow remains a mystery.
I like how the words have clever play
way more than my facade could display
I feel at home in expression
of the simple passion
that generates undivided attention
but having an impact in retention.
…with this I begin my personal writing projects. I need to flush them out.
…was long awaited and nearly perfect. Hello, bittersweet.
…was absolutely splendid! 
I am finally…resting.
Taking 2 days off from work. I’m going to keep work away from me. It’s long overdue and a well deserved rest. It’s good for the mind, knowing once I return, the mill will run on its own again.
I had planned for this rest after our performance run. Right now, I am embracing every moment of this rest.
It’s nice to take a longer shower, eat a slow dinner and flip tv channels running the channel numbers up and down till I don’t wanna flip anymore. It’s nice to just listen to music while reading magazines. I found it relaxing picking up a book to read, without any disturbance and just basking the moment of reflection. An evening to play badminton on a last minute call, felt so good holding the racquet again. This is indeed rest.
I’m going to have my ‘me time’.
I have got a list of stuff to update:-
Footstool Players’ Crazy Little Thing Called Love: The sketch called ‘I Love You More’, features Sean Low and Adrene Wong as a couple being kiasu about expressing their love for each other.
WHO doesn’t love a good love story? Whether they portray sweeping passions and staying true despite all odds, or bittersweet partings and tragically broken hearts, love stories never fail to stir the spirit and touch the heart.
Thirteen sketches about love did just that during the opening performance of Crazy Little Thing Called Love last week at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre.
Produced by local theatre group, the Footstool Players, in partnership with the not-for-profit company, Focus on the Family Malaysia, Crazy Little Thing wants to get one message across: that love comes in various forms, and has a much bigger impact on our lives than most could imagine. And it manages to do that very well, indeed.
The production is divided into two 55-minute acts with the first focusing on romantic relationships and the second on issues pertaining to family life, particularly parent-child relationships.
The cast members – comprising Adrene Wong, Ann Choo, Colin Kirton, Ee Soon Wei, Jonathan Tan, Linora Low, and Sean Low – do a remarkable job of bringing life and depth to the characters they play. This is particularly commendable because most of the cast members don’t have any professional acting experience.
(The exceptions are Kirton, whose performance in 2006’s Broken Bridges, The Musical received a Best Solo Performance, Voice, Boh Cameronian Awards nomination; and Linora Low, who appeared in the musical Ismail, The Last Days in August this year.)
I have to say, Crazy Little Thing delights from beginning to end; each of its sketches is powerful and gets straight to the point with no wasted words or motions.
The sets are simple, with only the most basic of props, so the plays rely – successfully – on the strength of the actors’ performances and the music to carry the production’s themes.
Lost in Transmission, written by Kirton and adapted from an essay by American humour columnist Dave Barry, was both relevant and hilarious, while A Late Lunch (written by Lawrence and Annie Enscoe) captivated thanks to its masterful script and passionate performances from Linora Low and Kirton.
Ee Soon Wei excelled in his monologue during I Am My Father’s Son (written by Kirton and Jonah Sng), while The Ledger People (written by Paul and Nicole Johnson) was an especially inspired way of examining issues such as the importance of give-and-take in a relationship.
Kirton deserves special commendation, as he is effective in comedic and dramatic scenes alike. His dedication to his roles makes him a delight to watch whether he’s playing a frustrated parent impatient with his estranged daughter (A Late Lunch) or a little boy devoted to his adopted father (Charlie and Ruth Jones’ Billy) – his performance in the latter, especially, really needs to be seen to be believed.
Crazy Little Thing is a triumph of moments that are, in turns, heart-warming and heart-wrenching. It handles its subject matter exceptionally well, exploring the ups and downs of love in everyday situations that will be familiar to everyone.
Indeed, that is another of the play’s strengths: anyone who’s ever felt the giddy rush of falling in love or experienced the firm, tangled ties of family relationships will find it easy to empathise with at least one of the many characters in the 13 sketches.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love is on until Sunday at Pentas 2, at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (Jalan Strachan, off Jalan Ipoh, Sentul Park). Performances are at 8.30pm daily; there is an additional 3pm matinee tomorrow and only a matinee (no evening show) on Sunday.
Tickets at RM30 (RM20 for students, senior citizens, and the disabled) are available at the box office (03-4047 9003). For more information call 03-4047 9000 or go to footstoolplayers.com/current.htm.
STAR article found here
From top: Ee Soon Wei and Adrene Wong portray a couple who discover their marriage has become a prison, while Jonathan Tan and Ann Choo play a married couple who keep score in their ledger books. Photos by Creative Clicks
When news came about that a theatre production entitled Crazy Little Thing Called Love was to be staged at the KL Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), many people were under the impression that it had something to do with the song of the same name made popular by the 1970s rock band Queen. It wasn’t.
What it did turn out to be wasn’t at all something we had expected. Theatre personality Colin Kirton – best remembered for roles in P Ramlee The Musical and Broken Bridges – created, produced and directed a two-hour theatre show comprising 13 vignettes between five and 15 minutes each, revolving around that crazy little thing called love, of course.
Armed with a cast of just seven, Crazy Little Thing Called Love was first performed in various churches across the Klang Valley. The idea of the show was born when the Malaysian chapter of Focus on the Family requested Footstool Players (Kirton’s theatre group, which generally stages plays in churches all over Peninsular Malaysia) to come up with a play for marriage enrichment seminars that it was organising.
The 25-minute programme that Footstool came up with, which was about family and relationships, received positive feedback and an extended version of that initial 25-minute sketch subsequently became part of the group’s repertoire. And it was only recently that an opportunity opened to stage it at KLPac.
Each of the 13 vignettes explores the various complexities pertaining to dating, marriage and family relationships. Although love may seem a clichéd topic for a play- let alone 13 – the end result didn’t come across as preachy or boring at all. In fact, seeing as how theatre has the ability to touch people in more ways than television can, we found it impossible not to empathise with the characters and to address those very roles in our own lives.
Particularly poignant pieces included hilarious look at the way men and women view relationships, with a narrator voicing out the thoughts of each character – a woman, looking too much into everything and unnecessarily worrying, and a man, who is most obsessed about his car that needs a service; a married couple who are suddenly unable to communicate with each other, end up in a nasty stalemate which eventually allows them to open up and begin to fix what went wrong; a child, always the worst victim of a failed marriage; and a young woman trying to reach out to her distant father while dealing with her internal battles.
Overall, the acting was very good, and the storylines were thoroughly absorbing. Very simple props brought each story to life, leaving the characters and the plots to take centre stage. Kirton more than earned his applause with his portrayal of a three-year-old charmer named Billy, who shows an uncanny ability to love and be loved by his adoptive father.
The night we caught Crazy Little Thing Called Love, it was a full house, with not even any standing space left. By the end of the show, it became clear why. Rather than preach an oversold, tired message of love, Crazy Little Thing Called Love portrayed this emotion in its true form – both the ugliness and the pain it causes, and the humour and joy it brings.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love features the talents of Ann Choo, Ee Soon Wei, Sean Low, Linora Low, Jonathan Tan, Adrene Wong and Colin Kirton. It runs until Nov 16 at KLPac, Jalan Strachan, off Jalan Ipoh, KL. Tickets at RM30. Call (03) 40479000 to book.
To simply delight you…everyday
Our opening night last Thursday now remains as one of the most memorable moments of 2008. We have made it to KL PAC, we made our debut! Thank you Lord I have so much to write about this experience and journey but presently, I would like to capture the support and appreciation to fellow Sara Lee-ians, of which has given me so much and plenty more.
Firstly, they have been extremely supportive and understanding in my efforts with performing arts. To be fair, they knew I dabbled in it, but unfamiliar with how much work was involved but it was always about managing expectations. As long as I delivered my work (which I sincerely I hope I did and much more) and that we manage timings, I should be able begin my crazy little journey this year.
So thank you for understanding boss(es) and cool colleagues which makes us all above a league yet a family in one way or another.
Right now, we’re close to the tail end with our final week. Wow! I can’t imagine so much has gone into this and so much has passed at the same time. But I am savouring every moment. Every single moment.
When I had my first conversation about the play with my head honcho i.e. the marketing director, she was kind enough to encourage a gathering for the entire team to come watch the play. Furthermore, she threw in a dinner plus the invitation of your ”plus one” i.e. spouses, bf/gf but no pets were allowed though 
It was very encouraging and so began my work, as a cataylst to merge their appreciation for the play, and also my role as being salt and light and a testimony to my passionate involvement with drama and the ministry. Obviously, during corridor conversations and over lunch meals, gave me more liberty to speak freely about the ministry and subject of love. Tendency where questions on how did you get involved, are you paid in anyway, the big WHY do you what you do; all came in good timely pockets of building a more concrete relationship with them.
So, here they are with their partners, right before the show, just after dinner:
For some it was their first time at KL PAC and they also came with no indication about the play other than the subject of LOVE. Glad to know and hear, that they thoroughly enjoyed it! To be frank, I was tad bit nervous with their coming, to think if I spot their faces and see a side smirk that would break me. But it was definitely an encouraging moment to see their support.
Unknown to me, they did more than just come. When I was done with the show, I told them I’ll come out to say hi and thank them for coming. Upon reaching the crowd, they were there and we acknowledged one another, head honcho started the clap offering and the rest followed with a gift of flowers. It was … wah!
Pat was capturing the moments well and dandy and it best illustrates the night:
The head and me.
The boyz of Sara Lee. The one in green is my boss
The laydees of Sara Lee
And how can we forget our sponsors, haha…
Sue Ann (Pos Ad) & The Head
Finally, all of us together with Ann & Adrene
