Ipoh Down

Broken Bridges in Ipoh was a blast... so will it ever be restaged? If it does, perhaps Cheong Soh could make her grand entrance in No More like this. also, since there was only one Indian character in the current script, spicing up the play with a touch of Bollywood (see this very helpful video of suggested choreography) may not be a bad idea! In fact, it looks like we may already have the endorsement for this from one of the writers (heck, he appears in almost every frame of the aforesaid video!)

also, for the Ipoh run we had the incredible Monsieur Dominique instructing us on breathing techniques I wish I knew 2 years ago in order to audibly project the unseen Shepherd Boy's plaintive tune from backstage of stage left in Tosca without straining the voice (i'm no trained singer), and during all the unmiked singing while prancing around with Anna Glavari the Merry Widow, in this. therefore, the (last part of this) video is a tribute, of sorts, to the sore knees, yoga mats we wish we had, and above all, improved singing voices! (sorry, audience, private joke lah this one!)

...and that's three wacky videos to keep you occupied till the photo story coming up in the next post!

i woke up to monday (sung to no tune in particular)

i woke up to monday
(boy, was it blue)
rehearsals all sunday
(yeh lai xiang for you*)

my colleagues were whining
and going mad screaming
over the loud piling
for the nearby new building

the atmosphere tense
the pressure immense
my neighbour was grumbling
enough with nonsense!

for lunch we drove out
to the village so glee
at the shut stall, we shout
what, no prawn mee?!

the evening had come
my brain declared dead
unfortunately still some
vexation lay ahead

i tried to unwind
Ipoh Town** in my mind
the yoga would do me good
(of course, after food!***)

half past seven arrived at last
the rehearsal was quite a blast
we even got to go home early
so to Caltex****, went the cast

nasi lemak, tandoori chicken
80's tunes filled the cool night air
plans were made for merry-makin'
in the days ahead so fair

the sandman is now taking over
and soon i will be keeling over
but wait, before this rhyme is over
here's something for you to ponder

GO GET YOUR TICKETS FOR BROKEN BRIDGES!
we promise it will be worth your riches
come with friends, and bring some tissue
03-4047 9031 that's how to reach us!

* a line from one of the songs in Broken Bridges (which, by the way, will be performed at Taman Budaya Perak, Ipoh, this Friday to Sunday!)

** title of our opening song

*** the time before and after rehearsals is all about food. well, actually, in Malaysia, rehearsals are all about food...

**** actually, it's the mamak stall near the Caltex station on Jalan Ipoh, where we regularly "fill up" after rehearsals. i think the stall operators actually missed our boisterous company during our 2-month break from rehearsals!

wednesday (ran out of titles)

iGiveup

i found that my iPod at least still charges when i plug it in to a PC. for now, i ain't updating my iTunes any further. in fact i'm planning to get rid of version 7 altogether. found an old iTunes 6 installation file... i shall install that and hope for the best!

the Gmail accessibility problem appears to have disappeared vis-a-vis my home network. not switching email addresses back tho, since i've already set up the new account..

re-building bridges

meanwhile, rehearsals for the Broken Bridges Ipoh show commenced yesterday with a bang... it was like a reunion of sorts.. we should do this every few months! bring broken bridges to Penang! (Building the Second Bridge?) J.B. (Crooked/Scenic Bridges?) ouch.

we had four new cast members, most of whom appeared to have very impressively learnt almost all the songs already (shame on us! ah, then again, we didn't have the benefit and convenience of a CD. ha ha). one hopes, though, they won't be remembered as "the guy who's singing vincent's part" or "the guy who's doing leroy's lines"..

Leong (not his real name) christened me Gen2 for my attempts at imitating our absent pianist (named Gen. duh.) 'tis a deep honour indeed to be named after our a model of our national car. many apologies for the botched modulations, butchered chords and general honky-tonkness (the last one wasn't my fault - couldn't find out how to turn on the sustain pedal!)

ah yes, tickets for broken bridges ipoh. tickets will be on sale to the public from the 22nd to the 26th of Nov 2006 (did i get the dates right? we're performing from 24-26 but the crew will be around from the 22nd onwards) at the Taman Budaya Perak, Ipoh (where the show's gonna be). alternatively, you may contact any of us cast members (i.e. myself included) to get tickets.

for all ye who read previous blog posts and totally regretted missing the shows in KL!

Broken Bridges The Musical, a charming tale of why white coffee doesn't taste the same anymore, and which played to awestruck audiences at KLPAC in August-September 2006, goes to Ipoh this month!

24 & 25 Nov 2006 @ 8.30pm
26 Nov 2006 @ 3.00pm
tickets at RM40
Taman Budaya Perak, Ipoh, Malaysia
For more info, please call 03-4047 9031