From: House Programme Editor, Jeffrey Tan (jefftan72@yahoo.com.sg)
An open letter to Pao Kun after watching one rehearsal.
Hi Pao Kun,
How have you been?
Today, I witnessed a rehearsal by the newly formed TETC. Peter Sau got Heng Leun to direct some of your past TTRP graduates in this new multi-lingual production of The Spirits Play. When I walked into the rehearsal room after lunch, the actors were meditating and warming up their voices. It’s been such a long time since I witnessed such a serious rehearsal atmosphere. When the physical warm up started, the agility of the actors to keep the wooden poles in the air was amazing to watch. Such strong stage presence, serious and at the same time playfully creative! Besides rehearsing for the play, they each had to create individual performances and sharing of what they have been doing creatively since graduating from TTRP.
I had a chat with Heng Luen and am excited about his concept of the play. Instead of moulding the very diverse actors to your play, they decided to respond, experiment and create their own multi-lingual version of this very exciting play.
Flashes of the first three mandarin and English productions came back… You writing the play as we rehearse the premiere version at waterloo street. Then you got sick and we were really worried. Even the elderly Lin Lian Kun, (fantastic actor from China) was so calm and concerned. Then you surprised everyone by getting Stan Lai from Taiwan to helm the maiden production for the Singapore Arts Festival. Later that year, we toured your own version to Hong Kong for the Chinese Drama Festival. Being production manager, it was such a joy working with you! Keng Sen’s mind blowing version of The Spirits Play at the Battle Box and Victoria Theatre with the Japan performance artists blew my mind to the endless possibilities of your universal play.
I’m so looking forward to this new exciting version as the cast and crew organically experiment, respond and create their own versions of your play. I wish you were here to see it.
Drop by ok?
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Tan
(Resident Director, The Theatre Practice 1997 to 1999)
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