A Long Time Ago...

Brian McIntyre, my director of Broadway Parodies Lah! (1st left), Pan Swee Chin (2nd left), me in brown & Chae Lian of Gardner & Wife (right next to me) in Stand And Deliver, 1990

Me in brown (centre), Pan Swee Chin (left) and Chae Lian of Gardner & Wife (right) in Stand And Deliver, 1990

Where does it all started everyone asked?

Well it began in 1990 where I was one of the ensemble member of the musical Stand And Deliver
I was only 9 when i started

My God....it has been that long

In this production was when I get to know a lot of veteran theatre performers in this city. Just to name a few...my director of Broadway Parodies Lah!, Brian McIntyre, Chae Lian of Gardner & Wife, Sandra Sodhy, Suzan Manen, Pan Swee Chin, Siau Suan....they are all still active in the theatre of KL.

A New Beginning, A New Chapter...Part 2

Hi

I think what people mostly wouldn't believe is, in my career as a performing artist and musician,

I had burned out...twice

Oh ya...that's right.

Tough to believe huh?

I guess back then, I worked too hard on something and I expected rewards and merit to come too quickly.

Maybe I expect too much of myself.

Well...I guess when you are young and full of driven energy and not having a matured mind and a good sense of direction....that's what happens.

Actually, this could just happen to anyone.

NOW...it's all different, it has all changed.

I'm a different person now..artistically and creatively.

I have matured over the years, artistically I've grown so much and I'm much more focus as well as being practical, objective and rational about what I do.

For example, when I did "Broadway Parodies Lah!"

I wasn't nervous...not one bit

I was calmed and relaxed and all set,ready to go.

Brian did tell me about how mean the critics can be, but i just didn't care at all

I took that as an opportunity and turn it around and exploit it positively.

All I care was to give my best, and nothing else matters.

Not to mention...enjoy myself at the same time.

Actually it was a new journey for me...

A new beginning, a new chapter..it's like Part 2 or a new Volume or Updated Edition in my career.

It's another level entirely.

Maturity in ones artistry is priceless.

As a human being, I'm still learning as I go along. Our journey in life is a learning experience and it won't stop.

When we think everything is at the end...it's not. Because actually.....it's a new beginning......

London, London, London.......Homesick

There are times when I wish i'm back in London even as I'm writing.
I would say....I'm "homesick"
I missed my friends, I missed my usual excursion...going to the parks, theatres, having coffee at SoHo, browsing at the bookshops and record stores....missed the morning mist, fish & chips, climbing the double deck red bus, rushing to catch the Tube, doing my dance classes at Pineapple Studios...

Well, what can I say, I just did a successful musical comedy "Broadway Parodies Lah!" and now i'm in "Tunku"
not to mentioned, I'm booked for the BPL tour and perhaps the sequel/part 2
I shouldn't be complaining as I'm in good hands.
Looks like it's gonna be til next year.

Not to mentioned, my dad still hasn't recovered fully from his stroke and I can't just leave him with my mom. That would be very selfish and heartless.
I pray everyday for my dad's full recovery and everything will be back to normal.

Amen

Tunku - The Musical

Hiya,
There's been speculation saying that I'm in "Tunku - The Musical"
Yup, it is true.
I am now a member of the ensemble for Tunku
I was invited by Joe Hasham & Dato' Faridah last Sunday after the closing of "Broadway Parodies Lah!"
It took me 48 hours to decide whether I would join the ensemble.

Well...i did went for Tunku's audition and I got cut off
(sounds like Akademi Fantasia....hehehehehe)
Anyway...what matters most is I'm blending and fitting in fine

I'm doing a 1 month work of rehearsal and squeezing it into 1 week
phew!
So far so good, I'm not complaining, I'm enjoying myself too

I hope it's gonna be a wonderful show

More Coming...

Watch out!!
There's still more to come pretty soon....
Stay tune

Voice, voice, voice

Gosh
What happens when I go on stage and suddenly nothing comes out?
Kinda scary!

During "Broadway Parodies Lah!", I truly admire the 4 vocalists in the group...
Ivan, Soon Yoon, Doreen & Cheryl.

Ivan...great tenor voice (even though he keeps admitting he's a baritone LOL),
real solid tone.
I hope there will be more musicals & shows coming his way and I think he should be given a chance.
Hope he'll go places in the future.

Soon Yoon...what can I say, a real ball of energy. Before the show starts, he'll be singing and he can go on and on and on, wish I got that kinda of energy. I'm truly his opposite, where before performances, I will keep silence and focus my energy entirely for my performance.
Soon Yoon is a real tenor and has a much lighter weight on his voice compare to me.
I have a great chemistry working with Soon Yoon for "We're DeListed".
We can harmonize well and I can see that he's got a lot of ideas when it comes to harmonizing in a group.

Doreen...our very own "Christine Dae"
Great soprano voice.
How does she hit the high notes every nite for "The Bomoh of the Bursa" and not to mention, maintaining the quality...amazing.
She's always been very helpful to all the cast as she will lead the vocal warm-ups.
At one time during the final few weeks of rehearsal, she had some viral infection and she couldn't sing out, we were all so scared if she couldn't sing during the performance week.
Thank God she recovered fast and we have our "Christine Dae" back again ;)

Cheryl...the youngest member of the cast.
Fresh young tone, energetic and not to mention very matured for her age.
She reminds me of myself when I was her age.
At such a tender age, she's very focus and I can see that she really wants to excel in performing arts.
I really respect her.
A true "Wicked" fan, I was blown away when she sang "Defying Gravity" at The Attic.
I would say good luck to her for her future endeavor as she's got so much potential.

As for me, my vocals are much lower compare to the rest of them.
I'm a baritone tenor or higher baritone as how you may call it. My tones are low and it can sound really heavy.
Well, I never like to talk about my vocal abilities as I leave it to others to evaluate it.
hehehehehe...

More more please...cast of Broadway Parodies!!

Here are some of our earlier pics taken by our director, Brian McIntyre