The Wiz

Once upon a time there lived in Kansas a little girl named Dorothy, who liked nothing better than to play around with her little doggy Toto. One day a great big Tornado came and whisked her away into the magical world of Oz, where she met a bunch of misfit friends and had some adventures together. On their way to Oz they decided to drop in on good old SL and have some fun with the locals. I’m talking about the newest play to go on board @ the Wendt. “The Wiz” put together by the talented people of the Wendy Whatmore Academy. They had done an excellent job with a cast full of kids and youngsters. It was also the first time that I saw a canine actor taking the stage on a SL production. It was a small roll but it managed to do it very well. A star is born, two thumbs up. Not to say the least of the human cast also who did a wonderful job of brining alive an old classic.

The only thing I’m pissed off is some of the audience members. Some guys in the balcony were shouting and making remarks while the play was going on and made it difficult for the others to hear the dialogues. Some people just don’t know how to behave in a place. I mean being boisterous is one thing, but being obnoxious in a public place and making a nuisance out of yourself is just plain rude. These idiots should be hung by their ears. Some people just don’t understand that there is a proper place and time for everything. Who is to blame for it? The parents? The teachers? The government? Hmmm… blame the government it’s easier. Unfortunately this is something you can blame the government for. I say absentee parents are at fault. We should put up notices saying “People with improper behavior prosecuted or shot”; that should get their heads working.

Other than that the play was great. Congrats to all the people @ the Wendy Whatmore Academy for putting on an excellent show.

Ritmico Con Spirito

‘Rhythm with Spirit’ was exactly what it was at the indoor brass band display organized by the brass band of St Peters College, to mark their Golden Jubilee. The halls of the BMICH vibrated to the sounds of the drums and the horns.

It was an excellent show with more than 20 invited schools participating. All them were equally talented ( but of course Peterites are always better) and resulted in a series of great performances, to keep the audience enthralled and their feet tapping to the beat. Although the show was a bit long, nearly six hours, it certainly didn’t feel that long. There was some trouble with the overhead projectors they were using to show a presentation. But that can be dismissed because you never know what devilry these electronic gizmos can do. They seem to know exactly when you need them and decides to break down. Other than that everything was great.

Music is the medicine for the soul. I don’t know everybody else, but it is for me. Nothing than some good music to relax after a hard days work and make your worries disappear. I wish that I had understood these things when I was little. I should have listened to my mum when she nagged me to practice the piano. When other kids were practicing two – three hours a day, I barely touched the thing maybe and hour a week. Yeah like that’ll make you the next Billy Joel…


All the very best wishes to the guys and gals who took part in ‘Ritmico Con Spirito’ and may they have great futures ahead.

Keep on Rockin!!!

Cheers

The Government Inspector

The mere mention of the name should send shivers down the spines of cheating, stealing and good for nothing government officials. Well don’t worry yourselves; nobody is coming on an inspection. I’m talking about the play recently put on by the Old Royalist Dramatist Club at the Lionel Wendt. It is their version of the play written by Russian playwright Nikolai Gogol, which makes fun of the bureaucracy and corruption within the Russian government during the reign of Tsar Nicholas I. You can learn more about it here.

This version is one of the many done throughout the years by various theatre companies, and it was pretty good. Unfortunately not many people came for the opening night. The result of course the people who bought balcony tickets got pushed down to the lower floor. Lucky me! Acting was pretty ok, although I thought there was bit of overacting sometimes. Further more some improvements can be made on sound. But overall it was good.

The story is a pretty funny story, but an appropriate one for the times. It may be set in the 1800s but it can be taken as a parody for the situation these days. I guess nothing much changes over time. Corruption and misuse of public property is nothing new. You can probably find examples even in the times of the Pharos. Greed is a part of man since time began and nothing can change that. Corruption will have a long and healthy life.

If you’re looking for example today, you don’t have to look any further than good old SL. Take for instance, admitting your child to a school. It doesn’t matter if it’s a popular one or not, you have to grease the Principle first before doing anything. Otherwise the poor kid won’t have a school to go to, or you’ll have to enroll him in an International school. Most of the government department’s have a knack of moving very slowly, and comes across many red tape. It’s like trying to row a boat through a pool of mud. I personally know several people who had problems getting their house plans passed from the relevant authorities. They drag the whole thing unnecessarily, either by creating new conditions and finding some fault with the plans, or some small problem somewhere which they turn into a big thing. They drag it on until they get their little bonuses. The people ultimately get frustrated and give payola to these officials to get the thing passed. Otherwise building their dream home may take for ever. So the secret to getting things moving and cutting out the red tape is to introduce some additives into the system, something to inspire the people in charge. Think of it like putting NOS in your car to make it fly off the road. This doesn’t always have to be cold hard cash; maybe a bottle of Scotch (or Gal depending on taste), a nice trip or two, some nice jewelry etc. These have been known to miraculously speed up lethargic government officials. Believe me, after a few bribes they’ll be your best mates ready to do anything for you. That is how the system works.

Recently however, I’m happy to say that there’s been a crack down in bribery and corruption. Citizens are not taking it lying down. They are making complaints, and the government is taking notice. A large number of arrests and prosecution have taken place over the past few years of bribe takers and corrupt officials. Let’s hope that this course of action is carried on to the future and people will think twice about accepting or giving bribes. Hopefully we can get rid of this virus and work towards developing the country.

I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.
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Pyramus & Thisby

Jehan Aloysius and Centerstage Productions has done it again with their version of Pyramus & Thisby, with a local touch. Midsummer nights dream as you’ve never seen before. As expected from these guys, it was a different experience.

I was a bit worried when I heard it was going to be an open air event, with our lovely weather being what it is. But the rain gods must be theater buffs too coz the weather held up (for the first night anyway). The play area was the St. Josephs College quadrangle, centered around a huge tree (…now don’t’ ask me what kind). The whole outdoor setting gave an added punch to the play. I personally don’t think it would have been this good in an indoor setting. Anyway who wants to be stuck inside a stuffy old theater?

The acting was of course great. There was a lot of dancing and acrobatics involved and they pulled everything off excellently. Great choreography too. The use of traditional drummers, mask dancers and fire eaters helped to make it more colorful.

All in all it was good stuff. Its adaptation into the local setting was excellent; you almost forget it’s a western classic. And best of all it was funny…

So hats off to Jehan and the gang for a night of unforgettable entertainment.

Cheers!!!

Oliver!

I know it’s been a coupla weeks since this happened but you know how time always gets in the way of life…

For those that don’t know what I’m talking about, Oliver! was the latest production by the Workshop Players that went on the boards during October @ the Wendt. As for me, I had the fortunate experience of participating in this wonderful project (Not acting mind you, but front of house). Mainly because some of my friends were acting and working backstage and to them I say thanks for dragging me into it.

Let me clear something up first. I am not a hardcore theater buff. I didn’t even like theater when I was in school. I got interested in plays and drama after sitting through a performance of the “Lion King” (Workshop Players of course). That also happened because a friend of mine was acting in it and he made some threats. But after watching that amazing production let’s say that I saw the light. So I don’t have the academic qualifications or whatever to criticize them and I’ll leave that to the professionals. I’m just your everyday Joe who likes to catch a play whenever time permits. I personally don’t like to compare one production with another coz each one is unique. Different stories, different directors and different casts. It maybe the same story but depending on the people involved it can have many different interpretations. Of course you may have some ideas about how things should be done, but that’s beside the point. Note them down for the time when you get to direct a play (like that will happen before hell freezes over!!!). I always think of them as something new and approach it with an open mind and so far enjoyed all that I have watched. But then again it all depends on the tastes of the individual as well. Maybe I’m too dumb to analyze and scrutinize, but that’s ok. I just want to be entertained.

Earlier as an audience member I didn’t quite fully appreciate the work that goes into to putting a production on boards. You only get to see two hours of a final product resulting from months of very hard work. But after hanging around backstage with Oliver I have a whole new perspective on these plays. I mean the dedication of these guys and gals are amazing, even the little kids. (Ashamed to say that I don’t work that hard!!!). And to thinks they all do it while balancing work or school. Why do they do it? Simply because they love it. At the end of everything they may not get paid, but they have a priceless satisfaction of doing something amazing.

As for the play what can I say? Truly amazing!!! Stupéfier!!! Überraschen!!! el sorprender!!! Better than Broadway (Of course I’ve never been to Broadway, but I suspect this would have been better) and I’m sure a lot of people who came will agree with me. No point in going on about it coz everybody knows that it was marvelous.

Salute to all the Workshop Players and Jerome De Silva for a great job done well!!!

Can’t wait for the next production

Cheers!!!