Review: Wit

Here heavens appoint
My pilgrimages last mile; and my race
Idly, yet quickly runne, hath this last pace,
My spans last inch, my minutes latest point,
And gluttonous death, will instantly unjoynt
My body, and soule
Holy Sonnet VI: This Is My Play's Last Scene, Here Heavens Appoint by John Donne

Wit (2001), movie for TV directed by Mike Nichols.
Teleplay by Nichols and Emma Thompson, based on a Pulitzer Prize (1998) winning play by Margaret Edson.

Holy crap the writing was good. Lingered long enough to read the credits. Co-written by Emma Thompson - am not surprised. She is, by far, one of my favourites. The movie starts off with her playing Vivian Bearing, cancer patient. Through the movie, we catch glimpses of Prof Bearing, literary chair at some unnamed university. Strong and intelligent, dying of advanced ovarian cancer, on some drug trial.

The script has you laughing at her (for want of a better word) wit. She takes on the whole hospitalisation process with dry humour, sarcasm and (to my utter delight) speaks to the audience directly, looking straight into the camera, explaining jargon, procedures, feelings & why nurse Susie offers her a Popsicle. It's like the movie is a personal conversation.

I am not detracting from the acting - that was really good as well. She is not one to shy from the ugliness of the process of dying. I found myself completely swept up in the power of her utter helplessness (oxymoron intended), the baldness of her head, the pale, cracked lips trembling as she is bent in half with pain... even the stereotypical regret of how clinical she ran her life and her classroom, versus how she nearly begs for humanity from her doctors, and shamelessly fakes a blocked tube to get the same from Susie.

I highly recommend this movie. The prose is as good as the poetry, the story well told. The actors are efficient and accomplished. You'll recognise a few familiar faces I'm sure. It is a simple and effectively-told story with a sad ending, but you expect it. It makes no pretensions.

I adore!

Photo Op

All dressed up for HELP's 25th Anniversary Gala Ball.
:)

Lat, The Kampung Boy: The Musical

I didn't do any research before buying tickets, so I had no idea what I was in for. I went in blind. Mum wanted to watch & that was good enough for me! Tip: If you want to spring for tickets in Istana Budaya, Row J is a really nice buy. Not too close to the stage so you have to crane, but close enough for it to be worth the moolah. Esp if you get aisle seats off the centre!
"Dah ternampak jerawat dah ni..." was a comment from the dude sitting in Row G. *grin*

Show late. *mumble mumble mumble* Yasmin Yusof on the PA System announcing... Dr M & Siti Hasmah, no less! No wonder the show started late lah... It had been raining & I dunno if he still has outrider privileges! Hahaha

Producer: Hans Isaac
Writer: Harith Iskandar (apparently with the help of Kuah Jenhan - can't wait to watch him in PJLaughFest! :))
Co-directors: Hans & Harith

Daniel Eezkandar Azraien as the young Lat was AMAZING! He had a really clear, soaring, precise voice. Watch him. I'm telling you. He's going places! Nicholas Low is going to be a comedian. Anyone who saw him do Frankie knows it. His comedic timing was Spot on! He's going to KILL.

Awie as Lat was ok. Power is there, but sometimes words get swallowed. He's not all that, or maybe he was just tired cos it was the Very Last Show. Sandra Sodhy was Instantly recognizable, but OMG... I did NOT believe it was Rahim Razali as Pak Samad!

Douglas was Douglas (as usual). *laugh* I don't know what Frankie is like IRL, but Douglas was Douglas! He stole the scenes he was in, and got the best laughs of the night.

The music was well written - a really nice duet with Sandra Sodhy & Atilia, but nothing you'll hear anyone humming on the way out. Some of the phrasing sounded off to me - like they were trying to fit jazz lyrics to a samba beat. Kadang tak on. The live orchestra was Fantastic!

Coreography was great. There was always something to keep the eye busy. The entire thing was a little too angsty for my liking. Not enough Kampung & too much on grown-up Lat's battle between family & fame. Stereotyped.

All-in-all, worth the price of the ticket.
And apparently, the best grossing home-grown musical in history!