Dramafeste 2008

The last Dramafeste I watched as an RJ student...
Have to say it wasn't exactly disappointing. But the results were, as usual. Just like last year's. Let's take a look at the plays, shall we?

HH - In Pages

Every year it seems, one house deviate from conformity (conformity here being coming up with a play that has really deep themes and where the overall mood is dark) and produce a play that sticks to the traditional "introduction, start, middle, climax, end" play. HH did that, just like BW did last year (although BW's play last year was much more entertaining), with a thought-provoking play on writing and what it means to different people. A good deal of humour was thrown into the mix, although yeah it certainly dealt with certain deep issues as well.

BW - Flight

There were rather mixed opinions on this one. It projected a great deal of emotion, and its premise was simple. Made excellent use of props and stuff, and the actors did a solid job as well. There were quite a few moments where I had no choice but to cringe as well though, and quite a few people found it weird. But I guess a Best Script and Best Actress award for this play puts things in perspective.

BB - make no bones

In the words of the judges, an ambitious play. I can certainly sympathize with yewei - the audience's reaction to many moments in the play was definitely not the effect that yewei had desired when he wrote and directed it. Furthermore, BB's lack of male acting talent (other than yewei himself, who in his minor role performed better than all the other actors) as lamented by mel was a severe blow to the performance. Didn't really help that the idiots in the audience were making a hell lot of noise and laughing at their friend's performance (assumed thus because one of the main characters is a sportsman), and one of the actors who took on a solemn role was obviously not born for the stage, speaking with a singaporean slang in the role of a responsible doctor? Ah well life is really tough.

MT - Let Go

Another possible tearjerker. Simple premise yet again, this time about a death and dealing with loss. It was probably the play that everyone could attempt to relate to, because all the emo elements were there - death, loss, love, restriction, regret. The cast put up great performances and everything, and poor daryl got left out when the judges credited the other 3 main actors but not him.

MR - Solve for H

This is the 'amgwtf' play. Not to criticize junwei or whatever, and seeing as I am not exactly qualified at all to say anything, but I seriously was totally unhappy that my own house won. Seeing as they used the exact same concept as last year, just to tell a different story using different characters. Okay so maybe it included more scenes involving the main characters, I cant really tell because I forgot last year's play in general. But the stomping ensemble, the chorused voices, the darkness of the play, the mechanization - all too familiar. And I didn't even like last year's one seeing as I -am- a supporter of the standard plays as I've mentioned already. I can't believe they would recycle the same idea and stuff. The bomb would be if next year, MR does the same thing again and the judges award them Best Play yet again for the impressive coordination, bla bla bla physical theatre whatnot. Like seriously.

Oh well. The judges had the final say anyway and there was definitely alot of unhappiness and everything, but what do you do? Hope yewei and auyong dont get too upset 'cos they didn't win anything.

Well the end of february (i.e. now) signals the end of the activity-filled period for me I guess. Class learning journey to watch dimsumdollies is just over (about 2 hours ago, yesterday), dramafeste is over, orientation is totally over (wails), talentime is over, etc etc etc. I am going to have a very boring and dull life now, and will probably have to find meaningful ways to spend my time other than studying. Which of course I will have to do alot of, like everyone else.

I asked pris a question today. What do 18 year old RJC girls want?

Because I really can't figure it out. I then told her that I guess it really depends person to person. 'cos you see all these people who you never expect to start hooking up doing so, and like they have their studies part of life and this other aspect of life and you just wonder how? When they dont even seem like the type in the first place.

Then again, 'not seeming like the type' is simply just another perspective that we take. People may seem different to different people, and that's just the way things are. Men all over the world try to find a standard formula to please the fairer sex and appeal to them but sometimes some things just dont work for the individual.

Then when we screw up, everything just falls apart.

But we're guys.

Since when do we get anything right the first time?