Happy to know that dearest's gonna accompany me to catch ANGEL-ISM, the latest production by panggung ARTS in association with Drama Box for the Singapore Theatre Festival 2008.
It'll be staged at a 120-seater black box theatre at the Drama Centre Black Box (National Library @ Bugis) from 6-10 August 2008. For the uninitiated, the Black Box theatre is an experimental form of theatre where the performing space is relatively simple, usually just a room with black walls and level floor. Lightings, props and the makes are kept simple and to a minimum. The entire arena is very versatile and audience seating can be arranged as per the intentions of the artistic director for a very different experience.
One of the artistic directors for the play, Mr. Kok Heng Leun taught me for a semester last year and he's a person whom I really respect and salute. I honestly think we should support the local arts scene and the group of people who labour so hard for their passion to keep their art alive.
Four friends sip coffee and exchange tales. One of them brushes her arched, feathered wings, while another steadily contemplates the instrument in his hands. The other two debate incessantly about human rights and wrongs and the appraisal system they try so hard to uphold.
Suddenly, the winged musician rises and declares he is taking the initiative to blow his horn, which will usher in the Day of Judgment. While the pair of moral auditors bicker, their client sinks deeper into a coma.
They share more tales and drink more coffee…the perfect recipe for a good get-together, or even Armageddon.
After their successful collaboration on Trick or Threat in 2007, directors Kok Heng Leun (Drift, A Stranger At Home) and Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit (Ma’ma Yong-About Nothing Much To Do, Impenjarament) expand on their engaging intercultural dialogue with a work that asks questions about faith, conscience and the afterlife—in a variety of languages.
Angel-ism presents a rare pairing of two of the most exciting Malay-language and Chinese-language theatre companies in Singapore today.
“I felt a powerful sense of something live and organic being created, something that was unpredictable and, therefore, exhilarating, almost dangerous… aiming to illustrate the complexity and insolubility…of the race situation in Singapore.” The Flying Inkpot, on ‘Trick or Threat’Do support if you can! Tickets at $30, 6-10 Aug 2008, Drama Centre Blackbox. Tickets available at SISTIC.
