Saturday, February 27, 2010

Street Opera (wayang)

This make-shift stage constructed using wooden poles and planks was at the side of the main entrance to a Tua Pek Kong Temple near where I live. On this hot and humid afternoon I stumbled upon a performance by a troupe of street artistes that must have seen better days in their youth at a time when such performances were common, taking place within temple grounds or next to them and happening because of some temple celebration or festival. Street Opera or 'wayangs' were also more common during the Hungry Ghost month every year until they were replaced by the Ge Tais featuring contemporary Chinese pop music and performances. When I do chance upon these wayangs, they would be playing to nobody most of the time. Today, there was no audience for this particular wayang until I appeared except for four old folks who were not there specially to watch the opera. When they left, I was the only audience left. Even then I could not stay long though I would have loved to have stayed not only to take photos but also to enjoy the opera and give the performers support for their art. The age group of this troupe (including the musicians) is in the fifties and sixties. Despite their age, I can see that they are skilled artistes by their movements and their singing. I do not speak the Hokkien dialect fluently enough to understand every word that was sung or spoken. However I know enough to understand that the scene I was watching was about a character (a xiao chou or clown) who had come some distance away on horseback to see a magistrate regarding an important matter. Here are the rest of my photos:

No sophisticated speaker system, an old and sturdy loud hailer will do.
The Gong and the Drum - They must be as old as he has been with the troupe.
A performer changing for the next scene.
Ready to get on stage.
The next few photos show the character riding on a horse, an action that is symbolised by the wielding of the staff with the tassles. Video will be uploaded another time.


A musician playing a typical wind instrument at the side of the stage.
Here comes the magistrate in his platform shoes and impressive beard.

The character talks to the audience telling them what he intends to do. He made a comment on the magistrate and by his facial expressions and gestures the comment was not a flattering one.

Here he pays his respects to the magistrate.
At this point I had to leave. My lifelong interest in Chinese Opera was rekindled by chance this afternoon. I have paid good money to watch Troupes from Guangzhou at the Esplanade twice. Those performances were classy and polished and they usually played to a full house. This street opera that I watched was more intimate because I was really close to the stage and the actors looked at me only. That was really something! It made my day.

Information on Chinese Opera could be found on this ThinkQuest website created by a team of students from Jurong Primary School.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Bukit Batok

Quite a few years ago I was amused by the display of toys for small children in front of a hardware store in Bukit Batok. They reminded me of the kinds of toys my kids played with - plastic moulded and fabricated into everyday as well as fantasy items that provided hours of endless fun. I must go back to this shop and see if these toys are still being sold. I wonder if these non-interactive toys still hold the same appeal as they did years ago for my kids and his generation. Click on each photo to amuse yourselves with these toys.


Friday, February 19, 2010

Chinatown - Sago Lane

An elderly couple remarked that the crowds have disappeared after Chinese New Year and looking at their facial expressions I could not tell if they were disappointed or not. Some of the stalls were still putting out New Year goods for sale. The rest were there to cater to the sporadic appearance of tourists strolling through this street that was once distinctive because 'Death Houses' used to occupy the shops opposite these stalls. The Sago Lane in my childhood was not a place for merry-making unless one was looking forward to cross the boundaries to another world.

My stripes are more eye-catching than yours.
Have your fortune told and then get your portrait done on the same day at the same place.
I can only recognise Andy Lau and Vicky Zhao.
As was typical of our tropical weather, a shower brought out the plastic covers to shield the precious goods from the rain.

A young man worked hard at scrubbing the metal platform in front of his stall despite the rain.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Two weeks before Chinese New Year

I went there not to shop for new year goodies, clothes or shoes or to succumb to all the sales gimmicks that the stall holders have up their sleeves. When I was a kid, Chinese New Year meant shopping for everything new and stocking up on all the Chinese sausages and stuff, melon seeds, sweets, cookies, pineapple tarts and all that would make a kid happy during the festive period. Many Chinese New Year celebrations later, I just want to have peace and quiet and a desire to rid my life of clutter instead of accumulating more things to increase the clutter in my house. Having less things around me make me happier these days. My dream home will be one that is minimalist in design and my mission for this year is to go about reducing the stuff I have (except my books) and not to buy more of what I already have or need. So with this mindset, I visted Chinatown as if I was a tourist - one who takes pictures only.