Sharing Is...

An amazing song:

(She's really crying during filming, but of course the sound is a studio recording)

An amazing play I had a chance to watch: Usikan Rebab, playing till Sunday. Catch it if you can.

And two amazing articles from the Guardian UK on what differentiates expats and immigratns and how Civilizations II predicts an Orwellian future on the Guardian's excellent book blog.

As an important side note, I am very happy at my new job.

Writing for WAMM

I've just written two posts at WAMM.
One is about Khai's new movie Relationship Status which you can read here.
The other is about the upcoming re-staging of two awesomesauce plays: Parah and Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, which you can read here.

I wrote about these movies and plays because I sincerely believe them to be worth my time and the time of my friends.

If you can spend 4 hours watching Korean dramas / American sitcoms, you can spare 2 hours to watch a local production. If you can spend RM11 on a Hollywood rom-com, you can spare the same for a local movie. If you can spend RM400 on a West End/Broadway musical (transferred from Melbourne) and go to Singapore to watch it, you can spend RM40 on a play at a local theater. Put your prejudice and skepticism aside and support our local arts.

Datanglah!

Two of my scripts will be read at this event. Do come if you can. Your support would be deeply appreciated.

October Picks: Parah & WAMM Screening

I wrote-up about an amazing play called Parah at WAMM not too long ago. Apparently the play by Alfian Sa’at will be re-staged at klpac in late October. If you missed its staging at the Annexe Gallery, you should definitely try to catch it this time. Watch this space and klpac.org for more updates!

Before that though, as part of the Actor’s Studio’s Fused series, WAMM will be screening two local indie movies (Love & Luksaah and Damaged Kung Fu) along with a live set by local band ‘Once Upon A Time There Was A Sausage Named Bob’ on 2nd October 2011, 2.30pm at the Actors Studio, Lot 10 Rooftop. Make sure you catch this event, which is by donation of RM10 (that’s cheaper than one mainstream movie ticket guys).

For more info, visit WAMM.

The Last Platform of 2011

Hello People,
So we all know things seem pretty scary right now in our neck of the woods. Not the I'm-not-leaving-my-room kind of scary, more like...I-cannot-believe-how-absurd-and-stupid-this-is kind of scary, y'know?

Anyway, if you want to be un-scared, that is, if you want to do something that makes you go, "Hey, it's not all bad in this yellow-phobic country, there's hope!", then I suggest you come share the love with me this Monday evening at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre.

I'm emceeing the last of klpac's Platform showcases for 2011. The Platform is an open mic night for theatre where new writers, directors and actors come strut their shinny new stuff, and if that's not enticing enough, I'm directing a short play and one of my short plays is being staged. Not only that, we have a full slate of 7 (yes SEVEN) new pieces for your viewing pleasure.

Date: 4th July 2011 Monday
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: indicine, Level 2 of klpac, Sentul Park.
Price: FREE

No kidding guys, it's free, just show up at the door! Now, why would you choose being stuck in a jam and cursing yourself to a FREE show where you can watch seven great plays and support new talent in the performing arts?

See you there!

The Platform @ klpac May 2011

The Platform is a free open-mic for all things theatre every 1st Monday of the month at Indicine KLPAC, where exciting new works get staged. If you're wondering what to do that's fun and free this coming Monday holiday, this is your answer!

The show starts at 8.30pm, and you don't need any reservations or tickets, just show up and enjoy the evening.

If you've got a show to put on which deserves a bigger audience, be it drama, comedy, stand-up, mime, physical theatre, impersonations, anything other than dance and musicals, email us at theplatform@klpac.org to book a slot for free!

The Platform @ KLPAC, March 2011

Date: March 7th, Monday
Time: 8.30pm
Place: indicine, KLPAC
Price: FREE!

As some of you know I'm coordinating the Platform's 2011 season with Marina Tan (so I'm contractually obliged to plug this). It's free and it'll be a great night of new performances, with many entries focusing on physical theatre. Don't know what that is? Then you should come!

The klpac Show

Seeing Clearly Now

My brother's cataract operation went well yesterday, thank God. He had lenses changed for both eyes. He was on general anesthesia (local is the norm) as he has Down's Syndrome and they wanted to operate on him just once. Thank you so much to those who kept him in your thoughts, prayers. He's going for a post-opp check up today. I believe everything will be fine and he'll be watching Phineas and Ferb again by this evening (albeit further away from the telly!).

The day before, my sister won tickets to watch 'Life Sdn. Bhd. 6: ABUSE', directed by Dato' Faridah Merican, from KLUE's website. My sister very graciously asked me to watch it with her last night (although my having a car may've been part of the reason).

The performance is about stories of abuse in Malaysia, some of them told by survivors, all of them true. I was told by Dato' Faridah that some survivors wanted to remain anonymous as they were still afraid of repercussions should they speak openly, and so friends/actors had to convey their stories on stage. These are the times we live in, people.

The performance was more of a sharing session that a play: no plot or props, just people telling stories, with some great songs (by Ian Chow and Khairil M. Bahar) and one dance sequence in between. Not long into the show, many of the performers and audience were in tears from the riveting tales shared, but I can assure you those tears can come from one place: truth. I know they're true not because I read the pamphlet, but because I know (or know enough of) these performers.

It was enlightening to say the least and I learnt some subtle truths about abuse: it starts a vicious-cycle that is difficult to break, it can come in many forms, and from unexpected (sometimes painfully ironic) places, and our silence and ignorance creates more problems than it solves.

'Life Sdn. Bhd. 6: ABUSE' plays till this Sunday at the Actor's Studio Lot 10. Find out more here.

[Ed 24/2: My brother's check-up went alright. He'll go for a second check-up next week, and in the meantime wear large lab-glasses that make him look rather like a sci-fi cartoon character. They're meant to allow the lenses to adjust in his eyes properly without overexposure to light/UV rays, etc.]

The Platfrom 2011

Last year I acted in and wrote for ‘Lost & Found’, a play at The Actors Studio Lot 10 directed by Joe Hasham and Gavin Yap. Through my involvement, I learnt a lot about writing, acting, performing and communicating, as well as about myself. I had the privilege of working with 2 well respected veteran directors as well as a warm and wonderful cast of 11 other writers and actors. It was one of the most exhausting, enjoyable and rewarding projects I ever did.

I got into ‘Lost & Found’ because I put up a short play in one of the monthly installments of ‘The Platform @ KLPAC’, with the help of friends Marina Tan, Khairil M Bahar, Amanda Ang, Aizat Faiz and Wan Azhar.

This year, I'm co-coordinating the season with the help of Marina Tan. The core concept's the same: an 'open mic night' for theatre in all its form (except musicals and dance) every first Monday of the month till July 2011, at Indicine KLPAC, 8.30pm. It's open to everyone and both admission and participation is free!

So, if you've got a performance you're dying to put up in any language (yes, any!) or even no language (physical theatre, mime, etc), then submit a piece to <theplaform at klpac dot org>. It's free and simple: no auditions, callbacks, script readings or endless rehearsals. If you've got something to show, then the stage is yours.

If you're looking for actors, scripts or directors, visit our fb page by looking for theplatform@klpac, and post up what you need.

You may even be chosen to perform at the full year-end production in November! So really, you've got nothing to lose!

Shameless Self-Promo

I'll be on NTV7's Breakfast Show tomorrow morning, along with Toby Teh and Ian Homer, to talk about this year's 'The Platform @ klpac' season, which I'm helping to co-ordinate.

Lost & Found, Over & Out

Today, we had the last show for Lost & Found at The Actor's Studio Lot 10, and a cast party after. The rehearsal process felt like it took ages (especially considering I was juggling my job), but the run itself? It was four shows and it felt like the blink of an eye. Or should I say, the snap of a finger?

Ok, I can't resist getting a little emo about this. You have been warned.

To the rest of the world, it was just another short-run play, but for me personally, it was a journey.

And I cannot even begin to tell you how challenging a path it has been. I had to juggle work, had my car door smashed at KLPac, had to find time to write, had to come for endless rehearsals (even one after I drove to and fro from KL to Kluang for work) and I even lost my phone at a KLPac toilet. Yet, I have been blessed, because it's ridiculous I got this far: all the late nights at the firm didn't clash with rehearsals, and I finished my pupillage just as rehearsals went back-to-back. I really have to thank God for these happy coincidences.

I will of course remember also what a rewarding journey it has been, not only in terms of the play's script and performances, of which I am proud, but also in terms of what happened along the way. I have gained confidence in myself, I have had a ball of a time, I have done something I never thought I was able to and I have met wonderful, funny, loving and truly inspiring individuals, and very importantly, I made a communication breakthrough with my family. Even if the show was a complete flop, all that would have been worth the trouble.

And it wasn't a flop. Thank yous are in order.

To all those who came to watch, thank you so much, it meant a lot to me that you took the time, money and effort. I hope you've been rewarded not just with entertainment, but with things to ponder and chew on, which hopefully will last long after the show. For those of you who didn't come, well, your loss, really. No pun intended.

A big thank you Gavin and Joe, for giving all of us the opportunity to do this, and for trusting us as performers and individuals, and to Faridah, for producing.

Major props to SM Marta, publicist Val, lighting guy Azhar and all the backstage/office/admin crew for helping us out.

Thank you too to all the previous Platformers of 2009, in particular Marina, Wan Azhar, Alex, Adel and Calvin, for helping me on my way. I owe you guys.

Lots of love and thanks to my family, for coming round and supporting me.

Last but not least, thank you and thank you and thank you again to intense Toby, macha Niktia, lawyer Jeremy and towering Ian, my original Platform actors awesome Khai, sexy Amanda and even sexier Aizat, and not to forget mummy Malin, ever-healthy Muna, underage Marvin and thoughtful Justin, for sharing this amazing experience with me so generously and so graciously. Thank you for the support, concern and love. I cannot even begin to say how much this experience has meant to me and how much I will miss you guys. I won't forget, I won't forget.

Special mention goes to Ash, my muse from way back in the day.

Thank you, everyone, a million times thank you.

Lost & Found Plug #2

How was your Halloween? Mine was scary. I was a Hakka Association dinner in Klang. The second in a month. I never felt less Cina in my life. I donno whether I should be proud or embarrassed.

Lost & Found rehearsals are coming along well (see previous post). Here's the facebook event page. And here's a short interview on Clive with one of my directors, Gavin Yap.

I hope you're coming. It would mean a lot to me.

1 hour 15 minutes. No intermission.
You need to pay attention. You need to listen.
Because it's minimalist.
No giants, monsters or dragons.
No falling chandeliers, lasers, explosions, stunt doubles or ships.
No mother-in-laws. No villains. No superheroes. No tokens.
No set. No costumes. No props.
No, not even actors.
Just us. On stage.
With our stories and our truth.

Come with an open mind, and I hope you'll leave with a moved heart.

Ok, off to my last studio rehearsal. Tomorrow we bump-in to TAS Lot 10!

Lost & Found

I'd like to say that the plan to rob a bank and move to the Dominican Republic after my pupillage was a great success, but that is not the reason why I haven't updated this blog. The truth is far less palatable. My dear friends, if you have not figured out already from my mentions of "rehearsals", I am...an ACTOR (cue dramatic voice and hand gestures). I can hear the gasps already.

I am currently on a short break from work after my pupillage and I've been busy with rehearsals and so have not really given much time or attention to this space, but for the most part I am enjoying the process of putting up a play. It's called "Lost & Found", and I hope you can come watch; tickets are ridiculously cheap anyway.  It's running over the Deepavali weekend at the Actor's Studio Lot 10 (on the rooftop yo!).

I have very few lines in it, but I am proud to say I wrote a huge chunk of the script with the rest of the team (I did originally join as a writer anyway.) It really is gratifying as a writer to see others perform your words. It is also a privilege to work under Joe Hasham and Gavin Yap, both of whom have been in theatre for many years.

You can click on the promo poster below to enlarge it.

If you notice that I have long, curly hair from the back, no, it is not my new hairstyle, nor a wig. That's another guy's body with my head photoshopped on the front; I was not there during the shoot. Yeah, a pretty funny boo-boo.

On another note, I will also be officially called to the Bar as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya this Friday, 26th November at the KL High Court, Jalan Duta, at 10am. If you happen to be nearby and free, do come celebrate with me. (But if you had to choose only one, come for my play instead!)

After nine months of working in a law firm's litigation department, I can say I'm very happy to be have completed my pupillage and I've learnt much.

For example, I've learnt that many lawyers really are dicks. Not all of them by any means, but a large enough percentage to justify the stereotype.

I've also learnt that all lawyers are sadistic, masochistic or sadomasochistic to some degree. No, really, all of them are: why else would they stay in the profession.

I've learnt that a "work-life balance" is not realistically attainable within the first few years in this profession, and by "work-life balance", I mean career advancement, development of technical skills, preservation of health (adequate sleep, exercise, good nutrition), time for friends, time for family, time for spouses/partners, time for personal pursuits (spiritual, artistic, athletic, etc).

Let's be realistic. Few professional careers allow for such balance, and you can bet my arse legal practice isn't one of them. Even during my pupillage I've hurt a lot of people and have at times struggled to keep my life in balance. But you should still try, because letting work consume you, become you, is a very bad idea, unless your work happens to be saving poor kids or turtles or something. You don't want to wake up 5 years down the road and realise it's too late to even try by then, and all that's defining you as a person is how much you can bill your client.

As for my next career step, I'm staying with my firm, and we'll see how it goes from there. Honestly, now is not the time I want to think too much about my future. I'm far more looking forward to enjoying and utilising my break to fullest.

Until next time, take care out there.

P.S. Yesterday was my birthday! It was crap, but better than last year's. Actually, it's hard to beat last year's in terms of crappiness. 

indicinelive! Episode 2

I watched the first episode of indicinelive! at KLPAC last April 13th and had the time of my life! indicinelive! is a high-energy collection of live short comedy skits presented one after another, and  the writing team's fearless and blindingly humourous take on modern Malaysian life sent me laughing till I literally cried; if you've never watched live theatre before, this would be an excellent, light-hearted introduction.

Episode 2 will be playing July 21st - 25th and if the skits are as good as those in Episode 1, then trust me when I say it will be money well spent. Admittedly, I know half the cast/crew/writing team, so this little advert may be seen as a bit of a plug-in, but really, if you don't laugh at the show, come see me and I'll recommend a therapist.

Tickets are already on sale at RM23 flat. You can buy them at KLPAC's box office in Sentul (or call 03 4047 9000), The Actor's Studio Lot 10 Rooftop box office (or call 03 4242 2009/03 4243 2009) or at Axcess Ticketing Booths (Jalan Semangat PJ, One Utama or Alamanda Putrajaya) or at www.klpac.org.

"Real life, fun sized!"

Do yourself/your mum/dad/better half/sibling/BFF/boss/trainer/postman a favour: buy tickets for the show and get a healthy dose of heart-healing, stress-busting laughter. See you there!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Sondheim!

Stephen Sondheim turns 80 today. The Broadway composer and lyricist has been a huge influence on the way I see musical theatre: that it doesn't need to be camp and obtuse, but has the capacity to be cerebral, challenging and artistic. This post is dedicated to the awesomeness that is his genius.

Did you know he wrote all the lyrics to West Side Story? The New York cast is coming to KL soon, by the way. If you are going to watch it, please don't tell me, because I'll probably hate you forever.


Mr. Sondheim isn't famous for simple, hummable tunes nor simple, family friendly musicals. His oeuvre covers many challenging, disparate, and at times unpleasant themes. "A Little Night Music" is about unfaithful aristocrats in turn of the century Sweden.


In "Sunday in the Park with George", he studies through music the struggles of a socially inept artist, George Seurat, trying to connect with the world and realise his creative vision as he paints his masterpiece, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of Le Grande Jatte.


He's also done killer barbers and cannibalistic pie bakers. Yup, he wrote the words and music to Sweeney Todd, which Tim Burton turned into an awesome movie.


In Company, the lead character is a commitment-phobic 30-something, Bobby.


He also wrote the music and lyrics for Dick Tracey's soundtrack.  Here, Ol' Madge sings "Sooner or Later" with flair at the 1991 Oscars.


This is just a small snippet of his work (19 musicals!), but he is, without dispute, one of the greatest composers and lyricists of musical theatre history.

Actors and Directors Ahoy!

If you are interested in trying out acting and/or directing, I have a short play called "Lunch Break" in need of a director and 3 actors (2M 1F). You can even try directing and acting simultaneously.

It was written for KLPAC's Platform, a monthly open mike night for theatre, and I am hoping to have it performed on the 5th of April there. A performance will be picked from every month's line-up to be featured in KLPAC's year end Platform showcase: a full length, full budget, tickets-for-sale and your-name-on-the-playbill showcase. So yes, this may be your first step to stardom.

You do not need prior experience but you will need some time to rehearse. If you've not tried this before, it's an excellent opportunity to do so (trust me, it's great fun!). Note that I will leave the direction of the play entirely to the director, so obsessive-compulsives are free to apply. (Megalomaniacs, however, should refrain: no big budget side effects, moving sets, elaborate costumes, make up or pyrotechnics I'm afraid.)

If you are interested and would like to look at the script, please contact me. My Google address is "joshychong".

EMP's A Light In KL City

I watched the Electric Minds Project's "A Light In KL City" at Pentas 2 KLPAC last night with the Sister and a bunch of our friends (and one of their mothers too!). I have to say that it was an enjoyable night out and everyone else I went with had a good time.

The play was a collaborative piece by a huge bunch of writers from EMP, and was directed by Rey Buono with lyrics and music by Erna Mahyuni and Mia Palencia. It's set inside the small, run down Cahaya Inn on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and centers on the people who live there. Act 1 introduces the varied denizens of the crumbling hotel (soon to be demolished and renovated) and their interactions with each other. The usual suspects are there: prostitutes, an amah and ah pek and a foreign worker, plus a few other oddballs. Act 2, however, turns to the past, when Cahaya Inn just opened, and progresses to link the past surrounding the inn (and the country) with the present state of affairs amongst the characters, as they wait for their beloved home to come under the bulldozers.

I have to admit that there were parts of the play I found difficult to digest. While the first half was full of hilarious situational comedy and lovable characters which had the audience in stitches, the second half took a different and unexpected angle and story-telling method. It had quite a bit of political friction from the tense situation in 1950's Malaya (the subtext of course being a commentary on contemporary Malaysian politics) which I found odd because the first act's focus was squarely on the present state of Kuala Lumpur's less fortunate city folk. It was definitely ambitious and I'm still glad EMP tried it, but I am unsure if the play fully succeeded in linking the past to the present through the stories behind Cahaya Inn.

Nonetheless, I can happily say that anyone, after watching the play, can attest that there is really no truth in the accusations that theatre is irrelevant to the average Malaysian, that is is inaccessible or high-brow and that it is unrealistic or elitist in its portrayal of society. The play was completely accessible in its plot and themes; any audience member can relate to the issues touched upon and reflect upon them and how they apply to his/her life. I found the use of language (and languages) by the characters a joyous reflection of Malaysian voices, from the shameless flattery of the  feng shui master to the unbridled Cantonese of the young prossie, and from the shy English of the Indian immigrant to the nostalgic Malay and English of yesteryear in Act 2, where every vowel and consonant was pronounced and enunciated sharply. Perrrgi ahbang, perrgi!

All in all, another wonderful night at the theatre. Congratulations EMP and all the best for 2010!

Quote of the Week

if you really want to see something in 3D, go see something called "live theatre".

crotoan

If you haven't got your tickets to "A Light in KL City" on at KLPAC, go get them NOW!
From Axcess Tickets HQ in PJ, 1U or Alamanda Putrajaya, or at the KLPAC box office. You can bring along friends and family (live shows make memorable Christmas gifts!) and I assure you, it'll be time and money well spent.

I'm going to catch the performance on the 26th. Can't wait!

I Wish I Was In New York

...although it's actually transferring from London.