Theatre Magic

Listening to the West Side Story soundtrack now, I realise it's never going to sound the same ever again. It used to be something I'd hum along to, or attempt to stretch my vocal chords with by singing 'Maria' at the top of my lungs, thereby effectively killing my entire family. Now though? Well, I still derive great pleasure in listening to all the wonderful songs, but it's a different kind of joy I feel. It's almost...bittersweet. It's like I'm happy...yet sad. Strange.

So it's been about a week since ACSian Theatre's run of West Side Story ended; three months of rehearsals culminating in 7th April's gala night, and I'm now suffering from terribly, horribly, horrendously bad withdrawal symptoms. Yes. One week after the last show. STILL. Please tell me it's normal. So this is what the seniors and teachers meant when they were talking about post production blues. Ack.

The week of 2nd till the 7th of April was the ever exciting theatre week that everyone was looking forward to, and for a good reason too. Wonderful things happened in that theatre, and as expected, so did some not so good things. Still, it was arguably the best experience I've had thus far in JC. For as far as I can see at the moment, I'm not going to forget anything that took place in that theatre, whether it was in the dressing rooms, backstage, onstage...every memory created, no matter how small, is going to stick with me for a long time to come. Definitely.

Last week being THE ultimate week, not for a minute did West Side untangle itself from my thoughts. In fact, everything about it was so deeply ingrained in me, that I even dreamt about various people involved in the production for THREE CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS. Now, as much as I love the cast and crew and everyone who played a part in contributing to the success of the show, believe me when I say it's not fun - nope, not at all - to dream of people you see everyday for an entire week, three nights in a row. Nuh uh. Not nice. Hmm. Let's see. I remember having Yu Hsien rolling around on my bedroom floor, expounding passionately on the topic of 'What Makes A Good Musical'. Then there was part of one dream in which Henryk had bought Laura a boat - which really looked more to me like a kayak - as a symbol of his undying love and affection for her (don't ask me how that came about - a boat being representative of adoration. Hmm), and he and his twin were in the process of hauling it up an insanely long flight of stairs to her apartment. Haha! The Madams and Sirs, amongst others, also made their guest appearances. It was really weird, because it felt to me like there wasn't a single moment when I didn't see them, considering how I'd dream about them, wake up, wash up, head down to the theatre and then see them all there.

Oh, but if I knew I'd be missing everyone so much now? I wouldn't have minded dreaming about them for three consecutive months.

Okay.

So maybe not.

But you get the idea.

You know, it's funny how when the production ends, as part of the withdrawal symptoms, things you see that ordinarily wouldn't have meant anything, suddenly remind you of show related stuff? That's precisely how things started going after West Side ended. For example, in church the next day, in one of the lines for the call to worship, appeared the word 'cornerstone'. Believe it or not, the first thing that popped into my mind was the scene of Mister Tan standing on stage after the show and thanking the sponsors, which included the kind provider of the discounted wine, called - surprise, surprise! - Cornerstone. Then I was sitting on the bus home a couple of days ago, when I saw the car plate of a small van that read 'JET_ _ _ _', and poof! Perverse as it may sound, images of the Jet boys prancing around in their little white shirts and tight jeans started unceremoniously popping into my head. Yes. Pity me. I seriously have no idea when and how this phenomenon is going to end itself, but it had better stop soon before I start zoning out for two and a half hours at a go because I'm running the entire musical in my head.

Honestly, seriously though, no matter how arduous the process may have been at times - fouling up steps, getting scolded, dancing with the opposite gender (sigh. All it took was for entrance into college for my wonderful principles on physical contact with males to be thrown out the window. Without a choice. And to think I used to watch those emo ballets and tell my mom that I'd NEVER EVER let a man grab and carry me like that. Sigh. This where I start shaking my head); no matter how painful the withdrawal symptoms have proven themselves to be (believe me when I say it hurts), I wouldn't have traded any of last week for anything. It was last week that allowed me to revisit the magic of theatre that I'd experienced back in secondary school, as well as feel it at a whole new level now, in JC.

On the 5th of April, Thursday, I made my way down to CJC's auditorium at 8 in the morning to watch my favourite SC dramlets perform for SYF 2007. Being one day into production for West Side, I was pretty pooped, but after watching their twenty minute entry, I didn't regret for one bit waking up early, rushing down to the competition venue and what have you. They did 'Conference of the Birds', and I can't say a thing except that it was absolutely amazing. When they first began setting up on stage, and I saw Miss Chua running across with her mop (hahaha), then Mister Choy walking on and prepping everyone, I started smiling to myself. Probably looked quite retarded, but I really couldn't care less. And just before they started the play proper, Mister Choy said something along the lines of telling them to remember: Magic - I swear I nearly broke down and cried. Well, it wasn't all that emotionally charged, but when he said the word 'magic', something in me did kind of snap, bringing back a whole pool of beautiful memories of those laugh out loud happy times in SC, Drama in particular. Seeing my wonderful juniors act their hearts out that morning made me zip back in time to two years ago, April 19th, when we did our batch's SYF piece, 'Like Mother, Like Daughter' at the ACS Barker Drama Centre. All the rehearsals, the competition day itself, the subsequent restaging during MADDcap and Open House that year, were truly the most enjoyable and memorable of the four years I spent in SC Drama. SYF 2005 was such a blast for me, that watching the dramlets in their bird costumes, manipulating their puppets and stuff for SYF 2007, I could imagine what a great time they must've had putting the play together and forging friendships while at it. Talk about the magic of theatre. Revisiting it that morning served as a timely reminder to me, exactly what I love about acting, performing, being on stage. The lines, the role, the time spent in the spotlight...sure, it matters, but nothing can compare to the pure and simple magic of it all.

And that pure and simple magic I got to experience again very soon, for a few consecutive West Side performances, post Raj warm ups, pre show. Standing on stage as we looked up into the empty theatre, stage lights shining bright, holding hands with one another as the familiar tune of 'Tonight' began to flow through the theatre and even seep into its walls. As we all started to sing, as our voices blended, I'm pretty sure that somehow our hearts binded too. It was just for that few minutes that the song lasted, but boy was it surreal. Everything about it seemed beyond the earthly (oh help, I'm beginning to sound strangely like Narayan and 'The English Teacher'). Transcendence maybe? Haha, probably not, but to me, it came close enough.

Looking back and reflecting on the experience of being part of a production like West Side Story, the magnitude of it all, the passion and experience of fellow cast and ensemble members from which I could learn, the dedication and hard work of the crew, backstage and technical alike, I feel truly blessed to have been part of this production, to have had this God-given opportunity to share in the beauty of the experience. There is really nothing else I can do now but thank everyone who created wonderful West Side memories with and for me, and of course to thank and praise God for blessing me with such an amazing opportunity. Thank you all.

So yup. I guess this is where I say goodbye.

Goodnight, goodnight,
Sleep well and when you dream,
Dream of me
Tonight.

Gosh, I'm missing it so, so much.