EL3223 Drama Studies presents: In the Shadow of the Kemboja

As mentioned in the brochure:

We, the students of EL3223 Drama Studies course (2008/2009), are proud to present to you our play, In the Shadow of the Kemboja. We have gained invaluable experience throughout the process of writing and staging this play, and we hope you will enjoy it.

The Cast
Mastura (madwoman) played by Amal Majidah
Babu Patmah (mother) played by NurLiyana Fatimah
Mimi (sister) played by Ishamina Athirah
Hisham (brother) played by Mursidi Murah
Mbak Suryanti (amah/maid) by Miza Roslan
Balqis (brother's fiance) played by Diyana Daud
Ah Chu (nosy neighbour) played by Aik Pei Hsuan
Ah Lan (nosy neighbour)played by Sia Ai Li
Mak Itam (bomoh/witchdoctor) played by Amalina Ramli
Paramedics played by Maurice Boon

Here's a sneak peek:
The tragic play is about a family governed by the stern hand of its matriarch, Babu Patmah. Everything seems peaceful until the return of her daughter, Mimi, from abroad. Mimi has become detached from her family, and the only person she feels attached to is her sister Mastura. When she queries Mastura's absence, the relative peace begins to crumble. The family is polarized between Babu Patmah and Mimi, and the secrets of the past threaten to resurface...

Genre: Tragedy. and a bit of comedy too! :)
Written and produced by: EL3223 Drama Studies students of 2008
Directed by: Dr. Grace Chin
Kemboja (frangipanni flowers)- grow around graveyards- symbolises death

We did it!! We finally did it and we nailed it!! After all that hard work! What a performance! After weeks of writing (with some disagreements in between :) ), rehearsing we finally gave a great performance and it turned out really well!! Well done everyone (who are involved in the play- writing, producing, performing, staging and directing). A very special thanks to Dr. Grace Chin (this play would not be possible without her) who had helped us along the way with production, direction, the endless moral support and of course with the breathing exercises :) It really helped us a lot! (except for that last 5 minutes before the play started when we were starting to calm our nerves and Maurice walked in and told us that it was a full house! haha) Congratulations to the cast! I really had fun these past few weeks. We did a great job!!! :)

As 3rd year students doing major/minor in English Language Studies, we are currently doing a course called Drama Studies and we are required to write, produce and perform a play of our own other than merely studying other literary texts. It has been fun doing this on our own giving it a Bruneian context and I'm looking forward to more drama productions in the future! :) Drama is not just for entertainment. With drama, we can expand our imagination and creativity and look at life in different perspectives. Drama allows us to go beyond reality, it is an exaggeration of our mundane life. And finally to sum up, Drama Studies rock!!!

And now with that done, it's time to hit the books. Exams start next week! eeeeeek

And we were mentioned in The Brunei Times, and again, and Borneo Bulletin :)

Simplified English 101

I found this somewhere, it's very interesting so just read on! This is what you would expect to hear from the locals who speak English if you are in Brunei, Singapore or Malaysia. Particularly among the Chinese community.

Who say our English is teruk? Don't simple say one, just see below- ours is simple, short, concise, straight to the point.

WHEN GIVING A CUSTOMER BAD NEWS
Standard English: I'm sorry sir, but we don't seem to have the sweater you want in your size, but if you give me a moment I can call the other outlets for you.
Malay English: No stock.

RETURNING A CALL
S.E.: Hello, yes, did anyone page me?
M.E.: Hello, who page?

ASKING SOMEONE TO MAKE WAY
S.E.: Excuse me please, I'd like to get by,
M.E.: S-kew me.

WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS TO PAY
S.E.: Hey, put your wallet away, the drink is on me.
M.E.: No need lah.

ASKING FOR PERMISSION
S.E.: Excuse me, but do you think it would be possible for me to enter through this door?
M.E.: (pointing at the door) Can ah?

ENTERTAINING SOMEONE
S.E.: Please make yourself at home.
M.E.: Don't be shy lah!

WHEN DOUBTING SOMEONE
S.E.: I dont recall you giving me the money.
M.E.: Where got?

DECLINING AN OFFER
S.E.: I'd prefer not to do that, if you don't mind.
M.E.: Don't want lah...

DISAGREEING ON A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
S.E.: Err, I have to stop you there. I understand where you are coming from but I really have to disagree with you.
M.E.: You mind ah?

ASKING SOMEONE TO LOWER HIS/HER VOICE
S.E.: Excuse me, but could you please lower your voice, I'm trying to concentrate here.
M.E.: Shut up lah!

ASKING SOMEONE IF HE/SHE KNOWS YOU
S.E.: Excuse me, but I noticed you staring at me for some time. Do i know you?
M.E.: See what, see what?

ASSESSING A TIGHT SITUATION
S.E.: We seem to be in a bit of a predicament at the moment.
M.E.: Die lah!!

TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED
S.E.: Can someone tell me what just happened?
M.E.: Wat happen... why like that?

WHEN SOMEONE DID SOMETHING WRONG
S.E.: That's not the way to do it.
M.E.: Haiya, like that also don't know how to do!

WHEN ONE IS ANGRY
S.E.: Would you mind not disturbing me?
M.E.: Celaka you.

Fools

Thats it. I've had it. More and more shit, nothing gets better but only worse. Tomorrow is somebody's special day and we can't even be there with him. What the fuck is that? If your notion of a "%&)*@#$!" is a divided one then just say so. Everything we do is never good enough. Why too hard for you to make mistakes eh?

I am made to read at this hour of the night and what I thought was a boring , thick and dull book turned out to be very interesting after all. I am indeed intrigued by the arguments put forward in this book "Intellectuals in Developing Societies" by Syed Hussein Alatas. He brilliantly defines and compares what constitutes the Intellectuals and the Intelligentsia - they are very different if you must know. And the most interesting part that caught my interest is his definitions of fools. He provides clear sociological definitions of the characteristics of a fool which I feel very much obliged to share it with you because these people are everywhere dominating society and eating the lives out of people. So, what constitutes a fool?

1. A fool does not think contextually both in terms of space and time, and in the dynamic interrelationship of factors
2. A fool reacts only to the immediate and cannot see beyond
3. A fool has a mind that thinks in terms of limited causes and not of successive causes and effects
4. A fool is a creature of habit and is not critical of the foundation of his/her own thinking
5. A fool cannot reflect upon a problem or a situation
6. A fool is inconsistent
7. A fool is not analytic in his/her thinking but merely descriptive
8. A fool lacks mental energy and always follows the line of least resistance
9. A fool cannot speak at a high level of abstraction without contradicting reality
10. A fool is not able to learn the art of learning
11. A fool does not admit he/she is a fool

And to add my own definitions:
12. A fool lacks consideration for the people around him/her
13. A fool does not admit defeat
14. A fool takes in blindly the advices of another fool (without the ability to initially work out its logicness)
15. A fool thinks that he/she is the only person in this world who can hurt and feel deep sorrow

And to quote him again, "Once the fools come to power, they perpetuate their own breed. Fools cannot cope in a situation where merit and hardwork are the criteria of success. Where fools dominate it is their values that become society's values, their consciousness which becomes society's consciousness."

There you have it. Sounds familiar? This is very much applicable to Candyland* indeed. Hope you have a fucked-up night. I mean it. Fool.