No Day But Today

Went for RENT, the musical on Sunday - it was the last performance of the run in Singapore. It was the the 3rd time I was watching this musical - first caught it in London more than 5 years ago, then saw it again here in Singapore a few years ago with a cast made up of local singers as well as international.

My motivation this time ? Well, just curiousity about how Karen Mok would fare in this production. She was obviously the selling-point for this particular production in Singapore, as lots of people here, especially the more "chinese-speaking" crowd, would be familiar with her singing & acting capabilities from the many records she has produced & films she has been in. This time, however, she would be doing it all live, and in a different context - that of the Western Broadway musical, which would test her mettle much more.

Also, I was intrigued by the comments of a reviewer who said that RENT appeared dated because of the changes in perception towards homosexuality & AIDS & the availability of treatment for this terrible disease. The musical was written at the time where the scourge of AIDS & the hopelessness of the situation it presented was very real & immediate. So it was with much anticipation & excitement that I went to Kallang Theatre on Sunday night to watch with a good friend of mine.

My review of the performance ? It was commendable, especially considering the sound problems they had to deal with. I was reminded again of how much I dislike Kallang Theatre as a performance venue when the singing mikes went wonky & gave up during Joanne's duet with Mark ( "The Tango Maureen" ). For the uninitiated, this was a song that Joanne sings with Mark, about their experiences with Maureen, a performance artist, who used to be Mark's girlfriend but left him for Joanne, a black lawyer ( yes, female ), who stereotypically fights for human rights, etc & manages Joanne's performances on the side. The artiste who played Joanne gamely proceeded to take the SECOND extra mike ( the first one also died ! ), which was passed to her by the band leader ( the band stays on stage throughout the musical ), stuck it in her bosom so that her singing could continue to be heard while she tangoed around on the stage with Mark during the song. Talk about professionalism !

Yes, the performers were very professional, and they made the best of the poor & unreliable sound system. We were also treated to the wonderful displays of agility by many in the cast, including Karen Mok herself ( playing the druggie, Mimi ), who danced & pranced around on tables, high bars & scaffolding.

All sang well, & I was especially thrilled by the voices of Roger, Joanne & Maureen & also Tom Collins ( yes, there's an interesting name for a character !).
Karen sang pretty well, but I couldn't help comparing her with the Mimis I had seen previously, especially the first one I saw in London. I felt that Karen's voice lacked pathos & power at the crucial moments & her performance failed to bring out the vulnerability which was central to Mimi's character. Mimi's conflict between her love for Roger & her need for drugs was not as well depicted as it could have been. One thing's for sure though, Karen's a great dancer & very fit & agile, as she handled the moves on the scaffolding & high bars very well ! She also looked very good & the form-fitting costumes showed off her trim figure very well - sure made me feel like I have got to hit the gym soon...haha...;-)

Anyway, although the context of the musical did seem a bit dated, the message I got at the end is one which is ever important & relevant :

NO DAY BUT TODAY !

In other words, life is short & unpredictable, so handle each day with care & make the most of whatever time you have, to share the love you have with everyone you meet ( like Angel, the character that dies ) & let your love flow & show. In so doing, the world will be a better place for your contribution.
Like the words of the musical's most famous song , " How do you measure the life of a woman or a man ? Measure in Love....."

1 John 4:19