Entries for January, 2006
January 6, 2006home... posted at 12:11 AM Hey folks, after 13 days or so (who's counting?) in Australia, I AM FINALLY BACK!!!!! There
were plenty of fun and adventure, old and new friends to be made, and
lots of fond memories recorded in my mind as well as in my trusty
companion, my digital camera... Well, I took so much photos (fully used up both my 1GB & 256MB memory cards!) it'll take me a while to sort them and post them up... Right now, I've just finished my Seafood Hor Fun supper from downstairs, and will step into a nice long and hot shower... Anyway, do stay tuned, and I'll write more here soon! [ Feeling... * indescribable * ] comments
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January 6, 2006
illo friday - sea... posted at 10:59 PM under snapshots of merman... It's been a long time since I participated in any online activities, and I've been missing out on some of my favourite ones like PhotoFriday.com and IllustrationFriday.com... But this week's Illo Friday theme suits me well and I'm able to grab an old illustration I did for myself, sort of like a self-portrait of sorts... The theme is... Sea
"Merman" ~ Edric Hsu 400 x 400 pixels Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Image hosted by:
Photobucket.com
I created this image a couple of years ago when I first discovered the wonders of Adobe Photoshop... Fooling around with the various filters and editing tools, I thought "Why not create a super hero, like Superman, Batman, or Spiderman?" That soon led to "Why not create a super hero based on my nickname, Merman?" And so, the above self-portrait was born... On a different note, I'll like to mention that all my life I have been fascinated with the oceans and anything sea-related... The sea conjures in my mind contrasting images of tranquility and turbulence, lazy shore relaxation and speedy surf action, and at times immersing oneself within its vastness allows for the most private moments... The sea has many magical qualities that I am still discovering everytime I am near it or in it. And most of all, I am very definite that have lived many past lives asa creature of the sea... [ Feeling... * refreshed * ] |
January 11, 2006
main wayang presents... posted at 03:14 AM Yayness, I am feeling much better already, thanks to some Febs tablets, many good meals, enough sleep, and a can of Tiger Beer Classic... My Hari Raya holiday was mostly spent rehearsing for a new show, which is... The Main Wayang Company presents... A Brand New Peranakan Musical Revue (for the young & young at heart!) Details: The Victoria Theatre, 13 - 15 January 2006 (13th - 8pm/14th - 8pm/15th - 3pm & 8pm) Tickets available at all SISTIC outlets now. (Matinee - $30/$40/$50 Evening - $38/$48/$58)
A Peranakan musical extravaganza is coming to The Victoria Theatre in mid-January 2006!
* Show Direction & Script - Baba Richard Tan Choral Director - Nyonya Babes Conde Original Music / Arrangement by Lighting Designer / Sets Consultant - Lito Borromeo Make-up by M.A.C Peranakan Kebayas & Attire by Official Food – Flavours and Spices * http://www.mainwayang.com/marigoroundpics.htm and introducing: The Main Wayang Minstrels
(From L-R: Me, William, May Lin, Carol, Cheryl, Jacqueline, Ridz & Marcel) Do come and support this fun show and have a wonderfully unique experience!!! [ Feeling... * energetic * ] |
January 12, 2006
rain rain go AWAY... posted at 01:15 PM Okay, enough of the rain already, it's overstayed its welcome, thank you very much... It has wasted my chance to enjoy a nice dim sum brunch at Red Star Restaurant with Yesterday, the Sun came out to say "Hi!" but left shortly after... it must have been holidaying too much in Australia too! But at least yesterday I managed to go for a casting call in full corporate attire without getting wet... Met up with
There's still an hour to go, so I decided to pop by Cali gym to take a quick shower and enjoy the warm sauna. Bumped into Then it's over to The Heeren to meet Stephen. He waited for me to finish my Pontian Wanton Mee (extra wanton and extra mee) while he got totally engrossed in "The Da Vinci Code-Illustrated Edition"... Then Steve came over to join us and we adjourned to Sakae Sushi for more food... It was more shopping after that, as the rain got heavier and prevented us from leaving... Ended up buying 2 items at HMV: the VCD of the movie "Palindromes" about a little girl who can't wait to become a mother, as well as "Jamie Cullum - Catching Tales"...
Told the sales cashier if the rain didn't stop, I'll end up buying more stuff... It didn't, but luckily we found a sheltered route to the carpark after all, and I got home dry... Still, I wish the rain would stop already. There's still the full run of "Baba Nyonya Mari-Go-Round" to go this evening and I would not want to be wet at Victoria Theatre... [ Feeling... * moody * ] [ Reading... * Pack of Thieves - 52 Port Arthur Lives * ] [ Watching... * TV * ] |
and 
January 13, 2006
extra drama at victoria theatre... posted at 01:13 AM All in all, it wasn't a really pleasant day... After washing away all my motivation for a good dim sum meal this morning, the endless rain then continued to be a wet blanket and made everyone irritable during our technical rehearsal... Either the rain, or it could be just Victoria Theatre, notorious for giving performers chills of the supernatural sort... It's been a long time since my last show there, but I yet again sensed an unwanted presence at the basement toilet. The taps there had a nasty habit of turning themselves on, but thankfully, they were cooperative this time. Nevertheless, I still felt a strange uneasiness there, but kept my mouth shut anyway... Then during the full run, just as the performers were waiting at the wings for our turn to go on stage, a horrid thing happened! There was a snap, and something dropped from the overhead fly-bars right in front of me and Ridz... AND CRASHED ONTO RITA'S HEAD!!! It was the end plug of a lighting cable, or something like that, but definitely a heavy item when dropped! We were all stunned speechless as we saw the blood flowing down Rita's forehead. Rita, who's one of the "Nyonyas in Kebaya", became dizzy and almost fainted, but thankfully there was a practicing doctor amongst the dancers, Heather. She made sure Rita's wound were okay and proclaimed that stitches were unnecessary after all. Then the wound was bandaged. After a while's rest, Rita was okay and bravely returned to the stage as rehearsals resumed... Anyway, we ended late today due to so many delays and unexpected twist of events. Hope we'll all remember to say our prayers tomorrow upon entering the theatre, and that everything will go well for the show from now on!!! [ Feeling... * shocked * ] |
January 14, 2006
mari jolly jolly... posted at 03:02 AM Friday the 13th came and went without much incident, except for a lousy start of the day when I overslept and was running late for rehearsals... Finally at the Victoria Theatre, we did all we could to recreate stage magic, and by evening's showtime, we were all ready to give our best performance... Indeed, the show went exceeding well with high energy throughout and the audience laughing and singing along with the songs (all song lyrics were projected onto the backdrop)... Hope our subsequent shows will be just as or even more successful!
Above: Most of the singers in the Main Wayang Minstrels... [ Feeling... * energetic * ] |
January 15, 2006
ho mia la lu... posted at 03:58 AM It's indeed a pretty good life ("ho mia"...) when I get to do what I enjoy most: singing, dancing and doing lots of fun things on stage... And one of them is this Peranakan musical revue that I'm busy with this weekend! Besides the delicious foods (obviously, duh!), I just love the beautiful embroidered or batik costumes as well as the tuneful melodies of the Peranakan culture... Best of all, I am beginning to be able to understand the language, which is a heady mix of English, Melayu and Chinese dialects, especially Hokkien... Here are some more photos taken during the 2nd and 3rd shows...
Above: Real-life husband and wife, William and Cheryl in traditional Peranakan wedding costume After the two shows, Moe, Ridz and I rushed over to Gene's farewell party at The Claymore. There were some folks whom I have never met before (like Michael, the owner of the apartment!), but most of them I already know or have worked with before... Finally, we three with Jacq, Yichuan and Darius and Mahmood left around 1am and I took with me some of the pasta and brown rice that Gene cooked, which will be my breakfast for tomorrow morning... Yum! I am so totall exhausted now and it's 4am! Gotta sleep already, so I can have good energies to perform in tomorrow's two shows!!! And those who are free on a Sunday with an interest in the colourful culture and singing, please do come and give us your support!!! [ Feeling... * productive * ] |
January 20, 2006
illo friday - e is for... posted at 07:59 PM under snapshots of merman... This week's Illustration Friday has an interesting theme, and I just have to be part of it... Because... E is for... Edric
"Self Portrait" ~ Edric Hsu 266 x 400 pixels Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Image hosted by: Photobucket.com |
January 24, 2006
mari kita main wayang... posted at 02:59 AM Finally, I have uploaded, edited and posted all those photos I took during the production of "Baba Nyonya Mari-Go-Round" (phew!), and it's all thanks to my all-new desktop PC which is so much faster, has much more memory space available, and is currently virus-free *touchwood!* And so, may I finally present to you the cast portraits: The Main Wayang Minstrels... And coming up next are the rest of the photos taken on stage right in between shows!!! [ Feeling... * working * ] |
(January 24, 2006
baba nyonya mari-go-round... posted at 04:49 AM
(Enter the Colourful World of the Peranakan Culture) [ Feeling... * awake * ] |
January 25, 2006
illo friday - cats... posted at 03:27 AM under snapshots of merman... This week's topic on Illustration Friday will scare away Chermaine Ang, as well as little mice and hamsters... Cats
"Cats" ~ Edric Hsu 600 x 400 pixels Adobe Photoshop 7.0 & Genius MousePen 8x6 |
January 26, 2006
whose life is it n.e. way?... posted at 11:32 PM After a series of rehearsals and intense brainstorming, an exciting new school assembly show presented by Singapore Discovery Centre and created/directed by Peggy Ferroa is now performing at a primary or secondary school near you... Whose Life Is It N.E. Way?
(From L-R: Celine, Peggy, Shaiful & Edric) With a cast of only two actors and a moderator, which alternates between me, Celine, Shaiful, Andrew and Melissa, with a swing cast including Shane and Nanda, we've gone through no ends of trials and errors to get this show on the road... Roger from SDC sits in now and then to make sure we keep our "improvisational theatre" to the tune of "Total Defence", which is the message that SDC wishes to relay to the school students... Well, we've survived the first four stressful shows to date, and although mistakes were made inadvertently here and there, it can only get better from now on... [ Feeling... * nervous * ] |
January 28, 2006
reunion dinner... posted at 09:44 PM under snapshots of merman...
One of my favourite Chinese New Year traditions is the Reunion Dinner, which is a wonderful excuse for all members of an extended family to gather around a table or two to sample the delicious cooking of my Auntie Siew Gek... For this couple of years, however, Auntie has somewhat taken a relaxing back seat as her youngest son, my multi-talented Cousin Barry, took over the kitchen to whip up dishes after dishes of equally yummy foods... Assisted by my cousins and cousin-in-law, Winnie, Wendy and Mei Hua, they churned out a full ten-course spread worthy of any restaurant... (Click here to sample the delicious dishes...) May I wish everyone reading this a very happy, blessed and fulfilling year ahead!!! [ Feeling... * satisfied * ] |
January 30, 2006
chinese new year dinner... posted at 12:11 AM If the Reunion Dinner on Chinese New Year Eve is my favourite event, then tonight's Chinese New Year Dinner must be its successful sequel... After a whole day of house-hopping and prayers to my late Mum and Dad at the temple, we've all worked up a great appetite by dinner time... Auntie Siew Gek and Cousin Barry worked together with my other cousins to create the following dishes... Enjoy...
[break=All Courses of Dinner...]
It's a pity the dinner tables are not fully occupied as the previous years, as many of my other cousins are overseas or have other plans. Also, it's too bad that Uncle Ting is not feeling well tonight and couldn't join us... Still, we enjoyed the scrumptious dinner spread trememdously, and I am truly full to the brim with Tiger Beer and white wine... If anything, no matter what happens in the coming year, there's always next year's Reunion Dinner and Chinese New Year Dinners to look forward to... [ Feeling... * full * ] [ Watching... * Anna & The King * ] |
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