Script Reading

[Wednesday, 28th March 2012]


So it's been two weeks since we got our anthologies, so that means we had to show our choices today. Teck Sern and I had already met up to do some script readings, and came down to two choices; Flop Cop by Laura Cunningham and The Man Who Couldn't Dance by Jason Katims.

We went on with Flop Cop first. It's about a deranged playwright, who had lost his mind due to his constant downfall in life, and a cop, that's trying to capture him. I personally liked this play because it's dark, and there's a lot of possibility in the playwright character. It's up to the person, how they want to play them. Its interesting. But , the play is meant for two men, and there were too many references to testicles. If we were to choose that one it would mean having to change a lot of the script, because I'm a girl (you don't say :P)

So we ended up with the second one. The Man Who Couldn't Dance. It's about two people who used to be in each other's life, but had something along the way that tore them apart. Now she's married with a beautiful daughter, and he is living a simple life on his own. They took a walk down the memory lane, confesses to each other, and thought of what could have been if they hadn't screwed up along the way. I liked it because it's in a way sweet, and it taught me not to do something that you would regret :)

A Scene from another adaptation of The Man Who Couldn't Dance by Alma College

Other pieces that we considered included Ferris Wheel and Stars. We didn't go with Ferris Wheel because it had 3 kissing scenes in it, and I don't think I'm comfortable enough to kiss Teck Sern on stage or let him kiss me on stage. Nevertheless, I find the story very cute, and I could so imagine the girl as Emma from Glee. The kind of neurotic, awkward but cute at the same time kind of girl. Stars, I just didn't really get Stars. So that's why we didn't choose it.

The Face Of The Mask

[Monday, 26th March 2012]


It's Monday again, and that means theater day. Yea I do kinda look forward to the Monday class more than the Wednesday class. Why? Cuz we get to do all sorts of fun stuff on Mondays. So apparently we're gonna be starting work on characterization today. I actually don't know what to expect.

So let's just cut the chase and get going. So Rey started with his usual morning talks. He mention how we as an actor, we act out verbs and not emotion. We have to have a reason for doing something and we're constantly are doing something. The emotion comes from the action and not the other way around. This was something I've done in the past but I don't think I do that all the time.

So Rey got us to do all the random movements again. I started skipping, jumping, this, that, all the random shit I can think of. Oh no wait, I wasn't even thinking. I probably looked like some deranged bird or something HAHA. Oh wells. Then we had to play Malaysian character in Pavilion. That was funny. I played a lady who I suppose just came into the city and stuff. I was like so awed at Pavilion, like it was the greatest thing I've seen. LOL. Then we had to freeze and when Rey call our names out, we had to act that particular character that we've chosen. Josh' was funny. He played the spoiled little brat that doesn't want to go out; he dragged himself all over the floor and stuff. It was funny. When Rey called my name out, I sorta just rushed to one side of the room and shouted, "OH MA GOSH! IS THAT A LOUIE VUITTON?!" Yeaaaa. Don't ask.

So, I noticed that Rey brought with him a black box. Well it looked like a toolbox, but with hair jutting out. Probably a wig. I had no idea what he was gonna do when he had that box with him, but now I get it.

He took out a red piece of cloth and placed it over the table, and then started arranging masks on the cloth. There were about 10 masks all with different expressions and faces. We had to go up there, pick a mask, stand in front of a mirror as we put it on, and let the masks into ourselves.

Lycel and Lih Seng went first. Lih Seng picked this blue mask that reminded me of those jokers or Pierrot, while Lycel picked a very feminine, mask. So they began and I thought they were good. I thought that if I had picked Lycel's mask I would have done pretty similar things to her.

My turn came and I was paired with Adam. I picked this pink mask, that had huge nose and a one sided smile. We had to go on to the mirror and see ourselves in the mask, and slowly morph ourselves into that mask's character. Rey helped us do that; giving us instructions and all. I realized that my mask was that of a content person with a bit of arrogance. The center of this mask was the stomach.

I was kinda, urgh, I don't know. I didn't know what I was doing. I just did what felt right. Even if that includes doing a hip trust despite being a girl. I thought I didn't do that well though. Adam on the other hand, was hillarious. I could see him and he was entertaining! Bleh I wished that I could re-do mine. I don't know, pick a different mask or something. I mean it was pretty fun, being behind the mask and all. hehe.

It didn't help that despite using the sponges, my mask kept on coming loose. It constantly reminded me of how I was wearing a mask and all. I couldn't completely go into the world that the mask was trying to take me to. But of course there were times where I did, but that was only a little bit. They called me George.

Then we had to leave.

George walked back to the mirror, and slowly took the mask off. Gosh, even that little bit, I was breathless. I heaved a huge sigh, and boy I was sort of glad to see my face again. I did kind of forget how my faced looked like after I put on the mask. It was as if the mask had become my face.

Filza was another good one. I thought she was completely in character. She had that awkwardness and that quirkiness that came with the mask. I thought the ballet scene with Wei Lim was so good. Another one that I thought was good was Sam. He chose the same mask as Lycel did, and he was entertaining!

Even better was when Rey added a little twist. When Josh and Zong Yong was preparing for theirs, Vhina and I had to go up to them and put on wigs for them. HAHA! Josh had a long blond wig on and Zong had this curly, short brown wig on. It was interesting; they went for bra shopping and all. haha.

Well certainly this was an interesting class. There are a lot of masks in the world, and the ones we used was called silent masks. We couldn't make any sound. I hoped that I would be able to do this exercise again somewhere in the future. Though maybe not as George again, but as a different characters. But its a good feeling to know that George is now and will always be a part of me, living inside of me.

Don't you think this mask is just stunning? It's a Venetian Mask :D