the non-existent recess... and a great show!

as always.. the recess week is packed with activities so much so that i still have to come back to sch everyday.. i've learnt not to expect to be able to rest and relax during recess week.. AND i actually wake up earlier everyday during the recess week than normal school days because i had to meet for project discussions.. alamak!

and just yesterday, i had to be in city hall for project discussion in the morning, be back in school for ENERGY campus concert in the afternoon, then get back to city hall again in the evening to watch Forbidden City. Then it's back to hall again to spend the night.. best!

BUT Forbidden City is definitely worth all the trouble.. what is ENERGY man.. seriously.. they have zero appeal to me.. Kit Chan is da BEST!!!

the sets are pretty minimalistic, yet versatile and stylish.. singing was definitely great! costume good, lights good, acting good.. makes a wonderful evening at the Esplanade.. and somehow ancient chinese history appeals to me.. becos it's so mystical.. no one actually knows what really happens, what's fabricated and what's not.. then and again all things we see today are probably fabricated in a way or another.. (conspiracy theory!)

so glad it was Kit Chan cos i've heard others who had gone to caught this run and it wasn't her.. a very big part of my motivation to part with the money to catch this play was becos of Kit Chan.. i would still go catch the show if it's not her, just that i might not spend that much.. haha..

i'm pretty into theatre these days.. spend more than a 100 buck these 2 months catching plays in theatre.. from chinese, to english, kids' show to mature themes, experimental plays to musical, i've seen them all these 2 months.. i've always liked theatre, but it's just too expensive a hobby to maintain.. sigh.. i wan more!

Forbidden City's great hit in Singapore is possible mainly due to Kit Chan and Dick Lee's appeal, or so i feel... and this kinda mega success in Singapore is only achievable in the English theatres.. i dun think i remembered any Mandarin plays staging in the Esplanade Theatre having such a long run with such response yet..

i remember doing an interview with TODAY not so long ago, lamenting why Mandarin theatres are lagging so far behind the English theatre in terms or participation and viewership.. Even with artistes like Nick Shen and Cai Li Lian in Snakes and Lovers, it probably only managed to draw 5% or less of the attention Forbidden City is having.. Blame it on budget maybe..

We need more support on the Mandarin local theatre scene!