Works.
*Under Construction*
Essays:
Singapore: The Government and You.
Films to watch (Updated 22/10/01)
Why Organic Chemistry is Sleazy
Review of my college (to which I contributed)
Skepticism- the search for truth
An article I wrote for Vortex, my college science magazine.
Parting Words (not up yet)
For the graduating class of 2S03B, '2001.
Beleagured thoughts of a pacifist me (Updated 04/08/02; first published on Balderdash on 30/07/02 02.10 am)
Downloads available:
Ads. (Not up yet)
I have tried to keep down the count of irritating popup windows, so here's where I assert my ringing endorsements (stop guffawing!) of brand names.
Latest in the Singapore arts scene. This isn't exhaustive (in-comprehensive?) but will do for now, anyway. Do email me at marshmall0w@yahoo.com if you have anything to add- even your own upcoming production. Also welcome are reviews- I would love to go myself but time and money do not permit. Got the idea of starting this when I realized how many productions I was missing because of the 'A' levels. Will add in other details- ticketing, student concessions. <sigh> life was so much easier when everyone went to Sistic.
July 2002 (Melbourne)
Yi Yi @ the Melbourne International Film Festival. Absolutely intelligent and striking movie. Watched it with wanyan, chenyi, jiaming ... it's a 3-hour movie on a Taiwanese family. It was depressing, but I came out scintillatingly refreshed. The hokkien (and I could understand about half of it, to my credit =p ) made me so nostalgic .... Cinematography was great- there was a sense of looking into their lives without the "oh look i'm on a budget and i'm so indie arthouse" blair witch kitsche; it was in subtle things... the long takes, the way the characters move and speak slightly off-camera... definitely a departure from Hollywood-ish zooms into Michelle Pfeiffer's face every time she sheds a tear. And also the shots from outside the window, looking inside to see people having quarrels, and the symbolic shutting of blinds. And the evocative shots of the urban landscape. All this just -adds- to the experience; I mean, you don't need to have the camera-proximity to get under the characters' skins; the tension of the relationship of the viewer (the viewer *is* almost always a voyeur in movies, yes?) and the lives of the people in the film.
July 2002 (Singapore)
Ublues Festival: Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful. An open-air jazz festival at Fort Canning Park with Ublues, a homegrown band that doesn't have any unique sounds but is enjoyable all the same (a large part of pop culture music Is the whole atmosphere at a live event, isn't it!) plus a couple of australian groups, not fantastic at all... except the guy on the harmonica. And the Holmes brothers, doing a number of spirituals- 3 old afro-american men jamming... cooool!
Updating- December 2001
The Nutcracker: Singapore Repertory Theatre.
Porgy and Bess: Expensive tickets. Then again, it has gone down in history as one of the 20th century's most successful artistic works.
November 2001
German Film Fest 2001: 10+ films.
Theatreworks Festival: The one that received greatest publicity was Jonathan Lim/Krishen Jit's Emily Hole (hastily renamed "Emerald Hole"). Its name provokes nasty images involving Singapore's drama Baba queen and a euphemism for female anatomy.
October 2001
Pulp Friction: An homegrown art exhibition featuring works of local artists. Focus is on various textures; inspired by immediate surroundings.
Blithe Spirit: a play starring thespian veterans Margaret Chan (of "Mummy" and "Kerrush him like a cockroach" fame), Lim Kay Siu, Tan Kheng Hua. Spotted it in the newspaper- Glen Goei, director, exuding confidence and brawn in a black T-shirt. October 14-30, can't remember if it's at Victoria Theatre or Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel. Tickets $20-50.
September 2001
New addition! - 15 Sept. 2001
Earth.Man.Woman: 26-29 September, Victoria Theatre, tickets from $18-$48. A local dance performance supported by all the expected groups- extraordinary only because they had an advertisement spot on Channel 5- proclaiming their "accessible avante-gardeness appropriate for the first-time or mature audience." (i'm re-phrasing it). No idea if it is any good.
Autumn Tomyam: "A play about a Caucasian businessman who brings home to Singapore a Thai massage boy, to the consternation of his friends and his ex-wife." This was the highly sanitised synopsis printed in the news. It was given critical acclaim for its masterly handling of the taboo topic of paedophilia in our society, and extended its run by popular demand. From what I understand, Ms. Tan Kheng Hua gave a brilliant performance as the ex-wife.
Il Travatore: by the Singapore Repertory Theatre, it promises to be a blast- incorporating the fiery energy bestowed upon it.
WOMAD: Groovy! World of Music and Dance has been a staple since the late 90's, and world music takes the stage with an eclectic mix of club beats, ethnic rhythms and outdoor fun.
Miss Saigon: Memorable, especially since it is ending its West End run. Performances have been extended by over a month due to popular demand, and crowds are lapping up this musical despite its decided anti-Asian slant.
Emily of Emerald Hill (written by Stella Kon, directed by Krishen Jit): With Ivan Heng at the helm of this monologue piece, it promises to deliver wit, wisdom and all there is to the audience. In this enrichment reading project thing in Sec 3, I read the drama script (as an easy way out- it's like 36 pages) and was totally captivated by it.
Buena Vista Social Club: No further introductions needed. They are on a world tour and the renown band will be performing in the Indoor Stadium around September 15. Catch them while you can!