photo taken from the programme book
Went to NTU Hall One's prod on sunday night, with Aaron and Xuying. (12/02/06)
It was nice meeting them. Aaron is always a person of fun. Although I'm not that close to him, I can always feel that sincerity when he talks.. he is someone who you'll never run out of topics with despite not contacting each other that often. And Xuying.. is still as cute as ever! Really appreciated the fact she took the time to come despite she having to leave during the interval... Seeing them made me miss our House Com days.. really wish to meet up with all of them one of these days... Delta House rocks!
The play was staged at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Campus 3.
I was invited to watch this musical-comedy-love story by Ching Chui, who wrote ALL THE SONGS in the play herself!! Which I think is damn cool la... I really see her put in a lot of effort in her music and she must be so so so so proud of herself. She ought to!
beauty and the beast =p
Yah saying this I feel quite guilty too. I promised to help her but in the end I was too caught up with things in camp and didn't like even help a bit..
But still, after saying it for the 1000th time, I am so so so so proud of you Ching Chui!!
A flip through the programme book confirmed what I heard from drewie. Miss ANG CHE YIN is in the play!!
I saw Julynn and Weiqi among the seats and went to talk to them.
Me: "So qiao ma? Heard from andrew you coming to support zhiying izzit? You asked desmond and drew to come right?"
Julynn: " Yah I got only two tix.. Then andrew go Hong Kong ma, and desmond don't want to come alone la."
Me: "Wa lao bo jio lor."
Julynn: "I thought Bing De wouldn't come for this kind of show one, so... *giggles*"
Me: "Wa lao I very 'musical' de hor!! Aniwae zhiying is the main lady ah? Layla izzit?"
Julynn: "No la, last year she's the lead lady liao. So this year she plays the lead's MUM!"
*Both laughs* HAHAHAHAHA
A re-check with the programme book re-affirms that.
Auntie Ang - like the image drewie? =P
From the synopsis: (Forget-me-not is) The heart-warming story of Dong, a man intellectually slower than normal people, and Layla, a free-spirited and kind-hearted girl ever ready to pursue her dreams, tells us that being handicapped in one way does not mean to be handicapped in every single way. Our protangonist teaches us valuable lessons about life that most people take for granted in their lives. Follow the couple as they move from one decade to the next, exploring possibilities they never knew possible and finally making decisions that would impact them for the rest of their lives. Come and join us as NTU Hall One S.T.A.R Productions bring you into a realm of music and fairytale with this music comedy that highlights individuality, love and kinship...in Forget-Me-Not.
'live' band at the play - is there anything more cool than that?
The show started well, with Dong being bullied and Layla stopping the bullies and lending him a helping hand. Dong fell in love with this 'angel' and friendship developed. Layla then broke up with her boyfriend and had quarrels with the family.
some of the cast
Dong is the only one who stood by her through her ordeals.. songs went in between the shows showing Dong's mum pride for his son despite his handicap, Dong's love for his 'angel' Layla, the friendship of students in school, and Tommy's (Dong's friend) 'bastardity' by using Dong's $ to woo Layla.
close-up on the band - ching chui's at the piano!
It was then half-time - Xuying left and Julynn and Weiqi came to talk to me.
Zhiying then appeared from backstage and we took a photo together.. it's not that common u see zhiying so 'auntie'! But the way, she was damn good la.
proof =p
Acting damn 'auntily' was lotsa 'auntie' body languages and spilling words out of her mouth like rap lidat. I never knew that her voice is so sharp until that night!
aaron has grown taller! (as if haha) check out zhiying's 'mole'!
Then the play resumed. Layla went to university, and Dong went to work with his uncle at the drinks stall.
at the 'uni'
Layla then quits school to join Tommy's modelling company, and throw tantrums at Dong who advises her to complete her studies. Tommy's company collapses, and Layla can't pay her debts incurred for the modelling courses. Dong sold his paintings drawn for Layla and help her pay off her debts. Layla's parents finally see the good in Dong and accepted him. Layla found out about Dong's love for her while chancing upon his dairy and they marry. Layla suffered a 'memory-deteriorating' disease and Dong accommpanied her til the end, showing unconditional love right from the start.
three of us after the show
All in all I think the show was really nice! Erm it may be just a semi-professional performance - eg. the singers can't really sing well, the singing was rather muted by the 'live' band etc but the whole story was quite nicely acted out, with a good mixture of plot,music, humour, touch, and reflection. I thought the actors' acting was good. They carried their characters well and brought them to life. However i think Layla and Dong lacked some chemistry and Dong hasn't bring out the 'mr-nice-guy' feeling yet.
But getting people from just one hall, I think it was a really good performance. To me, the 'live' music was classy enough to make up for the little flaws in the show. The 'live' music really added lots to the 'feel' of the show. I particularly liked the percussions in the fast song (dunno the name) depicting the university canteen and ching chui's piano during the touching songs and scenes. Given more time and better singers, the songs would perhaps be more justified and it will really be an even better show I think.
My favourite song of the play:
Your Hand In Mine
The day you walked into my life
Was the day I learned how to care
You show my perfectly
When you held out your hand
And told me ‘it’s ok”
Since that day
All I could do was think
Think of you
(just part of the song but this was the part that kept ringing in my mind.. the song is just so sweet)
It feels like falling in love again...
Rock on!
