Journal Entry 02.06.03

Part I

I hate writing. I just find it a pain. Not that I don’t like composing, just that I don’t like writing; you know, with a pen and a paper – which is why I’ve decided to have this journal typewritten and blogged onto http://www.victoriantheatre.com/why_square/journal.html.

I’ve never had the persistence or patience to log my daily life, but since the only thing constant in life is change, I shall give it a go.

This will be the very first entry into the very first journal of my life. So bear with me if I’m not an entertaining read. Can’t blame me. Inherent character flaw.

I woke up at seven thirty. Okay, eight twenty-five. I left my dear Indian Princess and the apartment at quarter to nine anticipating an hour long battle with the rest of the motorist on the Federal Highway. They chickened out and I got to Sunway College in less than twenty minutes.

After a big bowl of hot porridge and my daily dose of cold Ribena, the drink of Champions, I headed up to the “Top”, as Rey calls it. Met Anne James and one of my two course-mates, Suresh: Food Technologist, 24, bored of work, quit job to pursue the ever enticing romantic notion of becoming Shah Rukh Khan. Don’t quite agree with the last bit, but heck, to each his own. right? Shah Rukh Khan, Jacky Chan, Edward Norton… What’s the big difference, right?

Sadly, Rey informed us that the quota was not achieved and we were not going to start the two non-credit modules as hoped. After a rather interesting and refreshing conversation about theatre, Asian parents, modern education and the sort, we then headed down to the cafeteria for Rey offered to buy us food and/or drinks to make up for the cancellation. Suresh was strangely quiet during the conversation. Perhaps he was uncomfortable. Question is, with what – the company or the issues?

Something struck me during the cafeteria session – Rey offered to buy us drinks and Suresh answered, “Coffee, please…” or something like that. That disturbed me. I thought he should have at least went with Rey to get the coffee, not wait to be served, especially not by one’s lecturer who’s so much more senior, in age and experience. Perhaps it’s just me.

Shortly after, my other course-mate arrived (she had mistakenly thought the class was at 10.30 am) – Arianne: 20, Chinese, majoring in vocals with a little Piano work on the side, to be performing as part of an opera chorus at Istana Budaya in July. Interesting.

Anne then left us and Rey proceeded to give us a grand tour of Sunway College, as well as the food joints outside the campus and the car repair workshops, just in case. Man, it was HOT!

11.40 am-ish and Rey dismisses us saying that we are to meet on “Top” at 2.00 pm. Suresh, Arianne and myself then went to the Student Service Centre to basically sit and wait. And wait. And wait.

I hate waiting too.

Well, we tried ‘bonding’, but I kinda felt uncomfortable to go beyond the usual “A meets B and C” boundary. Don’t know why. Actually, I think I do. But let’s not get into that now.

To kill time, I basically called every single Tom, Samantha, Manikam, Ali, Ah Kow, and Thabo Meli (Criminal Law influence) I knew, trying to find us the vital fourth person. Not very successful, except for Salmah, but that failed too.

Noon came and Suresh and I went to get some lunch at the cafeteria. Had a lively conversation with Shao Siang (a friend) about investments, the economy and the sort. Li Yen’s (another friend) quite right. He does have rather simplistic and positive views on pretty much everything. Pity he’s trying to be 29 when he’s only 20. I am such a hypocrite.

At 2.00 pm, we entered the “Top” once more and was given the usual “first-lesson, hello how are you?” talk by Rey who told us about the course outline and requirements (this journal having special emphasis in the module). We were also informed that we were culpable of ‘devirginizing’ the Theatre. Nice.

Since the Western Michigan University (“WMU”) contingent was not present, Rey suggested to us to watch an Instant Café Theatre (“ICT”) rehearsal. I was kicked. Half an hour later, we were walking up the steps to the second floor of Top Hat Restaurant, into the ICT sanctum.

Part II

Familiar faces I saw as I entered – Pat Lu, Grace, Nell Ng, Patrick Teoh, Farah, Sean Ghazi, Jo Kukathas, Soefira Jaafar, Andre D’Cruz etc. Cool.

The rehearsal had already started and I sat quietly, watched and scribbled notes. These were some of my observations:
~ Jo is very calm and composed (and attentive) when directing;
~ Sean Ghazi is a very talented actor;
~ Farah is an amazing actress;
~ Sitting on the floor is not my forte and hurts my body;
~ The actors were all dressed extraordinarily sloppy, I mean, comfortably;
~ The room is not very large but the yellow paint is very attractive;
~ Sean’s character, Jacob, in the play is a fucking prick who’s also a mama’s boy that believes in the rather bastardly doctrine of male chauvinism;
~ Farah’s portrayal of Deso, an Indonesian domestic helper is so vivid it hurts;
~ Soefira is rather amusing fighting flies all through the play;
~ The white guy playing William has a very strong and powerful voice that is completely different when he’s talking normal conversations;
~ Nell Ng is indeed a very sexy and captivating lady;
~ Jacob has some very nice lines, one being “…the help helps, not gets help…” – simple but effective;
~ Andre still amazes me like he always did with his humbleness; etc.

After the rehearsal, Jo opened a Q & A session for all. I started the ball rolling asking about the flies. I noticed that Jo is very accepting of criticisms and comments but somehow feel that it is just a façade. She knows better than to listen to every single Tom, Dick and Harry. I really like the way she ‘ran’ the rehearsal. A far cry from the way I run mine. Quite different.

Many questions, comments, answers, criticisms and clarifications were made. At the end of it, this is what I felt and remember about it:
~ The script is rather complex, having many layers yet not too much to befuddle a person;
~ The ending is an exemplary display of Irony in action (likened to Ibsen’s Doll House by Rey and Jo);
~ I really like Deso’s character, especially how she is portrayed by Farah;
~ I am fascinated by the interplay between Jacob and Deso, especially how the latter at times mirrors the former;
~ In place of crap, Jo decided to use plungers – rather wise;
~ No one really knows who is Andre’s character;
~ The script works really well because it is packed with strong characters having good lines and a strangely uncomfortable notion that everyone is a “foreigner”, local or otherwise;
~ That power can be portrayed either with force or without, and that the latter seems more menacing than the former – the power of the unsaid and undone; etc.

Ghafir Akbar then came in and we were about to wrap up. Before I left, I took the opportunity to do what Rey suggested earlier – tell Jo how she’s one of the primary reasons why I enjoy theatre so much – except I did so in person rather through e-mail. Her response? “Sorry, what’s your name?” Oh well… I’m still very far from her as a theatre activist.

After giving a lift to Arianne to Sungai Wang, I then proceeded back home to my apartment and my Indian Princess… The rest is, well, private.

That’s all for this entry. It’s taken me an hour and a half almost. I’ve enjoyed it, surprisingly. Till tomorrow…