every second dripping off my fingertips: Alfie

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Ok so here it is: what I think of yesterday's performance.

The Cast:

Candice De Rozario
Eleanor Tan
Eu Jin Hwang
Jonathan Lum
Leow Siak Fah
Leslie Tay
Siong Hui Xuan
Tan Si Min Josephine
Tan Shou Chen
Windson Liong

Now You See Me
A freak laboratory accident turns a scientist invisible. In his unseen state, he sees his life in a new story.
The first play. de Rozario's performance was great, despite her character being blind, and not being able to use her eyes to convey the message. She definitely stood out more than Eu Jin in this one. We also see the first of Jo Tan. Boy is she a brilliant comedienne (and I loved the way how she came out of the cardboard box... brilliant). Shou Chen also complimented her character well, also the first we see of him (in comedy).

A Delicious Pretense
Just how often do people lie about themselves on the internet? A strangely mismatched couple uncover the truth - over a glass of chendol.
A cast of three is enough to bring across a kaleidoscope of emotions, and those emotions speak this one message: you don't have to be someone you're not. Eleanor does extremely well here, almost stealing the show from the rest of the actors. 'Almost' because of Shou Chen's hilarious performance as the dude in the coffee shop.

The Tale of the Pretty, Pretty Princess
Meet this beautiful Princess who is a plastic surgeon. One day, her wondrous Prince steps into her clinic for a nose job. A satire about the beauty of love, and the love of beauty.
Hui Xuan is absolutely gorgeous (and hilarious) here. Jo Tan is here again as the narrator, who interacts directly with the characters. Another cast of three, but enough to put up a stellar performance. Hui Xuan's character came of as your shop window mannequin, but the audience still felt emotions from her character. Not the strongest performance from Jonathan Lum though.

Peter & Pierre
A young man, Peter, confronts the figure of Pierre - his older self, to resolve the traumas of the last forty years.
Perhaps the most interesting pretense, yet one of the weaker performances of the night. Leow puts in a secure and assured performance, characteristic of the veteran. Leslie Tay however, dwarfed in comparison with his performance of Peter. In my opinion, it was quite disappointing.

Sunset Bloom
A couple on the verge of splitting up, rediscover and rekindle the love that first brought them together.
Such a sweet story this is. Excellently played (because it reminds me of JY's style). Eleanor, Hui Xuan, Eu Jin and Jonathan all had excellent performances; their characters were able to convey the most accurate emotion to such a heartwarming story of love and second chances. Excellent use of space and props.

Singapore Boys
Going through the rites of Basic Military Training (BMT) on Pulau Tekong, Justin faces up to love, loss, and the meaning of buddy-hood.
Shou Chen's portrayal of Justin showed that he isn't just a comedian, he can play serious roles as well. Your typical Singaporean play, mocking the establishment that is National Service. The ensemble, which included the ladies-which-guys-miss-during-NS, was very entertaining. Here we see Jo Tan again, and I have to say, she stood out (not for reasons which you think every guy thinks about... no... that one had a tinge of sarcasm in it).

And so
Best miniMusical: It's between Now You See Me and Sunset Bloom. I can't choose.
Best Actor: Tan Shou Chen. Versatile actor.
Best Actress: Jo Tan. She only played comic roles, but it was still enough to show what a talented actress she is.

somewhere a clock is ticking:
9:55 PM