Landmarks: Asian Boys Vol. 2 - An SPL Production

2006-04-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

Been on this path of life for so long
Feel I've walked a thousand miles
Sometimes strolled hand in hand with love
Everybody's been there

With danger on my mind I would stay on the line of hope
I knew I could make it
Once I knew the boundaries I looked into the clouds and saw
My face in the moonlight
Just then I realised what a fool I could be
Just cause I look so high I don't have to see me

Finding a paradise wasn't easy but still
There's a road going down the other side of this hill

Never forget where you've come here from
Never pretend that it's all real
Someday soon this will be someone else's dream

Been safe from the arms of disappointment for so long
Feel each day we’ve come too far
Yet each day seems to make much more
Sure is good to be here

I understand the meaning of 'I can't explain this feeling'
Now it feels so unreal
At night I see the hand that reminds me of the stand I make
The fact of reality

Never forget where you've come here from
Never pretend that it’s all real
Someday soon this will be someone else's dream

We've come so far and we've reached so high
And we've looked each day and night in the eye
And we're still so young and we hope for more
But remember this
We're not invincible, we're not invincible - no
We're only people, we're only people
Hey we're not invincible, we're not invincible
So again I'll tell you

Never forget where you've come here from
Never pretend that it's all real
Someday soon this will be someone else's dream

2006-03-18T01:02:00.000-08:00

Ticketing Latest - 18 March 2006

Tickets will be available at the door for tonight's performance of Landmarks : Asian Boys Vol. 2 . Tickets cost 2 pounds, but if you produce your PIE/Spoilt ticket you will get 50% off.

Approach Penny or Hsuen at the front desk for more details.

2006-03-09T16:52:00.000-08:00

Showing on 17th and 18th March, 7.30pm at Old Theatre, LSE:

Asian Boys Vol. 2, Written by Alfian Sa'at

Gain a rare insight into the joys and pains of homosexuals living in Singapore. Asian Boys is a collection of eight short plays depicting the different aspects of Singaporean gay life.

In SPL's boldest and most controversial production yet, this collage of plays exposes the raw emotions of the gays living in a traditional society, the daily struggles they face, and the ultimate sacrifices they have to make for love.

A summary of the eight plays:

Katong Fugue. A poetic play examining the love and struggle between a confused mother trying to reach out and a stoic gay son desperate to keep his mother out of the trials and tribulations of his life.

Supper at Maxwell. A tongue-in-cheek piece about two gay friends, Danny and Gordon. Here, Danny confides in Gordon about his most recent crush, a mute gay, not realising Gordon is secretly in love with him too.

Raffles City Rendezvous. Mike is 10-years older than his boyfriend, Kiat. Recently, they made a mistake of having a threesome. Things turn sour when the existence of a third party reveals the difficulties and anxieties of their relationship. Eventually, they find resolution in the love they have for each other.

California Dreaming. Three friends agree to go for a big gay bash. One backs out in the end, sensing the inanity of the entire matter while the other two hedonistically talk about their choice of outfit and which cute guy they'll be meeting. A clever discussion ensues on the subject of what it really means to be gay.

The Kings of Ann Siang Hill. A play re-examining the perception of the purity of youth and the perversion of paedophilia. Here, the story of the supposed cheeko-peh (dirty old man) seeking sex from a cute young guy is recounted in a way quite unexpected to us.

Downstream, Delta. Felix and Jack almost had a sexual encounter but it never happened. Jack has his hang-ups about being openly homosexual. Choosing to be in a state of denial, he becomes the round peg forcing his way into the square hole of society. Jack is getting married but Felix is still in love with him. Jack offers Felix one kiss - their first and probably last. Does Felix take it?

My Own Private Toa Payoh. Aloysius and Meng are social escorts. But they are lovers too. What does love mean and what are its definitive manifestations when sex is no longer kept purely between two lovers? Can it still be sacred? This play uses a gay landscape to explore the essential yet unpredictable nature of love.

The Widow of Fort Road. The only play set in a dream landscape. In the most poignant play of the series, we are confronted with the conflict between homosexuality and society. Is death (of both identity and physical self) the only plausible outcome of this struggle?

Please note that the plays are not necessarily performed in the above order.

2006-03-08T17:17:00.000-08:00

Name:
Andrew Ong

About Me:
Andrew's latest venture into drama a clear effort to dispel rumours of his inability to string coherent sentences together. Growing up in the slums of Ulu Pandan, he was a victim of society had extremely low self-esteem he found the sense of identity and belonging proffered by void-deck. Gangs most enticing, thankfully he was spared from an hereditary tendency to criminal behaviour by the enduring efforts of.

His mother and sister who filled in numerous application forms on his behalf, earning him a half decent. Education. Failed fledgling careers in poetry, radical sculpture and ballet turned this under-achieving unconfident and not-very-young-anymore man up on the doorstep of SPL.

Unsurprisingly confined to one-liners in this play, Andrew's speech impediments and involuntary spasms have. Been alleviated temporarily for this performance under the caring guidance of the directors.

He plays Jack and Aloysius in this play.

2006-03-03T01:17:00.000-08:00

Buying tickets

Tickets are available from ticketing.spl@googlemail.com or ticketing.spl@hotmail.com

Please include your name, school, contact number, performance night and number of tickets required.

You may also approach members of the cast and crew for tickets.

2006-03-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

Name:

Lee Seng Teck

About Me:
Seng Teck likes to think he can act better than he really does. The cruel truth is slapped in his face more than he cares to endure, but this is probably a good thing. In his free time he can be found sleeping in the Senate House library, chewing his fingernails, or drawing over his schoolwork. He is the sort of person who stares blankly a lot, and is frightened by random things. Landmarks is his first time both directing and acting, and he’s grateful for the opportunity.

2006-03-02T18:20:00.000-08:00

Name:
Lim Huishan

About Me:
Shan discovered her love for theatre only this year, when she was strongarmed into a role in Asian Boys. Since then, she has since developed an impeccable sense of comic timing and an odd tendency to bite people she has just met. She studies Government and Economics at LSE and can't really be bothered with any of you little people. But she'll be happy to give you a chomp if you seek her backstage for an autograph. She also enjoys dancing, netball, and very very lesbian sex.

2006-03-02T18:16:00.000-08:00

Name:
Wong Xin Wei

School:
UCL

About Me:
"Xin Wei. 2nd year UCL Economics student. Great zest for singing and in general music, especially the asian pop style. Favourite music genre is power ballads. Most loved musical instrument: piano. Plays the guitar and keyboard. Current challenge: write better songs. Enjoys being close to nature. Mountains have breathtaking sceneries, worth the arduous journey. Junior college obsession: rock-climbing.

What Excites Me in Asian Boys:
I am a stage lover! Personally, i find it more difficult to act than sing. Only started theatre acting last year. Common errors: overacting and changing script lines. Been working hard to make things right. Hope it will be a blast! Absolutely excited about Asian Boys just as PIE/Spoilt. Watch me be a defeated gay for that moment on stage, for that moment in my whole life. Dun reckon that I will get any gay roles in future. On-stage or off-stage. Heh heh.

It has been great fun with all the rehearsals! Special thanks to Seng Teck and Huishan for tolerating my nonsense throughout. "

2006-03-02T18:11:00.000-08:00

Name:

Juan Fidel Anaya

School:
Imperial College London

Biopic:
"Today was a nice day.

I woke up in the bed of my boyfriend like the other 5 days before. 2 souls holding hands to sleep awakening as one.

Feeling the hot water beating down our bodies in the shower every morning is an exhilirating way to start the day.

The kiss before we walk out the door makes the day that much more lighter.

A quick stop at McDonald's for our usual before having to be parted at the tube stop.

I do my Biochemical research thinking of him, he does his reminding me his love for me.

The day whizzes pass, and soon we reunite at where we part.

A short walk for a quick bite, with talks of how our days went by, good or bad, all melts away as we get lost in ourselves.

Now, I'm at my boyfriend's.

The fire rages, keeping to its place, restrained.

I sit on the warm carpeted floor, my back inclined against the firm, coffee-coloured sofa, snuggled.

With my boyfriend by my side, his arm part caressing, part massaging, part ruffling my hair...

Half kissing, half laughing at figure skaters falling over in the winter olympics.

SO WHY THE FUCK AM I STARING IN FRONT OF THE SCREEN INSTEAD OF HIS EYES! WHY ARE FINGERS PUNCHING AWAY AT THE KEYS WHEN THEY SHOULD BE FEELING HIM!!

WHY! WHY! WHY! FOR YOUR VOYEURISTIC PLEASURE? TO HELP YOU KILL TIME? TO GET INTO MY HEAD?!

I HAVE A FUCKING LIFE TO LIVE AND YOU ARE GETTING IN THE WAY OF IT!!!"

is that alright? not too much I hope. hehe.

back to my bf now.... tata.

2006-03-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

Name:
Timothy Lim

School/Course:
First year Medical student at *ahem*
Guy'sKing'sandStThomas'SchoolOfMedicineDentistryBiomedicalandHealthSciences.

It just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

About me:
There is a story out there somewhere. Originating a long, long time ago. In
the southern province of China. It tells of a stupid, stupid boy, who grows
up to become a stupid, stupid man.

Okay? Alright? You following me?

So this man decides that he'll go on a journey to see the world, after he's
been cheated out of all his material possessions by the evil, opportunistic
townspeople. Dressed in a sack that was traded to him for his house, he
walks into the woods outside town. There, he bumps into a thief, freezing in
the summer's cold. He kindly offers his sack, which is taken without
hesitation. And then he meets a wolf, starving since morning. He kindly
offers his naked body, which is gobbled up instantly. Finally, a demon walks
by, also traveling the world and collecting souveniors from every human he
sees. The man kindly offers his eyes, for which the demon thanks him equally
kindly. And throughout all this, the man never felt even a twitch of anger,
doubt or regret, because he had given his help to whoever needed it. Blind,
bodyless and alone, he cries bloody tears of joy, and no one since has died
any happier. Or any more stupid.

Still here? Good.

I am that man.

And worse, I am self-aware.

What Excites Me in Asian Boys:
I'm extremely excited about performing, because it's a new experience for me
and I get to play a character who's almost completely different from myself.
I'm also deathly afraid of performing, because... Well, everyone's better
off not knowing.

2006-03-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

Name:
Don Lim Shu Hao

School:
LSE

About Me:
First of all, I have to say that theatre is something completely new for me. As a true-blue philistine, I have never been to any play or musical – never. So allow me to be modest here and say that I have a lot to learn!

To the more mundane stuff: I’m into a lot of things – television news, commercial aviation, swimming, dancing, travelling, going to the beach and just catching up with my family and friends. Unfortunately, since coming to university, I have been too busy with school work and have not had time to devote to anything else!

What Excites Me in Asian Boys:
Well, what can I say? It’s a gay play! Like I said, this is all new for me – so that is probably where the excitement lies! And I’m probably not so much excited as frightened (read: stage fright)

2006-03-02T17:55:00.000-08:00

Name:
Andre Oei

School:
LSE

Role:
Towel Boy

About Me:
By Day, I am a Year 1 Government and Economics student at LSE. But by night, I am Towel Boy!

Before i left for London, my father specifically said, "Just don't come back gay." Well, don't worry dad, i'm just acting as one. oh, and did i mention that i'm a stage virgin?

quite a number of my friends are (unfortunately) homophobic, although i would consider their accusations that 'the clothes you wear are damn gay' as a compliment. i see this as a chance to do something i probably wouldn't normally do back home.

What Excites Me in Asian Boys:
i will have this play to thank for finally giving enough motivation to force me to head to the gym, something i've been meaning to do for quite a while now. more seriously, it has forced me to reconsider some perspectives, and also reminded me that love is universal. hopefully, when you listen to some of those heart-rending lines, your reaction will be 'aww...' and not 'ew!'. but don't worry, there'll be chances for the latter as well. *wink*

it's been fun. and if you're still willing to talk to me after watching the play, maybe i'll tell you about towel boy =P

2006-03-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

2006-03-01T02:25:00.000-08:00

Test post

2006-02-18T16:34:00.000-08:00