Just A Poll

Do you think the songs from Entangled, the Musical should be recorded?

En(d)tangled

It is finished!

No practice tonight. We will carry some memories with us forever.


I missed my first class this morning. Sitting in the second class, Shakespeare's famous words came to me; "All the world's a stage..." Does that mean everywhere is a place to act, or that there's a fine line between acting and real life, or something else?

Entangled the Musical is over, but sometimes I think the musical was more real than the real lives we live. Suit Lin knows this; that the mask reveals its wearer.

Make no mistake, I'm not living, nor suggesting we ought to live, in a make-believe world. But I think, if not for the musical, we wouldn't have discovered and come to terms with a lot of the things we truly deal with in this 'real world'. Go watch Tim Burton's Big Fish and you'll get what I mean.


To God be all glory; we have these treasures in fragile jars of clay that no one may mistake our victories for the power and truth and triumph of God.

Amen.


(The title of this post is a silly pun Kee Aun, Suit Lin and I came up with while on the train from Taman Jaya to Masjid Jamek. We were heading to Pudu to get the film developed.)


Edit (6.50 p.m. 27 March):

It was very generous of the UM authorities to put up a notice for the musical on those signboards flanking the road in front of the library. Not only was there a notice, it was the first time (as far as I can remember) the words were in colour.

"Sambutan Hari Paska [in red]
Easter Celebration"

Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of it.

Practices At Hall

Tired we are, but we will nevertheless triumph! This will indeed be a life-changing experience for each of us - from the committee to the musicians to the casts to the ensembles to the technicians - because we do it not for our glory, but for the King and kings'.

So, finally, we could get the Perdana Siswa hall to start practicing. As intense as it is, as tiring as it may be, we believe that God will do a work in our hearts and in the audiences'.

We stole

into the auditorium and brought along with us a big case of "tools"




Our target was lying there, sound asleep, oblivious to the plans we have installed for it.




It was a sad sight as the piano was in a very poor and tune-less condition. Abandoned and neglected.



Our specially hired personnel sighed endlessly at the sight of the poor instrument.



and got to work fixing it.



One and a half hour later. After taking lots of rubbish like tissue paper foreign items out of the piano and putting it back together again.

We have the grand piano tuned and ready to be used for the show. =)

----------------------------------------------------------

[Edited]




Somehow, although tuned, we mourn for the piano. Since it is a public property, people don't usually take good care of it. Look at the rubbish in it.



Look at the scratches



And scratches



And scratches



After the tuning, the tuner insisted that the piano be carried, not pushed!

The Making of Entangled

Here are some footage from the rehearsals

Teaser 2

FAQs about the play from those who know nothing about it.

1. The poster, the blog, the pictures are ALL black and white, why?
   We are saving the colors for the performers. =)
   
   
2. Why "entangled"?
   It all started with the first Easter Committee meeting that one of those present shared about how she is entangled in God's love. That word sort of hit the right keys with the script writer.
   
   
3. What is "entangled"?
   In the context of the script, it's about lives being entangled by all things painful and bonding, it's about how forgiveness will be the answer to such pain.
   
   
4. What can we expect?
   The usual musical package, singing and dancing, and whatever funny things that the directors can somehow persuade them to do.
   
   
5. What are the main cast like?
   Well, we have color fanatics in our line-up, one green and one purple, no the musical has nothing to do with egg plants. We have another who demands respect with a red and white umbrella and one who can't stop singing the song "entangled", trust me, the directors always unanimously shuts him up before he can reach the second line. Finally, we have a sweet sounding girl who is nothing like that on stage. What happens when you put these people together? Chaos.
   
   
6. What your working hours?
   As early as 7am, as late as 4am. erm, wait. ah Never mind I don't know what is early or late anymore. =) We are crazy people who sleep at bus stops and wake up at 6 plus for dimsum.
   
   Stay tuned for more!
   

Entangled Promo Flyer

This is the promotional flyer, complete with a map to UM and a map of UM.

Copy it and send to your friends and family!

Extra Extra Read all about it!

nuff said =)

Simple promo

The Answer for Why

As the day draws near, practices for Entangled, the Musical intensifies. Directors are burdened with many unfinished business and worries; but I've to admit, this means work.

Many have asked me why a musical. Why not something else? Why travel to and forth, spending so much money on petrol and energy on something that will not drive me towards success in the future? Why use so much time on something that you couldn't call yours, because at the end of the day, it says, "PKVUM presents?"

Experience is the answer.

At the end of the event, I would end my day with Sweet Melody, Entangled or Untangle You playing over and over again in my head. The lights will shine before my eyes even though I lie on bed with darkness enveloping me. Applauses will resound at my ears, and smiles on PKV-ians' faces I shall see.

This experience will push me towards a limit I have not seen myself as capable of doing it.

And somehow, I begin thanking God for placing me in my family. Believe me, I realized they have thought me so much about handling people and situations, and above all, mentalities and attitudes while working. I believe if it weren't for them, I would be a procrastinator and one who settles for mediocrity. But no, I aim for excellence, because I know that when I aim for it, I push myself to a higher limit where I can see a broader view of the world, a deeper and clearer view of the ocean bed, a better understanding of myself; I mature and am more prepared for the working world out there.

Lessons I need not learn so painfully at the working field I have learnt through this experience, and for that, I thank God.

Trust me, readers, friends, that planning for a musical isn't easy but rewarding. At the end of the day, you look back at what you have done, you can happily pat yourself at the shoulder and say, "Thank God and thank you." That is satisfaction.

Love You More

Love You More
Lyrics and Music by Jonathan Chu

Every smile, every touch
Reminds me of the days spent with you
Every picture, every memory
Reminds me of the times spent with you
Every thought if filled with you
Every action done to please you
Every minute, every moment
I think of you

Times together, I'll love you more
Even if we're not together
It's as if you were here
With me
I'll love you more
In this life, with every breath
I will love you more

So if harsh moments try to blot you
Out of my heart and out of my mind
I will triumph over
Over every pain
Over every hurt
Over every fear
Because of you -
Just because of you -
Will give me strength
I will love you more

Jottings:
The musicians asked, "Who were you thinking about while writing this song?" The truth is, nobody. All I knew was this song should and will signify the romance between Bernardo and Desiree, show their affection for each other even though struggles persists between both of their lives (especially Bernardo's).

Yet, it is not just about the musical I had in mind; there is more to this.

I have met many who yearn to be close to somebody, to be embraced, to be loved. They hope that one day, just one day, somebody will come by and admit that every action done is to show affection, to show importance towards them.

So, here it is: Love You More. To some it might be cheesy, but to some, the song signifies a yearning of acceptance and love. What is yours?

Sweet Melody

Sweet Melody
Lyrics and Music by Jonathan Chu

Sweet Melody
Dance in the atmosphere
Sink in the beauty of the night
There is joy, there is fun
There is gladness all around
Tonight

In this time, in this night
There is fun, there's delight
Stop your sulk, let's get bright
There is joy, tonight

A cup of tea, a cup of joy
A toast for all, let's enjoy
Stop your sulk, stop your gloom
There is joy, let it bloom

Sweet Melody
Dance in the atmosphere
Sink in the beauty of the night
There is joy, there is fun
There is gladness all around
There is excitement, there is pleasure
Let's be jolly, let's be merry
Tonight, tonight

A hum of pride, a song of hype
A burst of delight, screw all your plights
So cheer up, brighten up
For the night starts now
It starts now
It starts now

There's no reason to be down
There's no why to wear a frown
So let's forget all sorrows of life
Let us enjoy the night
Let us enjoy the night

Sweet Melody
Dance in the atmosphere
Sink in the beauty of the night
There is joy, there is fun
There is pleasure all around
So let's forget all sorrows of life
Let us enjoy the night
Let us enjoy the night
Let us enjoy the night!

Jottings:
This song marks the opening of Act I, a song that basically brings the atmosphere of jolliness and glamor as Cassandra sings it. It would, also, be somewhat her trademark song.

It wasn't my intention to make it this way. In fact, I originally wanted something more... glamorous and hippie, if there's a word that describes both emotions, if you get what I mean. However, it turned out to be this, which was very unexpected, but nevertheless, I love the way it is.

If you ask me which phrase(s) I like the most in this song, it would be"Dance in the atmosphere" and "Sink in the beauty of the night." Somehow they are rare and fresh to me (even though we have practiced it multiple times!)

KFC, Scene 7 and the Weirdest Hour of the Day

Monday, 17 March 2008. I was supposed to meet Adrian for supper once practice ended. Suddenly sometime past eleven, Tim called and said Kat needed my pictures. Thus I was whisked back to KPS.

Sometime around midnight, those of us left behind started feeling hungry.


12.49 a.m. KFC arrives courtesy of Tim.

Strengthened by the food, we turn our attention to the final scene of the musical. We throw ideas around and talk about theatre and other musicals. We need to find some sort of closing sequence.

Finally the idea comes. And the more we think about it, the more it comes across as something, in the words of Sherlock Holmes, ridiculously simple. The ultimate non-taxing scene which quotes ideas from the musical, albeit like an overture at the end. (Is there a name of such a sequence?)

Perhaps it just might work...

Praise God for encouraging developments at odd hours!


This is how we all felt at about 2.00 a.m.


Joy holding the handbills for publicity.


Adrian and Kat working on the programme book.


Jon writing something... he was sketching eyes not long ago.


Suit Lin working on the synopsis for the programme book.


Ben and his good friend. He has a photo shoot at 7.00 a.m. tomorrow (today) and wonders if he can possibly wake up on time.


It is now 3.00 a.m.

How Do I Get There?

If you are coming via LRT, take the Kelana Jaya Line to Universiti station. From there, take Rapid KL bus no. 632 and alight at the UM Library (a big white building). Members of the production team will be there to guide and assist you.


If you are coming by road, follow the map below to get to UM (click map to see larger image)...


... and this map to get to the KPS Auditorium.


KPS Auditorium is the building marked with yellow label number 2. The Library is black label number 1.


For further inquiries contact Joy at 012-3008391 or Adrian at 017-5896742.

Entangled Main Cast and Ensemble

The Creative Director wanted some pictures up here. So I'm reproducing my most recent blog post, word for word, pixel for pixel...

Enjoy!

(p.s. can someone please do something about this blog's default time?)

* * * * *

A man, with an unknown past.

A young lady, with a dream for greatness.

A family, with untold hurts.

A wrong, that can never be made right.


When your past threatens to bind you from your future,
Forgiveness is the only way.

A story of love, of dreams, of fear, of forgiveness.

Untold inside the hearts of many people.


Entangled - the Musical

26th March 2008
7.30 p.m.
Kompleks Perdana Siswa (KPS) Auditorium
University of Malaya

(Free Admission)

* * * * *

Just this Sunday we did the shoot for the main cast, writers and musicians.

It was followed on Monday by the ensemble shoot.

I did it with Tim...

... and Yen. It was probably her first time handling an SLR camera for an extended period.


(I think I'm beginning to understand why Anton Corbijn developed--no pun intended--an overexposed black-and-white technique for his subjects, e.g. U2 in the early '80s and in the album booklet of All That You Can't Leave Behind. )

Siew Yong is Anita.

Denis is Bernardo and Shoba is Desiree.

Ai Wei is Cassandra.

Titus is Edmond.

Presenting an original musical by Lee Suit Lin and Jonathan Chu.

The ensemble in formation at the end of the song 'Sweet Melody'.

The ensemble again.

Call or sms us if.....

CALL or SMS us if:

1] it rains. Don't let the rain stop you from going

2] you are lazy to walk.

Our drivers will pick you up.
(We only provide transport from Residential Colleges, University Tower and Millenium Court.)

C ya!!

The meaning of Easter - What does it mean to you?

The meaning of Easter is Jesus Christ's victory over death. His resurrection symbolizes the eternal life that is granted to all who believe in Him. The meaning of Easter also symbolizes the complete verification of all that Jesus preached and taught during His three-year ministry. If He had not risen from the dead, if He had merely died and not been resurrected, He would have been considered just another teacher or Rabbi. However, His resurrection changed all that and gave final and irrefutable proof that He was really the Son of God and that He had conquered death once and for all.

However, Easter did not always symbolize Christ's resurrection from the dead and the meaning of Easter was quite different than what Christians celebrate today. The feast day of Easter was originally a pagan celebration of renewal and rebirth. Celebrated in the early spring, it honored the pagan Saxon goddess Eastre. When the early missionaries converted the Saxons to Christianity, the holiday, since it fell around the same time as the traditional memorial of Christ's resurrection from the dead, was merged with the pagan celebration, and became know as Easter. The meaning of Easter was also changed to reflect its new Christian orientation.

Today, the meaning of Easter, for million of Christians, is that of honoring and recognizing Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, and His glorious promises of eternal life for all who believe in Him.

Learn More about the Origin of Easter!

The above was taken from www.allaboutjesuschrist.org