Reminiscence

Youtube isn’t helping at a time like this. Addiction’s sinking it slowly. Blame stress.

Then again, with 2 papers and the last one ending later today, what stress am I talking about?

Anyhow, to my Aunt Irene, Uncle Tony, Cousins Tony, Val, Mary Ann and all, if you’re reading this, remember this song 6 years ago in the year 2000 at Grandma’s 80th birthday? I can’t believe I actually “attempted” to choreograph an item for my brothers and I to perform on stage. Technology hadn’t caught up then, so I doubt there were any videos captured of the “Li Brothers” (or “Blackstreet Boys”) doing a remake of this song. Geez…the nostalgia that lingers….

Hoedown

In line with the exams...here's another clip you can take time out to sing-a-long...

Return to innocence

I miss this song. Good to sing-a-long if you need to destress from all that mugging.

Little Shop of Horrors

From one excitement to another, I’ve been enjoying myself tremendously this week (despite the re-design I now have to do with my FYP after meeting my Prof today).

With a couple more days before the Dim Sum Dollies end their extended season of the Little Shop of Horrors on the 22^nd of Nov, I’d say you’d better get your butt moving. I shouldn’t reveal too much, after all, you’ll want to hear it for yourself from the Dollies, who take on a more backseat role this time (hence the reason why the show’s not titled after them, rather, featuring them).

But don’t quote me on that, the leads and supporting cast put on a strong display of musical talent and vocal stamina when they individually and collectively belted out crystal-clear songs wrapped with fantastic emotional expressions almost always. I wanted to agree on Denise Tan’s singing as being the best, but then realized Pam Oei did a remarkable job too.

Of course, with Dave “Electrico” Tan as the lead voiceover for the fearsome man-eating plant, “Audrey2”, the title of best singer had to go to him. I wonder how every one of them maintains their vocal chords in tip-top shape every.single.day.

Oh one more thing, watch out for the special rain effect, real motorbike entry on/off stage and, needless to say, the seemingly seamless puppeteer-ing of the man-eating plant. Mind blowing!

Well, just like Notre Dame de Paris, I got the chance to meet and greet the cast during the autograph session right after the show ended! Armed with my programme book, I got myself all 8 autographs. I got help in smiling for that near-picture-perfect with the Dollies, but let the other cast members slip away after I procrastinated a tad too long. At least I managed to grab hold of producer Tan Kheng Hua, for this prized shot too!

Guys and gals, waste no more time! I got my 4^th row seat tickets by booking them a month ago. You have less than a week left before they end their extended 24-show run, and you really ought to de-stress with this incredible love-horror-thriller-comedy. If you’ve never seen the Dim Sum Dollies in their previous 3 appearances, it’s time you did!

Notre Dame de Paris "Meet the Cast"

Okay okay okay, this is gonna be one of my favourite posts, thanks to Keesiu and QQ for their help in taking priceless pictures today (and other days too)! The excitement we all shared was beyond words, and everytime I look through the pictures, one can't help but grin from ear to ear!

For starters, when Matt Laurent (who plays Quasimodo) happened to pop out into the Premiere area prior to doors-opening one day, Keesiu and gang jumped at the photo opportunity, which saw me rushing down from the North Terrace level to join in the rare shot. On a separate occasion, when I was stationed at the Premiere area on Sunday, and Nadia Bel (who plays the sweetheart Esmeralda) popped out of the backstage area prior to doors-opening, I grabbed hold of Keesiu and her camera and asked Nadia if she minded a photo with us, to which she gladly obliged! Anyway, Nadia was taking a break from the matinee show, leaving her colleague and understudy Chiara (who plays Fleur-de-Lys) to play the part of Esmeralda that afternoon.

It wasn't exactly protocol for us to take pictures during work, especially in uniform, but what the heck!



We thought that was as much a highlight for us thus far....but we weren't expecting what was to come next...

Having worked 8 shows (out of the possible 11 shows for the first season from 3rd Nov - 12 Nov) thus far, the last matinee show before I stopped working so as to get started mugging full-time for my exams saw an unprecedented surprise when we were told there was going to be a "Backstage Tour cum Meet-the-Cast" session (after the matinee show ended) for a couple of RJC students, for which we were given clearance to join in!

How could one possibly say "no" to that?!

So, inside the function room, we arrived late to find the backstage tour already over, but the cast in the midst of interation with the RJC students. From left to right, the 6 characters Fleur-de-Lys, Gringoire, Esmeralda, Phoebus, Frollo, Clopin, and Quasimodo. Close-ups follow thereafter!



After some patient waiting, the Q&A that the cast had with the RJC students ended and everyone went on a "wild" photo-taking-autograph-signing spree with each and everyone of the cast! Makes one really feel young and paparazzi-like again! Heh.

From top to bottom, Left-to-Right:
The understudy Fleur-de-Lys and Cyril Niccolai (who plays Gringoire),
Laurent Ban (who plays Phoebus) and Jerome Collet (who plays Frollo),
and Roddy Julienne (who plays Clopin).
Matt Laurent (who plays Quasimodo),
Chiara di Bari (who plays Esmeralda),
and me asking Chiara for her autograph.




No prizes for guessing my favourite picture here.

Believe me, your heart would melt too if she held you that close. *cough*

I'm gonna miss Notre Dame de Paris when it ends its second season next sunday, 19th November. All the fatigue was worth it!

The true meaning of Effervescence

For all those who haven't witnessed what diet coke and mentos does to you, watch this.

Now that you have been impressed, be blown away with THIS.

Life will never be the same again!

Notre Dame de Paris

If you're going to catch Notre Dame de Paris at the Singapore Indoor Stadium between the 3rd and the 19th November, here's a treat for you. While most people don't see the need to fork out $298 for a show ticket complete with "red-carpet-VIP" package, many still do. Of course, this evening being the Gala Night opening, I believe many of the stars and VIPs that came didn't need to pay. Of course, for most of us, we’re not going to pay $298 for a 2.5hr long musical that’s entirely in French (less for the English and Mandarin subtitles), are we? So here’s a peak of the VIP ushers and what they do when greeting guests for the red-carpet….Enjoy!