CROSSINGS – A Play Dark And Bold Enough For A Different Kind Of Valentine’s Day

Happy and in love, Danielle and Chris are just about to tie the knot. But within their picture-perfect relationship lie a train-wreck of betrayal and abuse.

As the champagne gets warm and the cake waits to be cut, the couple is forced to deal with the choices they made in the past, the emotional entanglements of the present and the uncertainty of the future.

Boy, if this isn’t the perfect play to catch this Valentine’s Day.

Bold, dark and funny, Crossings will be the first public performance staged by the new young & W!LD cohort this year.

Consisting of two plays The Mother, The Son and the Holy Ghost and Arbitrio, Crossings follows characters who have arrived at critical crossroads in their lives. They will be making choices that will impact their lives forever.

A brainchild by the eight members of young & W!LD, the final scripts of both plays in Crossings were put together by programme director Rodney Oliveriro. A theatre performer, he has been involved in more than fifty productions.

“Just like these troubled characters, we all have to live with the decisions we make and their consequences,” explains Oliveriro.

In anticipation of Crossings, we had a quick chat with the casts of both plays, to find out more about the inventive and thought-provoking plays.

We spoke to Jasmine Blundell, Sharmaine Goh and Krish Natarajan.

CAST INTRODUCTION

Jasmine Blundell as Vix in The Mother, The Son and the Holy Ghost

An actor, musician, teacher and instant noodle-eater, Jasmine graduated from East 15 Acting School, specialising in World Performance – an eclectic blend of conventional and unconventional theatre traditions.

Sharmaine Goh as Danielle in Arbitrio

Currently pursuing her course in Arts and Theatre Management in Republic Polytechnic, Sharmaine is a raging cat lady who likes to, in her spare time, color and of course, pet cats.

Krish Natarajan as Chris in Arbitrio

Presently in LASALLE, Krish has always been into everything art and theatre. From Drama Club in his primary school to enrolling in SOTA when he was 12 years old, Krish practically is the theatre bug.

1. Hey guys, let’s take this from the top – what got you into theatre?

Jasmine: I can’t say I was bitten by the theatre bug. Rather, I was devoured by it. It started from a morbid theatre piece back in junior college. Our group had created a rather solemn, hyper-realistic piece about a suicide pact.  The emotional and physical toil really broke through during that performance and the feeling was indescribable. The unexpected pursuit of theatre began shortly after as I decided to take it more seriously.

Sharmaine: I’ve always loved performing! As a child I would always sing, dance and act in front of my family (and I still do). But I think it’s the connections that an actor makes with an audience that keeps my passion alive. I just love how theatre has its own unique way of challenging, comforting and entertaining people.

Krish: I’ve always been into theatre. My father was a source of influence, he brought me to shows. But I think I knew it was what I wanted to do after playing Hamlet in SOTA. I did a terrible job and I made a promise to myself to one day do Hamlet well and kill it.

2. Could you tell us more about the premise of your respective plays and character?

Jasmine: The Mother, The Son and the Holy Ghost is a… realistically surrreal one. The situations and problems presented are surreal, but the way we’ve presented it is in a rather ‘realistic’ way. It’s about a trio of characters who all have their own agendas. It’s also a tribute to people who try their best to ‘fix’ situations but end up making it worse. The play is an oxymoron – real, fast but slow. Vix is self-absorbed, rude, trigger-happy, slightly deluded and vocal in many ways.

Sharmaine: Arbitrio revolves around the choices that we make in life, especially when we reach a crossroad. Danielle has to choose between a lover and her husband. We see how much or little influence external factors have on her decision making process. Danielle is quite a ‘cookie cutter’ type of woman. There is an innocence to her and the situations in the play she ends up in will push her out of her comfort zone.

Krish: Chris is a traditional, good-hearted man. He is a bit of a tech nerd although he doesn’t exactly love his job. And Chris has a bit of a temper and can be rather impulsive.

3. What are the main challenges in bringing your characters to life?

Jasmine: Vix is quite young in the play – something I struggle to experiment with because I am an old soul.  Perhaps the most common thing we have is that we’re both fast-talking, naive girls who want to believe in the good in people. She fights for social justice (or rather her own brand of social justice). Unlike her, I’m naturally not good at confrontations. So tapping into almost what seems like an alter-ego is exciting but scary.

Sharmaine: One of my biggest challenges is to get rid of my personal habits when acting, as well as to be more sensitive and attentive to my co-actors when rehearsing.

4. Sharmaine and Krish, we understand you’ve previously worked with each other in When S#!t Hits The Fam. Who do you think has a tougher time portraying the character?

Sharmaine: It’s always a challenge portraying a character. I can’t compare and say whose is tougher but we definitely have our own sets of challenges.

Krish: I think that’s a very difficult question because both our characters have their respective challenges. They both go through things that Sharmaine and I have not exactly experienced personally, so it’s certainly challenging to truthfully portray their plights. And of course the characters aren’t quite different from who we are as people! But if I had to answer the question I would say me cause Sharm is great.

5. What sort of audience is going to love the play and what do you think is going to surprise them the most?

Jasmine: Let’s see. Audiences who love a good laugh, maybe a little cry from time to time, the old, the milennials – basically anyone who loves a good, side-splitting, emotion-worthy, unlikely-friendship story. There’s something in it for everyone, and I’m very sure you’ll leave feeling just a tinge-bit more sorrowful.

Sharmaine: We experimented a lot with this piece, so there definitely will be a lot of unexpected scenarios in this play. I can’t say much or it would’t be a surprise anymore, but there will be many.

Can’t wait to catch Crossings now that you’ve heard from the cast themselves? Or if you’re struggling for ideas for this Valentine’s Day, this may be the ticket to your solution. Pun intended.

CROSSINGS
Devised by the young & W!LD Company, written by Rodney Oliveiro
Venue: Centre 42, Black Box, 42 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187951
Show Dates: 15 – 19 February 2017, 8pm on all days, 3pm on Saturday & Sunday
Ticket Price: $30; $25 for students, NSFs and senior citizens
Get your tickets All images are courtesy of W!ld Rice unless otherwise stated.

Also, read 12 Valentine’s Day Date Experiences That Don’t Involve Dinners And Movies

Huat Ah! 8 Restaurants To Book For Your CNY Reunion Dinner 2017!

That’s right, it’s that time of the year. Christmas and New Year have barely passed and here you are, planning for another big family gathering – CNY reunion dinner. Tables at the ever-popular restaurants are definitely filling up and you are starting to feel the heat. Why does Chinese New Year have to be so darn close to Christmas!?

Well have no fear, because obviously, we are here to save you from the festive stress (as much as we can). Whether you’re looking to book a restaurant or are in search of one that’s different from the usual go-to restaurants, listed below are eight restaurants to host your CNY reunion dinner at!

1. Tiffany Café & Restaurant

Situated at Furama City Centre is Source: Singsaver[/caption]

At $59.80++ for lunch and $69.80++ for dinner, embark on a gastronomical journey and indulge in festive dishes such as Braised Eight Treasures Chicken in Claypot and Torched Pacific Wrasse with Ebiko Wasabi Hollandaise & Chili Thread.

Enjoy a slate of discounts that include 20% off the first reunion seating (5.30pm – 7.30pm) and 30% off the second reunion dinner seating (8pm – 10.30pm). What’s more, there is a one-for-one credit card promotion running from 16^th January – 11^th February 2017! (excluding dinner on 27^th January). How awesome is this?

Tiffany Café & Restaurant
Address: Furama City Centre, 60 Eu Tong Sen Street, S059804
Tel: 6531 5366
Email: [email protected]

2. Mitzo

Located at Grand Park Orchard is Source: Mitzo[/caption]

Besides the popular Pearls of Prosperity Kanpachi Kigfish Yu Sheng, pamper your family with the Prawn/Lobster Grouper Fortune Pot, Lobster Fried Rice with Pork Liver & Preserved Sausage and Fish Maw Soup with Pumpkin, Bamboo Pith & Chicken. The CNY reunion dinner menu will be available from 14^th January to 11^th February 2017.

Do also take the opportunity to sample Mitzo’s artisanal cocktails such as the Spring Blossom, a smoky and sweet mescal cocktail.

Mitzo
Address: Level 4 Grand Park Orchard, 270 Orchard Rd S 238857
Tel: 6603 8855
Email: [email protected]

 3. Ban Heng

With five outlets in Singapore, Source: Ban Heng[/caption]

This year, Ban Heng Group offers a mouth watering Reunion Dinner Set menu that features dishes such as the Salmon Yu Sheng, Suckling Pig, Herbal Chicken and Wok-Fried Spare Ribs. Indulge in this reunion feast at a price ranging from $498 to $998 for a family of ten!

CNY reunion dinner on 27 January is available with two seatings from 5.30pm to 10pm.

Ban Heng
For locations and contact information for a specific outlet, click 4. Yan

Fans of Cantonese cuisine would have heard of this one. Located at the iconic National Gallery Singapore, Signature Shun De Style Yu Sheng with Yellowtail Fish & Golden Flakes
Source: Yan[/caption]

At prices from $118++ to $268++ per individual, indulge in dishes such as the Signature Yellowtail Fish Yusheng with Golden Flakes, the new Doubled-boiled Chicken Soup with Black Garlic Sea Whelk and the return of the popular Danggui Roast Duck and succulent Baked Half Lobster with Supreme Stock.

Prices may seem a little steep but for Yan, we’d say it’s worth the splurge. Yan’s CNY menus are available for lunch and dinner, from 9^th January to 11^th February 2017. Two reservation slots for dinner at 5.30pm and 8.15pm are available on Chinese New Year Eve.

Yan
Address: National Gallery, 1 St Andrew’s Road #05-02, S178957
Tel: 6382 5585
Email: [email protected]

5. Moi Lum

A traditional Chinese restaurant that is almost a decade old, Source: Openrice.com[/caption]

In light of Chinese New Year, Moi Lum has provided three (not very) different menus to cater to the size of your company. At ($80+/pax, $388+/6pax, $568+/10pax), indulge in dishes such as the Prosperity Abalone, Sautéed Broccoli with Scallops & Prawns, Braised Shark’s Fin Soup with Crab Meat and of course, the Majestic Roast Chicken.

Available from 18^th January to 27^th January 2017, the menu is available for both lunch and dinner. Lunch will be held from 11.30am – 3.30pm, whilst dinner will consist of two seatings; 6pm – 7.50pm and 8pm – 10pm.

Moi Lum
Address: 38 Maxwell Road S069116
Tel: 6226 2283
Email: [email protected]

6. Xi Yan Shaw Singapore

Hailing from Hong Kong is the much-acclaimed Roasted Herbal Chicken
Source: Xi Yan Shaw Singapore[/caption]

For really affordable rates, you’ll get to enjoy dishes such as its signature Prosperity Yu Sheng, Roasted Lychee Duck, Stewed Pork Belly in Sour Plum & Black Vinegar Sauce and Fried Pork Trotter Chestnut Bee Hoon.

Needless to say, Xi Yan Shaw Singapore enjoys overwhelming popularity during Chinese New Year so we’d start making our reservation now if we were you. Do note that Xi Yan Shaw Singapore will be closed on 28^th and 29^th January 2017. 

Xi Yan Shaw Singapore
Address: Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road #03-12/13, S228208
Tel: 6733 3476
Email: [email protected]

7. Golden Peony

Award-winning Chinese restaurant  Roast London Duck
Source: Golden Peony[/caption]

At $1198++ for a table of ten, enjoy an eight-course meal with dishes such as the Signature Roast London Duck, Fortune Glutinous Rice with Assorted Chin ese Sausages and Fried Nian Gao with Sweet Potato and Yam.

Looking to accommodate a smaller company? Golden Peony offers another option where you get to enjoy dishes including the Fortune Salmong Yu Sheng, Braised Pork Kunckle served with Seasonal Vegetables and Steam Nian Gao with Coconut Flakes at $100++ per person.

The CNY menu will be available for both lunch and dinner, from 10^th January to 11^th February 2017.

Golden Peony
Address: Conrad Centennial Hotel Level 3, 2 Temasek Boulevard, S038983
Tel: 6432 7482
Email: [email protected]

8. Jade

If you’re looking for an elegant, minimalistic restaurant that serves great food, Jade at The Fullerton is your answer.

At $68+ per person, you’ll get to enjoy a 5-course menu consisting of a medley of gourmet plates. Start off with the Eight Happiness Gold Rush Yusheng, served on a platter with the cutest rooster accompanied by raw salmon slices, house-made champagne jelly and drizzles of olive oil and pineapple dressing.

After which, tuck into the Poached Cockscomb-shaped Chicken Dumplings, Stewed Chicken and Crab Meat Duo with Red Wine and Chinese Wine in Claypot, where the Chef Leong Chee Yeng showcases his Cantonese rendition of the Surf and Turf.

Jade
Address: The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square S049178
Tel: 68778188

So there you have it, crisis averted. Of course, with just three weeks left to go, we highly recommend you to get started on those reservations because whilst we can help, we cannot ensure a table for you.

Also, read The Prosperity Burger IS FINALLY BACK!

Five Reasons Why You Should Try Parkour At Least Once In Your Life

From scaling walls to jumping from rooftop to rooftop, the action movie junkie in us has always admired the stunts performed by the spies/secret agents. But as someone who feels a sense of achievement from just walking on the balancing beam at the fitness corner downstairs without falling, we sort of put our dreams of joining the spy-hood behind. That was until we were given the chance to attend a Parkour class.

Our ambassadors, Chelsea and Cheryl, attended the class too. Here’s a video of their experience:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN4Ih55DygN/?taken-by=cherzinga

A French invented sport that focuses on overcoming obstacles in urban environments through running, jumping or climbing, Parkour is definitely not for the non-nimble. It’s sort of like a mandatory sport for spies in training.

As we stood in the company of Tan Chi Ying, one of the pioneers of Singapore Parkour scene and founder of The Free Runner Lodge, an indoor Parkour facility, resembles a playground without stairs (who needs them when you can swing/climb/flip your way around, right?). Established in 2010, A2 Movements is Singapore’s first Parkour academy.

[caption id="attachment_20166" align="alignnone" width="1000"] The Free Runner Lodge – An indoor Parkour facility by A2 Movments[/caption]

After a couple of stretches, we stood face-to-face with a wooden block that was half our height.

Our mission was to place both our hands on the block’s surface before swinging our legs over and bringing our whole body over the obstacle. Sounds pretty doable, right? Wrong.

After multiple bruises the size of eggs on our legs, we’ve got to say, it definitely is not as easy as action movie stars make it out to be. It’s been a long introduction, so here are five reasons why Parkour will keep us coming back for more (bruises).

1. It’s A Great Workout

Never, ever underestimate the power of Parkour to work your muscles.

After an embarrassing half hour trying Parkour and using muscles we didn’t know existed, we were exhausted.

[caption id="attachment_20168" align="alignnone" width="1616"] Students in training[/caption]

So if you’re starved for time or are just looking to try a new workout, try Parkour.

2. It Pushes You Out Of Your Comfort Zone

As the Parkour session progressed, we found ourselves pushing our boundaries and achieving something we never thought was possible.

[caption id="attachment_20199" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Parkour puts your body to the test[/caption]

Most of us are right-handers, and we’re never good at using the left hand for anything. After some practice (and persuasion), not only did we manage to use our left hands to support our body weight, we were surprisingly comfortable with it.

3. It’s Really, Really Fun

It’s one thing to watch your favorite actors (or stuntmen) perform the stunts, and another to actually sort of perform them. Not only is it enjoyable, but the sense of achievement upon completion is also really high. Imagine doing this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R51FaRPCio0

Of course, tons of practice is needed, but how fun did that look? Super.

4. It’s a Solo Sport

Much like hitting the gym, Parkour focuses on you and you only. When we first stepped into class, we were surrounded by existing students who were too busy practicing their mid-air flips to notice our building nervousness. Die, sure kenna judge.

[caption id="attachment_20200" align="aligncenter" width="960"] No one’s judging here[/caption]

But as the session progressed, it hit us that firstly, everyone is here to learn. Secondly, everyone else is too busy perfecting their own moves to bother about you.

5. It Keeps One Unbelievably Young

Despite Chi Ying’s jaw-dropping consecutive midair somersaults, what really made our jaws drop was his age.

[caption id="attachment_20169" align="alignnone" width="1367"] How many of us can soar through the air like this after we hit the big three O?[/caption]

When asked for his secret to looking almost ten years younger than his actual age, Parkour was the answer. For those who are wondering, Chi Ying is 30 years old.

It may require a lot of practice, but Parkour has got to be one of the most satisfying sports around.

For those who are interested, the good news is that A2 Movements holds classes every day of the week and has various time slots for you to choose from! If you’re undecided about a long-time commitment ($200 for unlimited sessions a month), fear not – A2 Movements offers a one off-session ($25). As for the ladies, you’ll be glad to know that there’s a time slot reserved just for you.

Personal trainings aside, A2 Movements also conducts workshops and events, so if you’re looking for a unique corporate bonding experience, free to check Now, here’s your chance to win a Parkour session for two!

Head on down to our Facebook page for the details. This giveaway ends on 28 December, and the lucky winner will be notified through Facebook.

A2 Movements
Address: CT Hub #05-91, 114 Lavender Street S338729
Tel: 91849744 (Chi Ying)
Email: [email protected]
Website: Countdown At 12 – Usher In The New Year With 12 Hours Of Free Flowing Drinks!

True Story: A Singaporean Man’s Journey As A Ladyboy In Cambodia

Standing before a nightclub with dazzling neon lights, her rusty golden locks blew gently in the wind as she took a heavy drag from her cigarette. In a figure-hugging dress and black strappy heels, Shauna strutted flawlessly from the red light district of Siem Reap to her apartment.

Shauna
Source: Sean Lee

In the bathroom, she tugs gently at her hair, removing her curls before running water across her face. Looking up, she could barely recognise the man in the mirror. This is the story of Sean Lee, the man behind ladyboy Shauna, in Cambodia.

Sitting across the man with young, boyish looks, we could hardly tell the similarities between Sean and Shauna. It might have been the blonde wig but hey, never underestimate the power of make-up.

Sean Lee
Source: Sean Lee

All in all, journey of thirty-one year old Singaporean photographer Starting out as an assignment, Shauna soon developed into an immersive photography project where Sean takes on the persona of a ladyboy.

Source: www.gupmagazine.com

Just to be clear, by “taking on the persona of a ladyboy”, we mean dressing, behaving and living within Siem Reap’s red light district. Effort gao gao.

As we sat down with Sean himself, we find out how his photography journey began, the inspiration behind Shauna, and what it was like becoming a Singaporean ladyboy in Siem Reap.

1. So Sean, what first made you first pick up the camera?

Oh, I’ve always had an interest in photography. Though it was after I’d graduated from junior college when my Literature teacher, who knew about my interest, introduced me to it.

Working his way up from a photographer’s assistant, Sean has, over the years, built an impressive list of clientele including DBS and Singapore Airlines where his works have been featured in several exhibitions, notably the Saatchi Gallery and Les Recontres d’Arles.

2. What do you think is the main challenge of being a professional photographer?

As a freelance photographer, I’d say the inconsistency of the jobs. You know, having no clue as to where your next job will come from. This really got to me when I was younger.

3. Let’s talk a little about Shauna. What’s the story behind the project?

I was 22 and was attending the I did try taking on different personas such as a tuk tuk driver and construction worker but they just didn’t work. So I eventually got around to Shauna and settled on a ladyboy persona.

Source: www.emahomagazine.com

I started with this really cheap wig and borrowed clothes from my lady friends, who also taught me to put on my make up.

It started out as a week-long assignment but I ended up spending two years flying back and forth Cambodia to complete the project. During the process, I took on professional make-up lessons and learnt how to strut in stilettos!

4. What was it like, being Shauna?

Here’s the funny thing. Whenever I look back at her photos, it’s like looking at a complete stranger (even though that person is me).

Taking on her persona wasn’t easy, because some days you just don’t feel committed, but other days you are completely into character. It’s crazy.

5. Your photos of Shauna are amazing. Did you have any help in taking them?

Well most of them I took with tripods and self-timers, though I did have a friend of mine who would help me in taking some of the shots.

Source: www.emahomagazine.com

It was great to have him around because you know, sometimes I’d need him to explain to patrons that we’re dong photography project.

6. What would be your main takeaway from Shauna?

Life is very different in the red light district of Siem Reap. Many of them don’t have a choice, but some of them are honestly looking for love.

I’ve actually bumped into one of the working girls a couple of years later, who told me about her marriage and new life abroad. I’m really happy for them.

7. So what have you been up to lately? Tell us a little more!

Something I’m currently working on is Looking at my students made me reflect on my youth and the friends that I used to hang out with, partied with, fallen in love with.

[caption id="attachment_19007" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Young Love | Source: Sean Lee[/caption]

Through this project, I hope to really capture the essence and innocence of youth, to document this precious stage of life that we all come to miss.

8. Lastly, any advice for budding photographers?

Never. Stop. Working. Assist as much as you can, because that’s where you learn the essential skills to photography. Never forget to work on projects that are close to your heart, to pursue projects that you’re interested in, where you’re not in it just for the money.

If this isn’t dedication, we don’t know what is.

For those how are interested, Shauna now comes in a photobook and is available Instagram.

Header image credit: Sean Lee

Also, read The Perfect Shot – DarylAiden’s Photography Journey & DreaChong