August - Month Of Academic Freedom & Performing Arts

August 4th, 2006

and my semester break is finally here! a short two weeks, but a break nonetheless. i’m heading to Sri Lanka in a couple of hours, and i mean that quite literally cos i’m supposed to be leaving for the airport at about 6am but i am instead sitting here blogging, and also indulging in the time-sucking thingy that is MSN Messenger.

i havent packed either :( i used to love packing cos i used to find it very exciting. not that it’s a hassle now or anything, but i just keep thinking that i can do it in 5 minutes .. which of course is just another one of those optimistic delusions i am fond of fabricating. inevitably, i will end up forgetting to pack certain things cos of the mad rush. i met my second boyfriend cos i forgot to bring my contact lens solution to Penang 4 years ago. but things like that dont happen anymore.

or will they?! :D *cue optimistic delusion*

i’m quite looking forward to this sun&surf getaway with the parentals. NO BROTHERS HAHAHAHA. but they dont care anyway. they’re sitting at home going NO SISTER HAHAHAHA. fuckers.

anyways, this month looks like it’s quite the performing arts month. a few people have asked me to compile a list of the stuff that’s going on, so okay here’s the list. of course, it is a biased list because i’m only including what i wanna go watch … heeheehee.

here are the plays and musicals happening this month, in chronological order :

1. Endgame
2nd - 6th August
8.30 PM
RM40, RM20 (students)
KLPac Pentas 2
Endgame Blog

Endgame is a sad and bleak play centered around depression and dependency, written by the reknowned Samuel Beckett. it tells a despondent tale of the relationship between a blind man Hamm and his servant Clov. Gavin Yap (The Homecoming, Julius Caesar, Fastest Clock) directs this one, and it stars Ng U-En (The Homecoming), Alvin Wong, Kelvin Wong (Rojak!, The Oral Stage) and Sharifah Amani (Sepet, Gubra).

i just watched this play tonight - my very short review is below the cut at the bottom of the post - and i thought it was pretty good and definitely worth a watch. the hearsay is that Sunday’s shows are sold out, so that only leaves the Friday and Saturday shows. in other words, hurry and get your tickets!!!

call KLPac at 03-4047 9000 to purchase your tickets. as usual, it’s free seating so get there once the doors open to nab the front seats! the close proximity of audience and actors is the total beauty of Pentas 2.

2. Puteri Gunung Ledang : The Musical
6th - 21st August
8.30 PM with 3 PM matinees on Sat & Sun shows
Ticket prices range from RM30 - RM180
Istana Budaya KL
Website

Starring Tiara Jacquelina, Stephen Rahman Hughes and AC Mizal - the last time PGL The Musical was staged, it shook KL like crazy. touted largely as the most successful local contemporary musical production, tickets sold like crazy once people caught wind of just how good a show it was. i was one of the kesian people who couldnt get tickets in time, even AFTER they extended the staging dates (those were snapped up within hours, man..), so you can imagine how glad i am to know that PGL The Musical is back. i’ve heard so much about it, and i absolutely cannot waittttttttt. 21st August cant come soon enough! (yes, i’ve smartened up and have gotten tickets early)

call Istana Budaya at 03-4026 5558 to purchase your tickets, or do it via online booking at ticket2u. seriously man, this is the Malaysian must-watch of the century. MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST.

3. Refugee : Images, The Musical
9th - 13th August
8.30PM with 3PM matinees on the 12th and 13th
RM45, RM55, RM65
Panggung Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur

Refugee:Images is an original piece written and directed by acclaimed local playwright and director, Mr Chin San Sooi! hehehe. he’s the coolest person in the world, the reason behind my A1 in SPM Literature, and i <3 and respect him to bits. (he's Terrence’s favourite teacher too, muahahaha!) younger folk would probably not recognize his work in the local performing arts scene - he wrote/directed stuff like Lady White Snake, Yap Ah Loy, Emily On Emerald Hill. basically stuff that your parents would have watched in the late 80’s / early 90’s.

Refugee:Images is set during the time of the Vietnam War, and is centered around the Vietnamese folk who escape to Malaysia to seek refuge and a new life. it’s a musical based on the story of their hopes, fears and desire for a better future - and this is juxtaposed to scenes of local Malaysians who are also searching for hope even in the turmoil of living. the message is to highlight that everybody, and not just immigrants from wartorn countries, are ultimately refugees seeking to fulfill their lives and to find the meaning to it.

The Canticle Singers are the choir group that presents this show, and Isaac Chia works with Anson Ong in the musical and lyrical aspect of this production. if you have watched SIB’s absolutely BRILLIANT musical in 2004 titled ‘Drunk Before Dawn’, you’ll recognize Isaac Chia as one of the two artistic talents behind the whole show. he’s super talented, and i think the combo of him and Mr Chin (artistic director) and HK Chong (musical director) is going to produce one hell of a show that will just take your breath away. this is going to be really honest and heartwarming musical.

tickets can be purchased through Axcess, whether online or through phone booking at 03-7491 9999.

4. The Two Of Us
9th - 20th August
8.30 PM, 3PM on Sundays
RM40, RM20 (students), RM25 (matinee, tues to thurs shows)
Actors Studio Bangsar

i dont really know a lot about this play (Mr Mushroom, care to clarify?) but from what little i know about it, it’s a combination of two acts. both are comedies and are supposed to guarantee lots and lots of laughs :) sorry i cant provide more information cos i have absolutely no clue what’s going on here. BUT the reason you should watch this is cos of the cast. check this out - they’ve got Ari Ratos (recently in Fastest Clock and Julius Caesar) who’s an absolutely amazing seasoned actor, Rashid Salleh (of Kopitiam fame) who is really half the reason i go watch Actorlympics all the time, and Joanna Bessey who completely and totally stole the show in the recent staging of Fastest Clock In The Universe. the three of them are more than enough reason to convince me that this is a play that should not be missed at all costs!

tickets can be purchased at The Actors Studio in BSC or by calling them at 03-2094 1400.

5. Broken Bridges The Musical
19th August - 3rd September
8.30PM, 3PM on Sundays
RM80, RM60, RM40 (students)
KLPac Pentas 1

okay because i REALLY should start packing, i’m just going to say that the reason you should watch this is because 1) everyone who went to the preview of this musical said it TOTALLY ROCKS, 2) it’s going to really capture the essence of old Ipoh, 3) Douglas Lim is going to sing, 4) it just looks like it’s going to totally rock. this is another show i absolutely cannot wait to go for. check out this page for more information, synopsis, cast & crew and the like!

6. Emily of Emerald Hill
20th August
8.30 PM
RM150
Shangri La Hotel

Emily of Emerald Hill was written a loooong time ago by Singaporean Stella Kon, and is once again brought to Malaysian soil by MR CHIN SAN SOOI! Pearlly Chua plays Emily again as she has for the past 3000 billion times, and knows the role so well that she can deliver it with 100% perfection in her sleep. this is a story of the life of Emily and all that she goes through to become matriarch of a rich and distinguished household - including the suicide of her son and detachment from her husband. all in all, a poignant tale that’s going to be very beautiful and very real onstage.

i have absolutely no idea how you are supposed to purchase tickets, but Mr Chin says to call 03-2074 3525 so i guess that is what you have to do.

——–

okay i better go pack argh

Entry Filed under: Events, General