dwayne blogged

It was great weekend for me. I spent a lot of alone time which I needed from such a eventful week. I also wrote to many friends back home. It was also Easter. I saw a procession down the street on Good Friday outside the Lincoln Center. I’ve never seen anything like this in Singapore. It’s wonderful because it makes Jesus’ sacrifice so much more vivid. If only they hired real actors. I should go pick up "The Passion" at the Blockbuster. What better time to watch it.

My Thai classmate made a wonderful easter bag for me. I was really touched. It had easter eggs, sweets, jelly beans and more easter eggs! Hmmm hmmm! I wanted to go to church and looked up the internet but couldn’t locate the church that had been recommended to me. Plus, I had returned late from a movie the night before, so I was too tired to church hunt.

I watched "Robots". It has a good concept and some wonderful jokes but the plot at some points was too convenient or not substantiated. Though overall, it’s still worth an enjoyable watch. =)

This morning, I was down at the post office to send some stuff to Singapore. The guy in line before me was having the hardest time with this lady behind the glass window. He politely asked for a receipt for a parcel and she got worked up very quickly, telling him to see the manager if he liked but she that she didn’t issue one and without his decision, she took the package and flung it back into the return window. What a bitch! I thought to myself. But I was next.

I went up and placed my envelopes into the window and asked how many stamps I should put on the envelope because it was complicated. I wanted one of them insured and the other, not. But she wasn’t listening to me and started with "Now you listen to me…" and got increasingly angry saying I should have gone to another corner to weigh it first, that I was holding up the line, that I should have put as many stamps as I had, etc.

She was merciless even though I said I was new in town and was still figuring things out. And I really didn’t want to put more stamps that I should have. Besides, even if I didn’t put stamps on one of the envelopes, there was still the other envelope that was ready to be insured. I was fuming mad and have never been so harsh talking back to a stranger. I wasn’t rude but very firm in my defence. Everyone in line was shaking their heads at how unreasonable she was.

I don’t know what she was going through and maybe she thinks she’s untouchable behind those protective glass windows. But I just think it’s a great thing she’s behind those windows. Loony wild animals should always be.

For about 3 days, the area around my apartment was home to the movie set of the Producers the musical. It was cool just knowing Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane (who voiced Timone in Disney’s Lion King) were living in a trailer just around the corner. Not forgetting Roger Bart (Disney’s Hercules). In fact, I was on my way out one late morning when in the distance I thought I saw Nathan Lane walking up to me.

There wasn’t anyone else around. No fans, no make-up artists or hairstylists fussing over him. It was just him and another lady and I thought, that it couldn’t be Nathan. But as we walked closer to each other and I got to look into his tinted shades, the realisation struck me in the face. It was Nathan Lane!! I was hit so hard I was dumbstruck. So I just smiled. And watched him walk down the street. That was that. My brush with Nathan himself. =)

The Producers is Mel Brooks’ musical comedy currently on Broadway. It won a Tony for Best Musical in 2001.

I just started my job at school. It was to a certain extent painful. I’ve never had to sit in a chair for such an extended period of time and having to keep alert with nothing much to do in between. I work the follow spot. I only had two 5 minutes break and an hour dinner break (where they bought us pizza!) in a 12 hour work period.

But it was such a learning experience. After working in theatre for so long, I’ve finally been able to see how light is created on stage starting with the blank canvas, in other words a black stage. The 4th semester students were great! The showcase was set in a fairytale like environment with songs from Sondheim and Cinderella and many more fun songs.  It will be playing evenings this week into the weekend, so I’ll probably not have much time to myself. Hey, but I’ll earn some extra pocket money. =)

It was wonderful. Carolee Carmello visited my school. She’s originated roles in musicals like the Falsettoes. She was in recordings of Jekyll and Hyde, A Class Act and many many more. She also played Kate (in Kiss Me Kate) and is currently the mum in Mamma Mia on Broadway. Then she surprised us by even suddenly deciding the sing. And it was wonderful. And I think it was the fact that she didn’t have any training vocally that made it so raw but yet natural and real! Next week we meet another Broadway personality.

I also watched Brooklyn the musical yesterday. It was great. Eden Episona especially had such a stunning voice. Literally, I was stunned. She really soared and quite effortlessly. The story unfolded in a captivating way and the songs were delightful. Definitely a CD I want to add to my collection.

When I reached home today, I saw a sign posted on my door. They were going to film The Producers, the musical on my street, in my area! I looked up the net and realised Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and Roger Bart all reprise their roles! John Barrowman even guests. Will I get to meet them!? Who knows. We’ll see. I’m excited!

Life has changed since coming to New York to study musical theater at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

I’ve not sent one single SMS since I got here. And that’s rare for a Singaporean because we love SMSing (text messaging via the mobile phone). Heck, we’re in the Guiness Book of Records for being the world’s fastest. Activity on the phone has become a lot less active. I don’t get much of a signal at home and no signal in school. Unlike Singapore or Chicago, the subway here blocks out your signal too. 

But here’s what I have been able to do. I’ve been able to rush out fast from the toilet in the middle of anything I might possibly be doing and still be able to catch the call because no one else is at home or shares my line anymore. Now don’t let your imagination go TOO wild.

It gets better. I’ve learnt how to cook decent meals for myself, to understand how to use the library, to appreciate the returns policy and mostly excellent customer service, to believe there can be a room full of people singing along to most songs only you thought you knew, to save myself some money by using only toilet paper to wipe everything and anything, the list goes on.

But yeah, life HAS changed!

I haven’t really talked about many things about New York and how I’m adjusting but that will come. Today, this series of advertisements on the subway train caught my attention (and I love cartoon characters!). Dove must have paid a billion dollars first to get the rights to use them and second to mangle their distinct trademark hairstyles which I’m surprised the owners let them do. And its because of that I think it’s so effective! I actually love the ads! What do you think? Awww… look at Marge and Wilma!

Aside from the unexciting being-stepped-on-the-foot (and several times) -in-dance-class-by-an-unapologetic- bumbling-mammoth, Central Park I hear has the wonderful "gates" phenomenon going on. It could really be as unexciting as dance class or a refreshing change depending on how you look at it. From what I know, it’s an independant project that costs US$10 million. And it’s to highlight the wonderful curves of the paths that New Yorkers so frequently take through Central Park but don’t notice. I think it would work better as a canopy rather than bits of cloth hanging. I perceive it to be unexciting. To me it does nothing but block the perhaps more beautiful view of Central Park itself.

What a way to start to a blog! Early in the morning with only 5 hours of sleep the night before and with only 20 minutes to leave the house. Do I have to post again? YES. So why did I post at all? Well, a good introduction could start out short and sweet, right? And I really did want to get started. =)