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Designer: manikka
Resources: 1 2 3 4 5 6

By Celia Wren
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, July 27, 2007; C02

The Capital Fringe Festival contains a couple of theatrical productions that tug so determinedly at the boundaries of the art form, you almost expect to hear them snap.

Andrew Zox, who conceived, directed and choreographed "My Way Little Girl," terms his edgy 30-minute work an "installation piece." Performed on its opening night at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage -- performances continue through tomorrow outside the Warehouse Arts Complex -- the show is a near-wordless tableau of images evoking the risks of sex, the exploitation of women (through advertising in particular) and the controversy that always surrounds sex education in our society.

To maximize the shock factor, Zox (a Synetic Theater Company member) begins on a lulling note: a banjo player (Dan Mazer) picks his way through the bales of hay that litter the stage. He starts to play bluegrass music, then an eerie group of apparitions infiltrates the rustic landscape:

Hard-eyed women, wearing fur coats over lingerie, vamp in front of two sinister men, dressed in sandwich boards of Burberry-style plaid. (Kristopher Castle is costume designer.) As the sounds of flashbulbs go off, the women in the foreground writhe and freeze, as if posing for a Prada photo shoot in hell. Now and then, the men behind them raise grotesque black hands the size of chainsaws.

The erotic phantasmagoria becomes even more disturbing with the subsequent appearance, among other figures, of a prowling gynecologist in surgical attire, and a knee-sock-wearing schoolgirl whose limbs move jerkily like a puppet's. Graft dialogue onto this stuff and you'd have radical feminist agitprop, but in this form, it has the potency of a nightmare and the dignity of a Renaissance masque.

For fare that's as effectively jarring but a whole lot funnier, you can take in "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes)," a blend of standup comedy and surrealist "happening" that has become a cult hit in Chicago. Written, directed and performed by a group called the Neo-Futurists (founding director Greg Allen is credited as creator), the show runs at Woolly Mammoth through Sunday.

Imagine a no-holds-barred jujitsu squad deconstructing a sheaf of Beckett plays with help from Stephen Colbert, and you'll have a feel for the manic energy and barbed whimsy of this production.

The ferment unfolds according to several rules: An audience handout lists 30 tantalizing titles -- for instance, "One-Minute Competitive Candy Necklace Nibble"; "a green that's hard to describe"; "Human Ventriloquist Act #47: The Audacity of Hype"; and "If the city of Milwaukee went to high school with me, I might have signed her yearbook like this." Audience members call out numbers, and the five knockout writer/performers, dressed work-casual, launch into the piece with the matching title.

A definitive description of the show is not possible, since the lineup of playlets changes daily, with one or more new titles replacing older ones (a die is cast to determine the exact number). On opening night, however, the skits ranged from quirky and dadaist to political and wickedly dark. "Half Naked Ninja Pudding Pie" featured shirtless guys with headbands, whipping up Jell-O pudding with expressions of Shaolin Temple fierceness. "What it's going to be like until the Supreme Court gets its [act] together and sorts this out" was a gleeful satire about gay marriage laws (wind-powered cars were mentioned). The priceless "Afterschool Special Presents: Fake Monologues With Horrible Advice" lived up to its name.

But sometimes the tone grew solemn: At one point, for example, the performers -- Bilal Dardai, Dean Evans, Sharon Greene, Kristie Koehler and Jay Torrence -- held up pages with the names of soldiers severely wounded in Iraq.

No matter what the mood, the clock was always ticking, en route to the 60-minute mark. (Theatergoers trying to sandwich in several Fringe productions should note, however, that with introductory and closing remarks and curtain call, the show's duration is closer to 1:15.)

With audience participation required at regular intervals (that competitive candy necklace nibbling is no spectator sport), "Too Much Light" is not a show for patrons who require the fourth wall. But then again, if you're a stickler for such old-fashioned matters, would you be at the Fringe to begin with?

© 2007 The Washington Post Company

~9:53 pm

Naturally Seven - "Another You"

I'm down on my knees will you forgive me
I failed a million times
I treated you so bad
How can you still love me
You wiped my weeping eyes as I cry
I'm so unworthy to be by your side
And I will never forget this moment in time
I'll be needing you in my life

I'll never find another love
I'll never find another you
I'll never find another heart
As pure and true
I love you and everything about you

So lost in a world filled with temptation
I just cannot let go
The ocean surround me
I was sinking so quickly
Holding on I tried as I swallow my pride
I saw life flashing before my eyes
Right then I knew
It was just a matter of time
I’ll be needing you in my life

I'll never find another love
I'll never find another you
I'll never find another heart
As pure and true
I love you and everything about you

I'll never find another love
I'll never find another you
I'll never find another heart
As pure and true
I love you and everything about you

I'll unbreak your heart
I'm sorry I disappoint you
I love you so much
I'm starting right here
I'm starting right now
Forever I will serve You
Be honest and true

I'll never find another love
I'll never find another you
I'll never find another heart
As pure and true
I love you and everything about you

I'll never find another love
I'll never find another you
I'll never find another heart
As pure and true
I love you and everything about you

I'll never find another love again
I'll never find another you

~2:22 am

I want this...can someone buy for me? Pretty please? LOL...





Ekto Hoodie Deviantart.com
RM 163.61

Description
This softer than soft zippered hoodie will undoubtedly make you king of the block. It’s fresh enough to get you noticed, but still dark in color to keep you camouflaged in the alley. Featuring both chest and sleeve design locations you’ll have double the impact. So soft, so stylish and still lightweight enough to wear on crisp summer evenings.

Printed on Unisex American Apparel Hoodies
Hoodie Sizing here

Flex Fleece (50% Polyester / 50% Cotton Fleece) construction

Click Here if you really want to buy it for me. More information. *wink wink*

~1:57 am

I don't know who performed in this video, all I know it's THE most powerful mime/skit I've ever seen in my entire life.
Reduces me to tears.
It's a MUST-WATCH!



The song is "Everything" by Lifehouse.

~4:25 pm

Honestly, the best mando-pop/rock band has got to be F.I.R. Lead vocals are awesome, keyboardist is brilliant with his compositions, guitarist is suave in his playing, what else can you expect? Song lyrics are moving and poetic, gosh...
Not only that, they are able to blend thai/cambodian ethnic music with mainstream rock very well for this song titled 千年之恋 (Love for a thousand years).

竹林的灯火 岛国的沙漠
七色的国度 不断飘逸风中
有一种神秘 灰色的漩涡 将我卷入了迷雾中
看不清的双手 一朵花传来谁经过的温柔
穿越千年的伤痛 只为求一个结果
你留下的轮廓 指引我 黑夜中不寂寞
穿越千年的哀愁 是你在尽头等我
最美丽的感动 会值得 用一生守候

Still, their best song is 我们的爱 (Our Love) even if it's quite old. The music video just makes me tear, bittersweet tears.

~12:24 am

Anne Boleyn she kept her tin,
Which all her hopes and dreams were in,
She plans to run away with him forever,
(Never to be seen again)
Leaves a note and starts to choke,
Can feel the lump that's in her throat,
It's raining and she leaves her coat in silence.

We're sorry but we disagree,
The boy is vermin can't you see,
We'll drown his sins in misery,
Rip him out of history.

People marching to the drums,
Everybody's having fun to the sound of love.
Ugly is the world we're all in,
If I'm right then prove me wrong,
I'm stunned (to find a place we belong).

Who is your lover?
I couldn't tell,
When hell freezes over,
That's when I'll tell,
Who is your lover?
I couldn't tell,
When will this stop?

Racing, Pacing,
In the dark,
She's searching for a lonely heart,
She finds him but his heart had stopped,
She breaks down.

We're sorry but your majesty,
Refusing orders from the queen
Results in a monstrosity.

(Remembers a voice and hears him sing.)

People marching to the drums,
Everybody's having fun to the sound of love.
Ugly is the world we're all in,
If I'm right then prove me wrong,
I'm stunned (to find a place we belong)

Who is your lover?
I couldn't tell,
When hell freezes over,
That's when I'll tell,
Who is your lover?
I couldn't tell,
When will this stop?

People marching to the drums,
Everybody's having fun to the sound of love.
Ugly is the world we're all in,
If I'm right then prove me wrong,
I'm stunned (to find a place we belong)

Who is your lover?
I couldn't tell,
When hell freezes over,
That's when I'll tell,

When will this stop!

~6:19 pm

There are 6 different types of "mmm"s

mmm in agreeing/yes

mm mmm in disagreeing/no

mmmmmmmmmmm in showing satiation/satisfaction

mmm? in the question-like manner

mmmmmmm in anger/displeasure

mm for nonchalance

and all will be fully in my vocabulary

~2:17 am

woke up at 0430 today.
went into singapore at 0515.
sent dad off to china.
came back at 0700.
ate dim sum till 0800.
did new passport till 1000.
i look better in the new passport.
my photographed nose is still big.
taking the 1130 bus back to subang on 14/7.
i'm in desperate need to see a dentist.
results are coming out on 13/7.
my semester two timetable is clashing.
i want to change one unit.
i bought a really belated present for benjamin chen aka bong bong.
the present is shared between zhi ai and i.
i'll be seeing them this friday.
which reminds me, i need to visit my secondary school soon.
and i need to finish up "THE SONG" and "THE FINALE".
i'll see you later sweets.

~11:06 pm

I am so sensitive.
Yes I am.
You don't believe me?
Well
My nose is sensitive
sinuses
My lungs are sensitive
asthma
To top it all off
My skin is uber-sensitive
eczema
Seems like I got the whole enchilada

Oh, HEAL ME!

~10:32 pm

Can you hear the thrashing sounds

Of turbulence in me

Rising deep in my chest

Crashing in my womb

 

Can you hear the agony

Of knives piercing in me

Pushing their way through the flesh

Stirring up my pain

 

Let me scream

Please

Let me howl past my distant shreds of dignity

 

Let me tear

Please

Let me rip apart this façade of coolness

 

Can't you see through the fancy words

The complexion of merriment

Can't you see the darkness lurking

So deep it cuts and stings

 

Strip me down to

The empty stone statue

All asphyxiates have been worn off

Can I still see smiles from here on?

 

Let me cry

Please

Let me weep into the pale moonlight

 

Let me sleep

Please

Let me dream of the light that enters

 

And shuns off all the obscurity

~9:20 pm

It is strange how
oftentimes the air
speaks.

We are sane as long
as we hear voices
when there are none.

We are insane when
we hear nothing and
worse we are deaf.

Chapter II (front cover) of THE SINGER

Oftentimes Love is
so poorly packaged
that when we have
sold everything to
buy it, we cry in
finding all our
substance gone and
nothing in the tinsel
and the ribbon.

Hate dresses well
to please a buyer

Chapter XI (front cover) of THE SINGER

"Are you betrothed?" she asked.

"No, only loved," he answered.

"And do you pay for love?"

"No, but I owe it everything."

an excerpt from Chapter XI of THE SINGER

The Singer felt a burst of pity.
"We sometimes give ourselves
to hate in masquerade and only
think it love. And all our lives
we sing the song we thought
was right. The Canyon of the Damned
is filled with singers who
thought they knew a love song...
Listen while I sing for you
a song of love."

an excerpt from Chapter XI of THE SINGER

To God obscenity is not uncovered
flesh. It is exposed intention.
Nakedness is just a state of heart.
Was Adam any more unclothed when
he discovered shame? Yes.

Chapter XIV (front cover) of THE SINGER

Humanity is fickle.
They may dress for a
morning coronation and
never feel the need to
change clothes to
attend an execution in
the afternoon.

So Triumphal Sundays
and Good Fridays
always fit comfortably
into the same April
week.

Chapter XV (front cover) of THE SINGER

Instituitions have a poor safety
record. The guillotines of
orthodoxy keep a clean blade that
is always honed for heresy. And
somewhere near the place where
witches die an unseen sighn is
posted whose invisible letters
clearly read:
WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT
0 WORKING DAYS LOST TO
INJURY OR ACCIDENT.
- THE MANAGEMENT

Let us pray.

Chapter XIX (front cover) of THE SINGER

"What would you like to be when
you grow up, little girl?"

"Alive."

Chapter XXIII (front cover) of THE SINGER

~4:55 pm

When the night is falling
And the day is done
I can hear You calling "Come"
I will come while you sing over me

When the night surrounds me
All my dreams undone
I can hear You calling "Come"
I will come while you sing over me

When the night would hide my way
I will listen until
I hear You say

"How I love you, child
I love you
How I love you, child
I love you
How...I love you"

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

When this life is over
And the race been run
I will hear You calling "Come"
I will come while you sing over me

------

I can't remember when I wrote this song. Probably during my early secondary school days I guess, judging from the particular page it's on in my special book. :-)

But this reminded me of my experience with God when I was just praying before going to bed. It was...revealingly sweet.

~6:18 pm

I think Eddie.G would like this song...

Oh the churchbells are ringin' in the schoolyard,
And we all went out those days
The bully said "Mick would you fancy a rumble?"
I said "Yes, it's time to play!"

Oh the nuns and the priests they grabbed their Rosaries
As they pulled our bodies apart
The bully said "Mick you lost the fight, but you've gained my respect!
You fight with so much heart!"

We're as stubborn as mules
With our blood on fire
When we ain't at Sunday mass
We'll look any man straight in his eyes and say
Kiss my Irish ass!
You better kiss my Irish ass!

Oh the husbands and wives, they had a neighborhood pack
They called the Mackeys white trash behind our backs (White Trash!)
I was way too young to understand that
But if I did, I'd given it right back

Oh me dad, he'd be drunk on the lawn,
Yelling and screaming like he do
But sometimes my old man felt what he was feeling,
Sometimes Mr. Mackey spoke the truth

We're as stubborn as mules
With our blood on fire
When we ain't at Sunday mass
We'll look any man straight in his eyes and say
Kiss my Irish ass!
You better kiss my Irish ass!

Oh me grandpa passed through Ellis Island,
From the greatest of the Motherlands
For he worked, provided for his family
He was a dedicated welding man
And he knew right from wrong like day and night,
He could whip any fool in a bareknuckle fight
He talked of country like he preached of God,
One hell of an Irishman!

We're as stubborn as mules
With our blood on fire
When we ain't at Sunday mass
We'll look any man straight in his eyes and say
Kiss my Irish ass!
You better kiss my Irish ass!


Oooohh, I'm of a distant relation to John Redman,
He was one of the greatest Irish Rebels of his day
One bastard to another (Bastard!), on down the line
And this is what my son will say:

We're as stubborn as mules
With our blood on fire
When we ain't at Sunday mass
We'll look any man straight in his eyes and say
Kiss my Irish ass!
We're as stubborn as mules
With our blood on fire
When we ain't at Sunday mass
We'll look any man straight in his eyes and say
Kiss my Irish ass!
You better kiss my Irish ass!

~4:02 pm

King Lear
by William Shakespeare

The Seagull
by Anton Chekhov

Directed by Trevor Nunn

Featuring the Royal Shakespeare Company ensemble including Ian McKellen.

In a huge coup for Singapore, Singapore Repertory Theatre brings in the Royal Shakespeare Company as the premiere stop (and the only Asian destination) on their world tour of this double-bill.

First performed 400 years ago, the tragedy of King Lear remains one of the greatest plays in world drama, as Shakespeare investigates old age, mortality, family and man's need for religious belief and the capacity to endure.

Chekhov's masterpiece The Seagull threads comic and tragic situations in the lives of a famous actress, her son and their lovers. As the young strive for fulfilment, their older counterparts look back to youthful dreams that remain unrealised.

Presented in collaboration with Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay

DATES
King Lear
19 - 21 July 8pm
(The role of 'Lear' will be played by Ian McKellen)

The Seagull
22 July 2pm
(The role of 'Sorin' will be played by William Gaunt)

22 July 8pm
(The role of 'Sorin' will be played by Ian McKellen)

TICKET PRICE (Exclude Booking Fee)

Evening Show
Standard - S$400, S$300, S$250, S$200, S$160, S$120, S$80,
$400 (VIP Box Seat),
S$60 (Restricted View).

Matinee Show
Standard - S$150, S$120, S$90, S$60, S$40,
$150 (VIP Box Seat),
S$30 (Restricted View).

------

but guess what? I can't make it, and I'm going to miss this spectacular show with Ian McKellen, all because I'm going off to start Semester 2 in Monash U.
Ugh...

PS: Plus I don't have that much money to go watch Ian McKellen perform...goodness, just to watch him is over S$100 bucks, while the matinee (cheaper) show without him costs WAY much more less. Well, what do you expect...he's a bluidy Hollywood star. A-List even.

~3:38 pm

They are my friends. Loyal.

Never to change. Never to demand.

There won't be a single petal left on the roaring sea

With waves crashing abound on drastic rocks

Sails soon ripped from status and pride

Floods of fury rain in lines

But these still remain pure and light

Honest, loyal.

Never to change, never to demand.

~5:27 am