Performing

The Glee Finale - photo from Hollywood Reporter

I have been catching up on Glee. Yes, catching up and rewatching and finally understanding some of the plots. I love music and I love musical. Not that I can sing a note. I'll share what I sound like here someday. But I did win years ago a karaoke contest. I believe I sang Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton.

So, I am a sucker for variety shows. I tend to lap up Black and White Minstrel Show (a controversial show with white folks performing with blackened face), Solid Gold (another controversial show where the ladies wear skimpily), Top of the Pops. I even downloaded Dean Martin's Colgate Hour.

I enjoy musicals and the music from musicals. Must have got it from my mother. I know complete songs from The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and the list goes on. The moment I had some free time in London I caught We Will Rock You at the very last minute. I enjoy musicals and I am a great fan of Queen. When Freddie Mercury (real name Faroukh Bulsara) died I played homage in his memory in the only way I know how, playing Queen music all day.

Photo of Freddie Mercury Statue in Montreux - photo from Daily Mail.

Moment I was in Montreux, I visited his statue. Yes, I love Queen, so sue me.

I love performing too, I guess. I told in my previous posts that my kindergarten encourages role playing and improvising. And in kindergarten, I did dance to the song Tiny Bubbles.

And when I was in primary school, could be standard 2 or standard 3, I gyrated to I can See Clearly Now. But nobody could see me. I was a tree trunk! For the life of me, I cannot remember the premise the song was used though.

Funnily though I never had any intention to perform on stage or be a performer. My last few efforts were in Secondary School where I wrote a parody on the Princess Hang Li Po well. And after that was another sketch in college. We called in Indian Heavy Drama. That was taking the mickey out of the college's rules. And out in the open too. We were too sophisticated, so they probably didn't catch on with the best of them as everyone rolled in the aisle with laughter.

In the same college I co-wrote a drama, known as Tears of War. It was set in Paris on the eve of the German invasion during World War II. The characters were Heinrich a Nazi Officer, Henrietta Jr and Henrietta Sr, the ingenue, there was the Papa, Mama, Sophie and another sister. There was also a Nurse and Doctor. The scene begins with Henrietta Sr telling her story to the Doctor after the Nurse upsets her.

The second scene takes us to a living room. The living room was a permanent set behind the curtain. All other scenes were made in front of the curtain. Apart from being the Co-Writer, I was also the Director and Co-Producer. And after days and weeks agonising, also the special effects guy, fake blood, wounds from my first aider days and sound effects. Just my mouth with a microphone. People jumped, thinking that it was a real gun.

We managed to get prop guns though. The Co-Producer's father was still a serving army officer. So, we also managed to get real army boots and even uniforms for the German soldiers. They are all made up of our friends, and everyone had a part to play. From decorating the stage to being extras. No one was left behind.

And since then, nothing. I have not been involved in any more productions. I still follow the theatre scene though. When I was studying in UK I joined the Drama Club and followed a lot of the amateur theatre, that's where I made friends with an Israeli. An Army Captain too. But that's another story.

Wait a minute, I did organise a combination of variety shows and dances known as Malaysian Night a few times. That was my last time.

Nope one second, for the Institute of Internal Auditors dinner I was involved in performing YMCA except that we changed it to IIAM, the M being Malaysia, of course. And I was also involved in organising Corporate Dinners and performing during dinner and Aidilfitri for my various employers. So, I guess I still have the bug.

Later when I returned I continued following and enjoying various productions, for example from the Instant Cafe Theatre and Actors Studio. From the various works of Faridah Merican, Jo Kukathas, Joe Hasham. Later on I started following the programmes at Dewan DBKL, then Istana Budaya. They even had it at Carcosa Seri Negara, I believe I watched A Midsummer Night's Dream. Brilliant. At Dewan DBKL was A Street Car Named Desire I believe.

People need outlets. People need to be entertained. Unfortunately for some states such art, such culture simply doesn't exist. Yet I know there are talents everywhere. And these days in the protected with cotton wool culture people get offended with everything, and for the sake of traffic and likes people share anything and everything controversial and many will be blown out of proportion. Unfortunately, too there are some that lack the finesses of self-censorship and control causing unnecessary controversies.

It is not unknown for comedic act being censured the world over whenever they touch a very raw nerve. I went to see MACC (Malaysian Association of Chinese Comedians) once. Sometimes they too touch on gritty subjects but we need to learn to laugh at ourselves. With the likes of Harith Iskander, Lawak Ke Der, the famous illustrationist Lat, they manage to poke fun at us without being offensive. That's the art. That's an art. There were also the likes of Othman Hafsham that plays with words and behaviour. Again, that's art.

I am still writing though, but I write to newspapers on topics that touches my soul. I am trying to write fiction, I had some good responses. I am trying to write my memoirs now. Yes, I have reached that age. I am just an ordinary fellow, but I have had my share of experiences that I will share, hence this Blog : Living the Moment.

Thank you for reading.