19th October 2009
A day to remember as 15 people and 3 teachers took a plane to Pulau Pinang for the English Language National Drama Competition. I woke up as early as 1 A.M. Why? Well... Our flight is on 7 A.M. which means we have to check-in by 5 A.M. I dont mind cause luckily, I'm a morning person :D. So by 3 A.M. I left home and headed for school because we needed to use my mom's car to transport the props. After transporting the props, we went straight to the airport and there we waited for our flight.
As the plane reached Penang, I turned to Raul and said " Raul.. did we just went back to KK?" cause it seriously looked like KK! :O. As soon as we got out of the airport, Hazli was already there waving a poster that said if I remembered correctly "
Sabah La Salle Drama Team. I LOVE YOU ". Then, we took a bus named "Razie" with the driver also named "Razie" xD. On the trip to our hotel , Seri Malaysia on the mainland, our bus unexpectedly had a minor accident. This one drunk driver(how can you be drunk early in the morning?!) ram his car on the rear end of our bus. We didn't feel the impact until teacher said " Look! That's the car that hit our bus ". When she said that, the car has already skidded off the road and slid down the hill slowly. That was honestly
COOL :D
20th October 2009
Rehearsal Day. Gosh, the Dewan Millenium was
BIG. very BIG. It was literally, TWICE the size of La Salle's Senior Hall :O! Maybe more bigger! But it looked very cool :D. Truthfully, I wasn't nervous that time cause other teams were like playing during their rehearsals. Oh and what about our rehearsal? We sucked. Big time. We did badly during our rehearsal and my throat as I remember it, was hurting. I was kinda dissapointed with myself that time :( because I know. I did badly. The whole day after the rehearsal I spent time memorising the Actor's Prayer which goes like this :
Here I go to the spotlights, the footlights and the stage,
Give me the strength and courage to perform without inhibition,
But of my team and my audience,
May I remember my teachings,
Reach new heights,
Tread new paths,
Guide my voice, body, heart and mind,
Lead me to understand, intepret and express,
Here I am, an entertainer, to the spotlights, the footlights, and onto the stage,
HERE GO I.
The prayer helped the whole team to calm down at the night before the competition. We also had an emotional session during that night..which was ended by the sound of my *cough*fart*cough*. Hey!! It was accidental *blush*(and it didn't stink! xD). I just couldn't hold it. I'm sorry :(.
21st October 2009
This is it guys! Competition day :). Eventhough it was competition day, I still wasn't nervous. Weird. Btw, we were the 8th group to perform and there were 16 teams including Putrajaya, K.L. and Labuan. Reaching the Dewan Millenium... we decided quickly not to watch the earlier teams, why? It would just make us more nervous. When it was time for us to perform, butterflies started flying in my stomach and this time, I WAS VERY NERVOUS. I kept on repeating the actor's prayer and hopefully the butterflies would go away. I also kept on repeating my lines. When they announced "The 8th team to perform with the title A Malaysian Breakfast" quickly I picked up the 4 stools I was assigned to pick with two hands and went up the stage and arranged them and then took my mugshot and straight away went to the backstage. My heart was beating so damn fast! "Friday, June 13th, Malaysia" I could hear Ralph saying his first line and then followed by Raul and then.. It was my turn "A women pleaded guilty to offering service to an underage student for the price of thirty ringgit ". As I said that line the furious heartbeat that I once felt, dissapeared and what I could feel was only the pain in my throat but still, I ignored the pain. It felt really weird because there were no music playing... and then we realised! OMG ANDY!! MUSIC! It was a big mistake yes but not done by our technician. Even so, we still managed to pull off the first scene. When we finished performing, we gave a big sigh of relief because we knew. We're done. We did our best. Let's all hope for the best because it is all now in the hands of the judges and God.
After our performance there was a long break for like a few hours. We used the break to relax ourselves back in the hotel. Then when it was time, we went back to the dewan. There, we managed to see the other remaining 8 teams :D. Here's my review :
Kelantan
Their story was about a girl who was raped by her own father and got pregnant with his child. I didn't really get the story... sorry. Because suddenly, a time traveller from the future appeared. A tall ghost as tall as 2 humans because there 2 humans.. one was carrying the other.. appeared. A king from the past also appeared. Weird. It was funny how the girl was so obsessed about the baby but suddenly DROPPED it.. well I think it accidentally dropped to the ground and you could see that it was a doll and it was..naked. xD. At the end of the story, the girl's father ATE yes ATE the baby. I wonder why. P.S. to the ghost, cool mask man!
Labuan
Labuan's story was about a retarded guy who was so happy to get a recorder because finally by the recorder he thought he could be somebody because his mother always treated his sister who could play the violin so well and he on the other hand, was treated like trash because he was retarded and useless. His sister gave him the recorder for his birthday and recorder as in the musical instrument. He was overwhelmed with joy but then, his mother dismantled his recorder to pieces and he was heartbroken. He strangled his mother to death. His sister saw him. He stranged her to death too. In the end the retarded guy cried because he didn't know he killed his own sister. All I can say is, the retarded guy was DAMN GOOD at being a retard.
Sarawak
Sarawak's story is about a few locals who were friends with each other. Recently, their friend died and his body was left behind. These group of friends throughout the whole drama was planning on how and where to hide the body. One day, the body was missing and suddenly appeared to them ALIVE and said that it was all just a test to find out if they were true to their friendship but in the end they betrayed him. The group of friends wasn't really sad because their friend was actually alive but then the next day. The body was back where it used to be and then everyone was shocked because the one that they saw the other day...was actually an apparition or.. a ghost of their friend. The Sarawak team was good! They deserved the 3rd place. Their main arsenal here was their voice projection. Why? Even when the electricity died out for awhile, they still managed to maintain their volume which was VERY IMPRESSIVE since it was a big stage in a big hall.
Kedah
The story? It was about a bad girl a.k.a a bitch named Roxy. Roxy's mother had remarried and because of so, she gained a new stepfather along with a new stepsister named Ashley. Along the story, an indian guy and an indian girl who acted as a portrait suddenly moves and dances randomly. The girl was supposed to be the voice of fate who believes that life is determined by fate and the guy was supposed to be the voice of free will who believes that free will determines the fate in life. Or was it the other way around. I forgot xD. Anyways they appear randomly and they were FUNNY! Reallll funny because they always do stupid dances haha. No offense if you're reading this :X! In the end of the story, time passes by 5 years and Roxy became a good girl because she regretted forcing Ashley to get a tattoo which caused her to get AIDS because the tattoo needle contracted AIDS from a previous customer.
Penang
THE FUNNIEST I've seen. Gawd. They combined literature story from form 5 and form 4 and even form 1! Though I wonder why they said Life's Brief Candle was form 3? It was about a boy who always failed at life and then one day... he went into the world of LITERATURE! *sarcasm* WOW! FUN RIGHT?! *sarcasm* First person he met was King Macbeth who was reciting the Life's Brief Candle Poem. He damn funny. Never expected a king to look like a nerd. Again. No offense. xD. Ooh he also meets up with a girl named Mathilda from the story "The Necklace" was it? Not sure if it was form 4 or form 5 literature. Oh did I forgot to mention? There was a talking kite, a singing tree and a robber :O! Oh and theres also a guy named Thomas Wilson from another literature story! Oh! At the end of their performance, they suddenly did some choral speaking.. which was... weird.
Terengganu
This team had an arabian theme to their drama. I'm sorry but honestly speaking, I was bored enough to waste the whole time playing snake on my phone instead of watching. Real sorry :(.Their costumes were great though and so were your props!
Selangor
Yes the team that got 1st place. Congrats once again. Their drama was entitled " The Tragic History of Dr. Faustuss " and my gawd. They were good. They were one of the only team which I considered as "National Level-Worthy" the rest were like Zone/District Level. Sorry. Their story was basically about a guy named Dr. Faustuss who made a deal with the devil despite being warned by the angel in exchange for 24 years of success and 7 "gifts" of the world. After those 24 years. Dr. Faustuss became an old man who was clearly stressed out and in pain. He realised that the 7 "gifts" he had received. Were actually the 7 deadly sins. Sloth. Pride. Gluttony. Lust. Greed. Envy. Wrath. To me, they deserved first place. Good acting. Good clarity. Good at manipulating the microphones.
After all the performances were done. We were allowed to go back to our rooms and prepare for the closing ceremony at 8.30 P.M. During the "rest" I notice it was so loud and noisy outside. I opened the hotel room window and wow. Each and every state were shouting at each other saying "HEYYY WHERE ARE YOU GUYS FROM?" They were all realll friendly. Raul. Kuyak. BIG TIME. He went and shouted " HEY GIRLS SMILE FOR THE CAMERA! " then BAM! They closed their windows because the hotel staffs went to every room and asked everyone to close their windows because it was getting noisy and out of control. xD poor Raul.
During the closing ceremony, our hearts were beating so DAMN FAST. We hold hands and prayed hard. Teacher who was beside me also held my hand and cancelled out the names of the states that received the consolation prize.. as one by one of them were out.. we let out sighs of relief because we knew... at least and we hope at the very least... to achieve top 3 as the final consolation prize was announced... we were overjoyed. Because then, we knew we reached the TOP 3! The emcee then said "Tempat Ketiga jatuh kepada......NEGERI SARAWAK DI BAWAH BAYU" We thought he meant Sabah! then he said back "Maaf, Negeri SARAWAK BUMI KENYALANG!" we were all then hugging each other with the mindset " guys.. it's okay.. even though we get 2nd or 1st... we have reached this far and we should be proud." Then the emcee announced " Johan bagi pertandingan drama bahasa inggeris peringkat kebangsaan jatuh kepada negeri..." "Sabah!,Sabah!,Sabah!" I thought we were the only ones saying that.. but it seems the WHOLE DEWAN supported us.. then the emcee continue "SELANGOR" we were like ... damn! But oh wells~. A low volume of clappings could be heard... and then when Sabah was announced as the first runner-up... we were given a standing ovation and people cheered and roared loudly. By then we knew, we may have earned the title of 2nd. But in our hearts, we were winners :).
Back at the hotel, me, Ralph and Chin, went for a midnight stroll in town to the nearby KFC. :D ever had KFC at midnight? Me no think so :). There we met quite a few teams. Including Selangor. Back at the hotel room. Me, Ralph, Chin , Hazli and a few others gathered in Room 403. We were sad and dissapointed. Why? The day before we asked, despite winning or losing, who would you guys spend the final night with? Us.. or other states? Everyone said us. Unfortunately, there were still "some" who decided to spend more time flirting with the girls from other teams. I won't say your names. You know who you are :). On that night, Ralph and Hazli asked me to be the director for next year. Jonross didn't want to be the director because the stress one carries as a director plus the stress of SPM would be too much on him. So it was then decided, That I would be the Director if there is still drama next year.
22nd October 2009
As the famous and flirtatious said their goodbyes to the other states/girls they made friends with. The responsible and hard-working people were busy loading tonnes of luggages into the bus including the props. Upon reaching the airport. I was very sad. Because I know.. we will have to leave Penang and all the good memories we made. FOR GOOD :(. I asked the teacher for permission to buy souvenirs because I remembered all my friends back in Sabah about the souvenirs they requested from me :D. When I finished gathering all the souvenirs the cashier showed me the price and whew! Guess how much? RM50? Nope. RM 60 not even close. RM 100? Almost there. RM 120? YOUR SOOO CLOSE. RM124? Correcto! Each keychain costed like RM 9.90 but don't worry :) It was Buy 2 Free 1. The one that made it reach RM124 was something else. It was something special I bought for a certain someone :D.
The trip back was AGONIZING. My head felt like exploding when I was in the plane. It was really painful probabbly due to the air pressure. Ugh. I hate AirAsia flights now. I prefer MAS. Their air pressure control was much better. As the plane left Penang, I said goodbye. As the plane landed back on Sabah. :) I know I was greeted with a "WELCOME BACK!".
I believe a special thanks is in order for the people who have sacrificed ALOT for the team. So, first and foremost :
Thank you Hazli for everything you have done. The script. The training. The advices.
We were like plants and you nurtured and helped us grow bigger to finally bloom and become flowers.
Thank you Teacher Haslinda. The sacrifices you made.
If it weren't for you. There won't be an "US". Without you, Penang would be impossible.
Thank you Ralph. The effort you gave. The sweat you poured.
The best director a team could ever have. You were good as an Actor. You were great as a Director. You were amazing as a Friend. I hope I could follow in your footsteps.
Thank you Adriance. The props. The time you sacrificed
If it weren't for you. There won't be any props. I know how much you have sacrificed and suffered for us "ungrateful" ones. Thank you for all that you have done. Because I know, your one of the people who worked oh-so-hard for the team :)
The journey to Penang has come to an end. The journey for 2009 is yet to end and 2010 is about to begin. May the rainbow fill our play. Now and always.
