Arts Fest :: Shows That Matter

Music Matters Live happened for 3 days in the week. Some pretty tough choices to make on the social calendar. To me, events at Arts Fest take precedence over the parties and the gigs. I'm sure the panel discussions and gigs were productive. But there're other not-to-be-missed shows at Arts Fest, and that's where I'll be at.

The choices this weekend have content and story development fixated on life and reflection. Mortality, wielding one's fate, and making the most out of being alive. They aren't exactly works that you can walk away from and not be moved by something. Anything. 

************

'End of the Road' by the Young@Heart Chorus and No Theatre

I've long heard of the Young@Heart, and loved the docufilm. They're rock stars! A New England senior citizen chorus. Octogenarians. Their fame precedes them. I want to hear them, even if they sing covers of sappy songs. You've seen 94-year old Matilda Klein do the quick-step right? The blurb for 'End of the Road' promised songs by "legendary bands and iconic musicians. Think Red Hot Chili Peppers. Velvet Underground. Bon Jovi. Blondie. Bob Dylan." Even better. Sounded fabulous. I was sold.

Co-commissioned by St Ann's Warehouse, along with Manchester International Festival, Les Ballets C de la B (Ghent), Rotterdamse Schouwburg, and UCLA Live (Los Angeles), 'End of the Road' rounds up a trilogy that began in 1997. This gives the audience a new set of songs of which I confess is my favorite. I mean, they did Pixies! Heartrending. Beautiful. No mesmerizing guitar riffs. We know that's not the point. Absolutely amazing. Rock gig? Yea. Totally. It was a blast. It was the sweetest sights on stage ever. You know what? At curtain call, I had tears in my eyes. (Watch their cover of 'Road to Nowhere'.) A standing ovation, no less.




'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle' (ねじまき鳥クロニクル) by Stephen Earnhart and Greg Pierce

Murakami's 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle' is the main reason why this piece is produced by Stephen Earnhart and Greg Pierce. A multi-media production bunraku-style is quite the feast for the eyes. Murakami is notoriously protective about granting adaptations of his novels, and has surprisingly given Stephen Earnhart complete creative control. (More about this at The Telegraph's article.)

I'm not a fan of Murakami's writing. They just don't appeal. I quite like 2 of his novels ('South of the Border, West of the Sun' and 'The Elephant Vanishes'). But not the rest. 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle' is certainly not one of them. I like it better as a short story in 'The Elephant Vanishes'. But I needed to watch this. Curiosity. Adaptations are always interesting. Many fall short, but there'll be the rare gems. When we come across the excellent adaptations, we revel in a gorgeous pairing of literature and film.

The switch between English and Japanese didn't bother me that much. I could understand whatever was said. For the parts that I didn't, there were subtitles on 2 giant screens. Puppets. Hmmm. I HATE PUPPETS IN THE SAME WAY I HATE CLOWNS AND DOLLS. Dread. Fear. Nightmares. In the play, these mannequin-like puppets signifed the switch between worlds. Apt use.

Bora Yoon, the lovely lady with black feathers for her hairpiece, won my admiration. The musician at the front of the stage, with her array of Tibetan singing bowls, keyboard, piano, violin, records and an ethereal voice, was seriously hardworking, right from when the audience was let into the theatre and all the way to the final act. Her music and sound effects held up the show! Very sad that registration is full for her little separate show at the Festival Village today. :( I'd love to be able to sit, gape and be in awe of her musical talents.

We thought this adaptation followed the key events in the book pretty closely. For an almost disappointing static start, it fleshed out well- it was as annoying (to me) as Murakami's monotonous surrealistic narrative. The ending in the play was slightly less ambiguous than the book, and a little more coherent. I was half hoping there would be a real cat that would appear in the final act. :P

************

Superbly glad for the group of like-minded friends to hang out with to catch the events, many of whom I've known for a decade. The others are close friends, of whom either the man or I see on a regular basis. These friendships are something I'm thankful for. A happy coincidence that Music Matters Live and Singapore Arts Fest shows criss-cross the week. The man headed to the discussions and gigs he liked, and I can pop into the shows I favor, and tell him what he missed out. Heeeeee. It was at the end of the week when he pondered about The Jesus and Mary Chain at the Concert Hall, and finally decided to join us across at the Theatre for 'The Wind-up Bird Chronicle'.