Monday, June 01, 2009

Having worked on "Hungry" for the past month, I've grown much attached to the script.

In our first reading, I did not really 'get' the play - with its random religious references and seemingly alienating characters; However, through Beng's direction and the cast's evolving interpretation of the text, I gained new insights on the play through each rehearsal.

The direction is deceptively light hearted - with Mui Choo's broken english, Guaka's wackiness and Mug's gibberish. However, at the end of the day, it is the hunger that each character feels that are, i feel, irrefutably relatable: Sarah is desperate to understand her purpose in life beyond what her education has to offer while Baby merely desires to live a life. Guaka's failure to fulfill her ambition to be an artist pushes her over the edge but eventually leads her to avoid the pain it brings her. Mui Choo was a victim desperate to escape her circumstances but finds herself bound to the same situation in the end. Even the seeming superfluous Mug provided much cause for reflection with his hunger for recognition and desperation to remain relevant.

Nonetheless, the play does not prescribe a definite solution to satiate our hunger. In fact, it implies that when we remain human, we shall inevitably be susceptible to our various needs and wants. Even though, as Beng has so often pointed out, it also seems to insinuate that one will be free of all suffering when one learns to eat other people's shit and die.

I've learnt much, working on this production. Having always dissected literature texts for school, I've gained an appreciation of the transition from text to theatre - much is attributed to Beng's knack for creating striking and haunting visual impact and for moulding the cast while allowing us to explore our characters. My amazing cast mates helped brought the script to life when they communicate so much emotions and tension through their craft. The crew's readiness to support the play showed that not only the actors are responsible for making a good show happen. I am also mightily thankful for friends who make the effort to support me physically and morally for their encouragement remind me the always do my best.

These learning points and the relationships I've developed I carry in my heart, knowing I've learnt, I've experienced, I've felt. And I move on from my first practical encounter with theatre, i know know that I have much more to learn, and I hope that I will have the opportunity to learn, experience and feel like I have like this again.