On the 27th of August, my friends and I were all set to go to the Arts House, (also known as the Old Parliament House) to watch the play “Teochew Porridge”, directed by Casey Lim. Pupils who were interested in watching the play were invited to come and of course, it was compulsory for us ELDDS members to watch the play.
When we reached the Arts House, we were first ushered into the Screening Room, where as we sat on the plump chairs, enjoyed a talk given by the director himself. As we sat there in the room, we asked the director questions and got some friendly advice as well from the director. Then, we proceeded with refreshments at the café inside, where everyone got a free drink and some ordered food .Others were drawn to the bookshelf of the café and the stereo which played music .
Slightly before 8p.m, we all went to the Play Den where the play was to be, well, played. As I waited underneath the spotlight, I marveled on how they had managed
to convert a place where serious debates took place to a room where plays could be performed .The room was dimmed and teochew music was playing.
Suddenly,the music stopped and knowing this was a signal that the play was about to start,we all settled into our seats.The room darkened and the play began.
The room darkened once more brightened to reveal a humble setting of a television set over a cupboard.A man seated on the chair starts to relate his story.
The play is about how a father was unable to communicate with his eldest son as both were utterly different as Night and Day.Although funny at times,like the part of him speaking Teochew, there were also some parts where the audience could relate to,like the part where talking to his father was almost like a train running through tracks,getting louder and louder until he wass unable tostop it , drowning out all other sound…
What I was most impressed with was the lighting effects and the sound effects.that the people working behind the scene had managed to put up the potrayal of feelings by the actor was also excellent.i remembered a few of my friends had tears in their eyes when they saw the end.Unfortunately ,being a unfeeling person, I didn’t .
My feelings ,as we wheeled back to school on the bus, was the satisfactory feeling, I spent the evening observing professionals and I ,having been impressed by almost everything seen, vowed to improve one our performances to be as good ,or even better than Teochew Porridge”