Adam, The Musical - An Uncommon Love

I haven't been to the theater for a while now. I guess it must have been a decade since I last did. To be fair, live performing art has never been popular amongst the masses in the country. 

"Adam is about the dangerous time we live in, of suspicion and fear of people and things we don’t know. It is about compassion and strength, and how these qualities can turn the bleakest days into one with light, even if it is just a faint one.

Adam is about finding true love, and knowing that we can be very lucky after all." 

Excerpt from The Actors Studio website

Having heard a lot about the show Adam, The Musical which was a collaboration between The Actor's Studio and Malaysian AIDS Council, I decided to pop by and check it out. It so happened that the day I chose to attend the show was when they had an after show party for the latest installment of Sex and the City at Rootz at Lot 10's rooftop. So, I had a lot of eye candy to take in as I waited for the doors to be opened.

Now, why am I writing about a musical here you may be wondering? Well, I thought that it was a brilliantly written play and it drove home some truths which we may have chosen to ignore in our lives. Also, I believe that the way the show was written and executed was a perfect example of embracing differences in a multiracial society which IMHO is sadly lacking amongst Malaysian today.

The show had a tagline which went "An Uncommon Love" which I thought was probably well chosen in light of the show's central theme. As the crowd was milling about outside the theater, there was a staff member who went about selling programs. When I was offered one, I cheekily said that I'd have to see if I enjoyed the show first to which she smiled sweetly and said "Of course"... Perhaps she thought I was a penny pinching scrooge of some sort... :p

Anyway, despite the show being held on a weekday, I was somewhat surprised to see the place somewhat packed. It seemed that a majority of the crowd were made up of young professionals, somewhere between the mid 20s to late 30s. There were a smattering of foreigners as well in the crowd.

When the lights dimmed and the show started, I was initially a bit lost with the appearance of Mek Mek Besar who, near the end of the show eventually revealed that he was sometimes know by his other name, Michael the Archangel. I thought that his costume was somewhat over the top... A bit like a cross between a Roman toga and PJs... But you've got to love his sense of humor and how he made the character come to life with his energetic movements and booming voice... Played by Mark Sobels, full mark to the Archangel... A whole lot better performance than the one by Paul Bettany (hold the jeers please, I personally like him - just not in Legion")

Mek Mek Besar aka Michael in a comtemplative mood

And the crowd roared with laughter when Tria Aziz who looked like she belonged in an asylum rather than on stage came on stage with her bulging eyes. I actually thought that her eyeballs were going to pop out! Unfortunately, the photo which is posted in this entry which came from Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) Facebook album wasn't one with her pushing her white wheel chair around stage like a DUI driver.

Tria drove home a point when she said in one of her scenes that she didn't mind being called "Keh Leng Ah Po" by the nurses. The phrase roughly translates to "Indian Auntie" which is considered a derogatory term by some in the country. In fact the word Keh Leng (sometimes spelled as Keling) started an argument of sorts between politicians a few years back when it was used in speech. I guess we can have a choice as to whether we'd allow a term to affect us or otherwise.

The opening scene was completed with the ensemble walked down the terrace with lighted candles and sang the opening number for the show.

We were then given a background of the characters in the show. The spotlight was of course on Adam, who was engaged to Sylvia with a wedding coming up soon. An interesting twist was that Adam was a Muslim while Sylvia was brought up a Catholic. Elsa, Sylvia's sister was dead set against the union and tried her utmost to talk Sylvia out of it.

Cast members with Director Joe Hafsham (Front row 3^rd Right), Dato Faridah Merican (Front row 3^rd Left), Malik Taufiq (Front Row 2^nd Right), Tria Aziz (Front Row 2^nd Left), Mark Sobels (Standing 1^st Right), Tabitha Kong (Standing 3^rd Right), Sandra Mannas Wolf (Standing 4^th Right)

Elsa, which was played by Sandra Mannas Wolf was the resident villain of the show. Her portrayal of the bitchy and condescending sister made her scenes one to look forward to. And she sang brilliantly as well! She wouldn't be out of place in Desperate Housewives!!! And I meant that as a compliment to her acting chops!!!

Auntie Noni which was played by Dato Faridah Merican was Adam's aunt who brought him up since he was a small boy after Adam's mother (Auntie Noni's sister) passed on from what we can assume to be an AIDS connected ailment. A touching scene was when she told Sylvia of what she thought when Adam first met her - "Do you know, the first day he met you; his face was shining like full  moon in Ramadan. He laughed at me, held my hands, look into my eyes with a smile and I know, maybe this boy don't need me anymore."

I thought that despite what other may say about her, I felt that Dato Faridah brought to life the character of Auntie Noni. Her portrayal of  the character reminded me of a mother's unconditional love for her child. How she said that no child must be reminded of the terrible way his mother died. How she said that she'd rather will her beloved sister to die than to continue suffering. There were some grouses over her singing where reviews were concerned but I thought that it was live performance for Pete's sake!!!! Not some studio recording!!!

Moving on, there was the two scene stealer, the transvestites which was played by Mo Dee and Fairuz Tauhid who probably had the cheekiest lines of the night. When singing about using condoms for intimate relations, they moaned (forgive the pun) about those who refused to sheath their "member"... 

"When it comes to protection, the hardest part is persuasion... If they still say no, I'll stroke their ego until they rise and say they need a jumbo size..." How can you keep a straight face after a line like that sung with them grabbing the crotch of a guy???!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, my one main grouse about the transvestites was the delivery of their lines, either in song or dialogue. At times, their pronunciation was rushed which resulted in me struggling to catch their words. While I can understand that their Manglish is an important part of the show, perhaps it would be good to consider the areas where it can be used as some of the punch lines which were delivered was rendered meaningless to those who have no knowledge of Malay. It's unfortunate that an expatriate couple sitting in front of me were somewhat clueless when the whole crowd broke into laughter.

Adam, which was played by Malik Taufiq was somewhat average though. Despite his convincing portrayal of a man stricken with HIV, I felt that his singing was a bit weak for a lead, Perhaps he was having an off day so we can't actually blame him for that. Otherwise, I'd say he deserve a 6 out of 10.

The show I attended saw Tabitha Kong in the lead character of Sylvia. And I loved her to bits!!! I loved her  as a seemingly helpless and innocent Sylvia which belied a strong sense of loyalty and love towards Adam. And I thought her singing "Isn't It Strange" was probably my favorite moment of the show. It showed a vulnerable, despairing and shattered Sylvia when confronted with Adam's disease.

MTV Movie awards has an award category for best kiss... Well, believe it or not, the lead characters of Adam and Sylvia actually kissed (or at least pretended to despite looking extremely convincing) on stage somewhere near the end of the show... Perhaps, the local entertainment awards can inaugurate that category by handing the gong to Adam and Sylvia...

In a minimalist setting without too many props, the show was staged and choreographed beautifully. The backdrop was simply projected on via projectors depicting different scenes at the hospital, home, church, mosque etc. Kudos to the Costume Designer, Phin who created an excellent wardrobe for the cast members. And I thought that the dances choreographed by Lex Lakshman Balakrishnan was excellent as well. 

I was somewhat stunned midway through the first session when Sylvia knelt down and prayed the Lord's Prayer as Mek Mek Besar was hovering around and added his unsolicited comments. That is indeed a surprise considering what is happening around the country now where religious fundamentalism is seemingly in the rise and religious tolerance at an all time low. It was definitely a bold move by Director Joe Hafsham and Writer Mark Beau De Silva to include that scene.

Mark Beau De Silva and Joe Hafsham

While some bloggers had criticized the show as ignoring issues such as religious conversion, perhaps it should be remembered that the show was all about a love uncommon... One which transcends illness and religions... After all, when you commit to a lifetime together, didn't you agree to have and to hold, to love and serve in sickness and health, in good times and bad? Of course, we shouldn't lose sight at the social stigma which we brand upon those who are HIV positive.

It was indeed refreshing when Jambu (Mo Dee) spoke on how he removed his wig, make up and lipstick to prepare his brother's body for burial. For a moment there, however fleeting, you actually feel the emotions in the words and you imagine what turmoil he was going through inside. I thought that the projection of a footage of him actually doing that spoiled the desired effect though...

All in all, it was an enjoyable evening at the theater. I'd definitely be a more frequent visitor from this moment forth. As the show ended with the wedding yet to take place, perhaps there's room for a sequel? Adam The Musical Part 2 perhaps? One after the wedding maybe? I'll be the first in line for opening night if that comes into fruition.

In case you were wondering, yes, I bought the program and had a live cast recording of the songs thrown in as well. And I got it during the intermission. Nuff said....

Unfortunately, the run ends today (June 20th)... Perhaps it can be extended or staged again later... I'd definitely go for an encore performance...

Photos from MAC Facebook album & The Actor's Studio website. 

My Side Of The Story

We had a blast last night... I haven't had my hair down in such a long time, it felt good at least for a few hours...

As I made my way back to the hotel where we were all based for the night, I didn't actually feel like sleeping despite the alcohol that I had consumed. Not quite looking forward to another drinking session that the others planned to have at Gypsy Bar nearby, I excused myself with the intention to sleep the effects of the alcohol off.

After a shower, I was somewhat more alert and it seemed that I had washed all the alcohol away down the drain hole. As such, I decided to switch on the TV and chanced upon an episode of Criminal Minds entitled Demonology. It was centered around exorcism which resulted in several deaths, of which one was a childhood friend of one of characters.

There were some questionable opinions or facts put forth in the episode which I do not wish to go into, but I was somehow hooked by the song which played as the episode ended when the character decided to take a walk to clear her mind and she stood in front of a church where she seemingly questions her own faith.

The song sounded quite good that I reminded myself to check it out in the morning. It turned out that the song was sung by an artist calling himself Hodges and was entitled "My Side Of The Story"... Well, the song had much more to it than just sounding good as the lyrics were quite meaningful too...

A cold wind blows
I am shivering
My body aches, as my heart is breaking
Why is life, making me hollow
Why is happiness casting me in the shadows, in the shadows
Hold on, dont turn and walk away
Save me
And I cry these words, but nobody came
I'm all alone, running scared, losing my way in the dark
I tried to get up, stand on a prayer, but I keep crashing down hard
This is my side of the story
Only my side of the story
And nobody cares, nobody's there, no one will hear
My side of the story

Emptiness its all around me, I try to catch my breath, barely surviving
I cant go on and I've come undone there's nothing left in me
Hold on, don't turn and walk away
Save me
And I cry these words, but nobody came
I'm all alone, running scared, losing my way in the dark
I tried to get up, stand on a prayer, but I keep crashing down hard
This is my side of the story
Only my burden to bear
And nobody cares, nobody's there, no one will hear

As I fall down, hold on
As I fall away
I cry these words and nobody came
I'm all alone, running scared, losing my way in the dark
I tried to get up, stand on a prayer, but I keep crashing down hard
This is my side of the story
Only my side of the story
My side of the story
Only my burden to bear
Nobody cares, nobody's there, no one will hear
My side of the story

I'm sure a lot of people could relate to this song especially those who have no one who care for them...

A New Beginning... A New Life....

I just had a somewhat hectic 24 hours. It was a beautiful ceremony nevertheless and I thought that the bride was brilliant in singing the song "i Do" at her own wedding.

The hubby was a mess with the tears falling freely. Thankfully, he did tell me that he'd be a bit emotional but he'd try to keep it under control. With that in mind, I made sure I had two packs of tissues handy. It pays to come over prepared.

I have to admit that the bride had an angelic voice as well. And she sang it so beautifully. It would not be an exaggeration to say that had she sang that way in a competition, she'd be in with a chance of winning.

We all knew that she was a good karaoke singer all the while. But seeing her singing live in a cavernous church with everyone in apt attention was another matter altogether. Speaking for myself, despite the fact that I have known her for less than a year, I could feel her feelings and emotions when she sang the song.

She enunciated the lyrics clearly and all the while she looked at her hubby in the eyes. With her right hand holding the microphone, she held her hubby's hands with her left as she sang it. Clearly in love, it was such a haunting and beautiful rendition of the song. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the video recording of the ceremony to relive that moment again.

At the end of the song, she broke down in tears having kept her composure throughout. And with the microphone still on, she apologized to him. And he took her in his arms and gave her a hug as well as a tender kiss on her cheek. And the priest took that opportunity to introduce the newly married couple to the congregation.

I have been to many weddings in my lifetime. I have attended a mass wedding ceremony where a few couples had their matrimony blessed at the same time. I had also attended traditional Chinese weddings as well as Malay weddings. In terms of the dream white wedding, I guess that I had been to a few.

But, despite everything, I considered this to be the best wedding that I had attended ever. Simply because the stiff upper lip of the couple to not show their emotions wasn't there.

Being somewhat expressive of my emotions especially when I feel strongly over something, I had always wondered if those walking down the aisle really want to do so. At times, they would either seem expressionless or worse of all shell shocked. I thought that seeing a couple so in love with each other and feeling on top of the world as with a bit of fearfulness and excitement thrown in was the real deal.

I spent the night with the groom trying to get him to calm his nerves. What he said as we were lazing around trying to sleep was indeed insightful. He once lived for himself. And his concerns were 90% for himself with the rest for others.

Since meeting her, he resolved that he had to change for the better. And she became the centre of his life. He did everything for her. He told me whenever he was out even for lunch with colleagues he'd be thinking of her. And when he walked past shops in the mall, he'd be thinking about getting something for her.

And now that they'd be spending a lifetime with each other, he was a bit fearful of the future. Fearful for her. Fearful if anything would befall her or himself which would left the other party alone. Fearful of all the uncertainties that life has in store.

It made me reflect on things and people that matters most to me... Do I take them for a ride or do I really show the I care for them everyday?

Well, gtg as I need to attend the ceremonial tea presentation...

Two Words

I was just lazing around on another hot day in the city. Wish I were in East Malaysia now where I could enjoy the Harvest Festival of the Sabahans and Sarawakians.

Anyways, no such luck but I am on leave due to my buddy's wedding this weekend. And we had a rehearsal in church earlier today as I was to be the hubby's bestman & ring bearer... Let's hope I don't misplace that come Saturday... :p

Anyway, after lunch which the soon to be married couple hosted, we scooted off to their new house in Valencia Sierramas near Sungai Buloh to help them with some of their knick knacks for the big day.

I was asked to prepare the wedding booklet which was already printed and required them to be assembled before being tied with a gold thread of some sort. So, I did and as I was putting them together, I saw a part after the blessing where the bride, who is an accomplished singer, would sing a song.

The song was entitled, "Two Words (I Do)". Out of curiosity, I asked the bride of the song and was surprised to hear that the song was sung by Lea Salonga, whose concert I recently attended in KL. Now that she mentioned it, I remembered how she dedicated that song to her husband, who was at the concert as well.

Apparently, the song was composed especially for her wedding. And she sang it at her own wedding after the exchange of vows. My interest piqued, I asked the bride if she had an mp3 of the song which she said she did. I can tell you that if there's a better song for a wedding, I have not found one to match this one.

Just for starters, here's how the lyrics go;

In a while, in a word,
Every moment now returns.
For a while, seen or heard,
How each memory softly burns.
Facing you who brings me new tomorrows,
I thank God for yesterdays,
How they led me to this very hour,
How they led me to this place...

Every touch, every smile,
You have given me in care.
Keep in heart, always I'll,
Now be treasuring everywhere.
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I hold this moment true?
No trace of sadness,
Always with gladness...
'I DO...'

(Instrumental)

Now a song that speaks of now and ever,
Beckons me to someone new,
Unexpected, unexplored, unseen,
Filled with promise coming through.
In a while, in a word,
You and I forever change,
Love so clear, never blurred,
Has me feeling wonderous, strange,
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I face each moment true?
No trace of sadness, always with gladness,
'I DO...'

Never with sadness...
Always with gladness...
'I... DO...'

Try checking it out on Youtube. I can imagine how I'd feel if my love sings that to me at our nuptials... Perhaps I should ask her to marry me 1st???!!!!