:: Liao Zhai Rocks and Singapore Mandarin Musicals... ::

I don't really like musicals
I think they are often overrated
and i dun understand what they are singing most of the time
chinese musicals were once (in my mind), worse
because its not easy to understand the lyrics,
especially the fast numbers
and somehow spoils the flow with the dancing and all

but being a sucker for local theatre and all
and after watching the successful If there are seasons (天冷就回来）last year
I felt i just had to support TTP's musical extravaganza Liao Zhai rocks this year round

so i caught the show on thursday
and i must say
i still do not like musicals, not in mandarin at least

not tt i'm jealous tt i'm still not getting my break in theatre
(i've somehow given tt up some time ago)
and also nt because its not good
i must say its fantastic
wonderful cast, set, lighting, plot, storyline...

then again,
there's the factor of chinese seems too cheem to be enjoyed like that
you get carried away by the nice music
and you can't get the lyrics because of the different octaves and music..
argh..
you don't enjoy theatre like it should be
the musical element somehow overpowers the acting and theatrics
and with the strong use of superb lyrics on stage in a new setting
not all audience can hear properly
and with the blasting mic
the sounds are distorted
and the words don't come across just like it should be/intended to be

well..

these are just my opinions..
there are lots of improvements spaces
i wish
one day, that I can still be part/create my own theatre group/company
and create outstanding performance
with rich theatrical elements and artistic aspects
and which are also accessible to the general audience looking
for an entertainment..

well well... 

nevertheless, kudos to the great performance by the Liao Zhai Rocks team
it all went very well
i just left feeling a little tad lacking of something
that is probably it..
that missing element! that.. erm.. connection? not sure..

:: Das Experiment : Black Box ::

13 healthy young men have been selected to take part in a psychology experiment
they are divided up randomly by a computer system
5 of them will be guards
8 of them will be prisoners
they strip down to their undies in front of all
the prisoners are labelled by numbers
the guards have to be addressed as Officers
they have a set of strict rules to follow
punishments can be metted out by the guards as they deem suitable
but it cannot be "physically demanding"
two scientists from the college are the conductors and observers.

Das Experiment is a psychological theatre thriller
one has never seen before
a remake for the stage from the original German (read: very German, indeed) movie
from the 1970s based on a real-life experiment gone wrong and
was forced to be called off in 6 days instead of the original 14 experiment days

the play is put up in the unconventional space o the Pavilion at Far East Square
a two tiered stage with a balcony at the upper tier and the main stage is
set with four prison cells and two porta-loos.

as the "experiment subjects" enter by the very same entrance as the audience
the show has a freaking surreal feeling
the little auditorium seats are really unconfy and the air con seems to be offed
thus most of the time everyone is kept at the edge of the seats.
throughout the play
awkward giggles from the audience peppered the show
because we do not know what was real and not

the built up on the whole was great
at points gruesome
it felt really intense, especially in the first three quarter.

it served not only as a test of psychology for the subjects or actors,
the audience was also on a rollercoaster mind boggling ride through an arduous journey.
lightings are impactful
together with the sound effects
making it feel that each purpose action meant what it was suppose to be
to get people comforted
but unexpected twists and turns in events
created suspense
and ignited great fear amongst the audience.

the most intriguing got to be the finale segment
when all hell broke loose
and the guards got overtly serious and crossed the line
when unexpected death (finally) occured
and the supposedly fake gun began to fire
did it awaken some senses.

"it is only an experiment"
this line still resonates in my mind more than 12 hours after
nothing beats the final time when actor/guard Berus mentioned it
have it gone overboard?
have you been woken up and shaken up?
what went wrong?
who's fault is it?
where should the line be drawn?
when should have the scientist stepped in?

and.. what day is it now?
how long have they been kept?

a must-watch intense thriller!
happening till this Saturday, 29th November
8pm, at The Pavilion at Far East Square.
tickets at Sistic ($38 for fri/sat, $35 for today n tmr/$28 for students)

*special offer of $20 for each ticket if you purchase tickets at the door from 7.30pm for today and tmr, according to Artzine.*

overall: 4.5 / 5
script: 4.5/5
(very intense writing!)
acting: 4.5/5
(there were some calefares which could have role improved,
but can Koey Foo please improve his pronunciation,
even though you do have a nice bod.)
directing: 5/5
(definitely not an easy task for samantha scott blackhall)
lighting: 3.5/5
(timing very weird sometimes.)
sound: 3.5/5
(oh, the unconventional space..)
set: 4/5
(portaloos.. tts as close as you can get to a loo, ya..)