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DATE: 19 FEB 06 (SUN), 7pm to 9:30pm Honestly speaking, the above performance did not make the grade. But then, WE MADE IT HAPPEN. The performance was a therapy drama and dance programme that aims to heal the performer as well as inspire the audience. However, it was a tough ride for the crew and volunteers.
Dovlyn cut the script and made other unauthorized changes because the protagonists were having trouble memorizing it. Eric the scriptwriter reluctantly. ignored most of the changes. The improvised portable studio was in shambles after the Eric and Yong Xiang identified many peculiar problems with it. It had to be reworked a few times to make it work based on a compromise of different technical opinions. Due to lack of budget, Dovlyn had to rely on friends. She was often on the phone getting helpers and soliciting supporters. Sometimes people who are supposed to turn up did not appear. Sometimes inexperienced or careless people made a big mess and we had to fix the problems.
The acting and dancing were far from acceptable and we had to put together a major training programme to get decent performance. Rehearsals continued day and night as we rushed against time for show time. Eric coached Dovlyn on dancing but still found her unable to make the grade. Dovlyn rehearsed with Harjit, with Cleo sometimes sitting in when she was not training the children, handing logistics or making the clothes and props A few days before the performance, we (i.e. Dovlyn, Cleo and Eric) were ready to give up as we slouched on the sofas in Dovlyn's home, tired and stressful. It was hard to endure the burden. But there was no turning back as we had a reputation to keep and many promises to uphold. So we pushed ahead.
At midnight on show day, Eric then instructed Dovlyn on a crash course in speech and drama, after he fixed yet another set of problems with the portable studio. Both slept at 5am. Tired and blurry, we continued working after they woke up. The weather cooperated and as planned, the volunteers started moving equipment to the performance venue two hours before show time. Alas, a menacing and stern man who represented the Town Council suddendly appeared. He demanded that we get out of the amphitheater immediately and was unwilling to negotiate. It turned out that Dovlyn had conveniently neglected to obtain permission from the authorities. Fortunately, after a 20 minute delay, Cleo and friends saved the day after they managed to persuade the authorities to relent and grant permission. However, Cleo was almost stressed to the point of crying.
We set up the equipment, ran the cables, unloaded the props. Then, SHOWTIME! |
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Just when we thought it could not get worse, the wireless mics one of the volunteers loaned us started wrecking havoc with the portable studio. Eric made an admittedly bad decision approving the use of this add-on without testing for system integration first.
Once someone starts to use the wireless mic system for more than a few seconds, it began to shut down the backup video recorder. It also made an irritating buzzing sound whenever there was silence, so we have to manually turn down the volume whenever someone stops speaking, and turn it up whenever they start speaking.
Worse, the twin lavaliere mics providing sound support for the stage stopped working completely despite perfect test runs previously. We had no time to determine if the wireless mic was the culprit. Hence, we stick with it reluctantly.
As we rolled into production, Cleo's computer song list had somehow disappeared. Not being a computer expert, she panicked and the audience hung in suspense for a minute. Eric used an emergency procedure to play the songs and keep everything running. Unfortunately, it could not completely cover the transition between the scenes properly and introduced much continuity problem.
The high point occurred when Dovlyn revealed her true emotions and released clinging on to the old. Almost everyone was in tears. Unfortunately, Dovlyn was also abusing our sound system by (unknowingly) shouting into the mic and (accidentally) switching it on and off abruptly. The effect was totally disruptive and unprofessional sound.
Eric was so embarrassed by the unredeemable performance of both the technical handling and acting that he though of hiding somewhere. Fortunately, the audience seemed to like the performance (gulp, I hope). But then, he is going to personally make sure that the next performance will make the grade.
Anyway, the performance finally ended. We cleared the food, packed up the equipment and cleaned up the place. The Town Council man did not bother to pay us a visit. With the help of the volunteers, we loaded all the equipment in Dovlyn's home.
With the help from all the sponsers and volunteers, together with the audience who turned out (some coming especially from overseas), we finally made it!
Thank you everyone!
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Mission Accomplished! |
Updated: Fri 14 November 2008