Sunday, October 21, 2007

logamaya_001a - A Prerequisite in Making a Grimace, is a Grimace

the invitation for the event - A Prerequisite in Making a Grimace, is a Grimace (front & back)

logamaya_001a - A Prerequisite in Making a Grimace, is a Grimace; a series of conceptual art plays, consisting:
  1. Intro - an introductory play about the fear of human in human
  2. Footfalls02 - a relationship between a mother and a child; which so near yet so far (not a sequel to Beckett's 'Footfalls')
  3. Jalan Sehala - explores the obsession of a fanatic fan, the unconditional love of a father, and an idol's popularity that eventually blindfolded himself

venue: Persatuan Muhibbah Kebajikan
date: 13th May 2007
time: 8pm - 9pm

This was Logamaya's first effort in organizing a theatre show. Featured plays that explore the negativity in human nature and new experimentation on theatre structure. 'Intro' was inspired by the Virginia Tech Massacre, with the prepetrator Seung-Hui Cho who killed 33 people, including himself; 'Footfalls 02' was inspired by the thought provoking news about a son who slapped his mother and eventually caused her death, a rueful paradoxical tragedy that ends with a shocking glimpse; and lastly, the news about a fervid fan of Andy Lau, Yang LiJuan, who gave up her studies so to concentrate on pursuing her idol. The parents love their daughter so much that they were willing to sacrifice for her, the father sold the house and gave up his savings just to suffice LiJuan's career of pursuing Andy Lau. The father eventually wrote a letter to threat Andy Lau before committing suicide. The posthumous letter caused a thrill in the entertainment world - a father who loves his daughter, a daughter that does not care for her father but vehemently pursuing her idol, a one way love, a 'Jalan Sehala'.

All these news proved the deterioration of human quality caused by modernization, the feverish contemporary society has to realize and recognize this matter in order to have a promising prophecy.

credits:
advisor: Ilangkumanan
director: Tan Zi Hao
co-director: Cheng Yung Ban & Chong Foong Yi
playwright: Tan Zi Hao
stage manager: Cheng Yung Ban
lighting designer: Ng Chin Ang
graphic designer: Tan Zi Hao
make-up artist: Chong Foong Yi

casts:
(intro) - Nurhani, Kishen
(footfalls02) - main: Ilangkumanan, Ivy Wong; side: Lee Kit Yee, Daniel Lee, Haw Yun Cheak, Siew Keat Khee, Lai Chai Voon
(jalan sehala) - Lau Mengq Yek, Ng Chin Ang, Sim Chuan Fu

images of logamaya_001a - A Prerequisite in Making a Grimace, is a Grimace:

Mother portrayed by Ivy Wong in Footfalls 02

Son by Ilangkumanan, stood behind his Mother, answered 'yes, mother' repeatingly


The Ideal by Ng Chin Ang (left) and his Fan by Lau Mengq Yek (right) in an ironic situation


Fan and his Father by Sim Chuan Fu - kidneys for cash!


The director and playwright, Tan Zi Hao giving a brief talk to ensure the audience's comprehension in certain parts which were considered too abstract for the audience


Ilangkumanan as the advisor of this series gave a speech before the event ended


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This was quite a memorable show, since it was our first time. I would not say it was great, but only a great try. I can see a big room for improvement, and yes we can do better on the coming up series 'After Jubilee'.

Tracing back the memories, I think it is a necessity to thank my lecturer Ms. Pinky, for being so supportive. 'Jalan Sehala' is actually a final project did for academic purpose, the feedbacks for the drama were positive and Ms. Pinky encouraged me and Mengq Yek to organize a drama group. Both of us thought of that before, though lacking a kick-start and knowing the local art scene having a rare audience, although developing, has become a smother of smog on our punch.

Till then we sort of have a kick start (thanks to Ms. Pinky), yet I have written another two plays, 'Intro' and 'Footfalls02', total up having 3 plays and decided to give it a try during the holidays (which I see it as a reward conferred after one whole hectic semester). We have thought of giving up when problems on platform came crashing. But fortunately, we 'revived', and finally managed to organize it by our own.

A good inception for the group, but I believe we have to see beyond ourselves, knowing our responsibilities as image-makers in Malaysia; of what we can do, and what we are capable of doing.

Anonymous said...

It was really an excellent job that i had never thought they could make it. However, they did it. They did it by putting a lot of efforts in it. Although i was only an audience, i could really feel the circumstances they faced. In addition, they were trying to reflect the real society to us. It was really meaningful to watch the drama. It brought out many perception that we didn't realise in our daily life. When you realised it, you gained a lot.