Flagrante Delicto - The Celebration

“Do you have a backup or contingency plan?” Out of concern, one of my colleagues asked me while going out lunch together. “What happen if any of the cast members is late for the show?” That was a good question as most cast members continued with their daily work and rushed to Bangsar Shopping Complex to perform the show in the evening. “… the show must go on,” I answered.



After five consecutive shows starting from Wednesday 26 July, we finally completed performing the comedy drama – mission successfully accomplished. There was no backup or contingency plan: all the 19 cast members were there – every evening – 1.5 hours before show time at 8:30 p.m. Such was the commitment, superb teamwork and showmanship for the entire cast members of Speakers’ Dream Toastmasters Club.



After performing the last show on Sunday 30 July, I felt relief that I could take a rest but I also yearn for more drama shows in future. It was really fun to be able to stand on stage and perform in the character that one is supposed to act – it is just an extension of delivering Toastmasters speeches but with much emphasis on facial expression, body language, vocal variety. And Yes, speak with (or express) conviction too.



The entire cast together with the Director and Producer adjourned to the Café right in front of Bangsar Shopping Complex for an immediate celebration. The mood was upbeat, jovial and happy. The Club made a little profit, sufficient for the next elaborated celebration in a week’s time.



Note: the bundles of RM100 and RM50 currency notes shown in the photo are props. It would be wonderful if those are real currencies earned from the show.

Please click here to view 215 photos taken by Jason Lee and KC during rehearsal and show time, and also audience responses.

By KC

Flagrante Delicto -- Show Time

It was most satisfying to hear the burst of continuous laughter of varying intensity from audience. On Wednesday 26 July, 8.30pm, it was the first of the five consecutive performances at the Actors Studio, Bangsar Shopping Complex. It was a reflection of months of hard work by the 19 cast members, the Director and the Producer.

To ensure the sequence of acts/scenes were smoothly executed, the cast did the final rehearsal again in compressed or fast-forward mode with the Sound and Lighting technicians (from the Actors Studio), and Stage Manager at 6.30pm – two hours before show time. The results: almost flawless performance with transition from one act/scene to another.

From audience’s feedback after the show last night, they were satisfied with the performance. Here are the extracts of their feedback:

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From an American couple:
"We enjoyed the show. We can see the cast enjoyed doing their roles."

From others:
"Certainly an entertaining show, we enjoyed ourselves. We will tell our friends to come."

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From KH:
My pleasure to be there to laugh out loud!! Laughter is the Best medicine.
All the best to all of you.

Wishing you success in your performance.

All of you are so talented… not just oral communication but acting as well.

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From Steven:
B4 the play, the lady announcer announced that the play will last for 90 minutes...my 1st reaction was "WAH! 90-long minutes! How to survive?"

The stage's lights on and off...the casts all lined-up to be introduced. "WAH! 90 minutes has passed"... this proved that the play is really entertaining - makes us laugh and happy. That's why time flies.

Well done.

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From Lilian:

Hi there KC, Thanks for getting the tickets and just wanna say that we enjoyed the show. A very talented and enthusiastic cast, they really look like bank people. Especially 'the lady with the big eyes' who is just quite outstanding although everyone had their moments!

Not easy when there are so many in the cast, but good fun nonetheless! Well done to you and all your friends who put this together. Looking forward to the next one!

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From Jason Chin:
It's was good show with great cast! My favourite is the Big Hair Lady (I forgot her name)… She looks so natural!


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Great team work: cheers to Speakers' Dream Toastmasters Club.

x

Photos were taken by Jason Lee.

Yours truly was holding the camcorder - even in the comedy drama, the director/scripts writer also give me a role that has something to do with camera.

Compiled By KC

I am Nearly Famous

I could not contain my excitement when I turned to Page 74 of today’s New Straits Times, Friday 21 July 2006. I was elated. The familiar Flagrante Delicto photo taken in YS Studio in SS2 appeared before me. Below the photo, it says: Smell a Rat in Perfect Crime.

At one glance, a reader may think that this group of people in sunglasses must be crazy. After having been caught for committing a crime, they still look very happy. Don’t worry! It is only a comedy drama. As the smart DJ in Red FM commented earlier, “everything is possible in a play.”

Immediately, I bought two copies of the newspaper from the news-stand. Why two? My colleagues who were standing besides me were curious after having our lunch at Alamanda Food Court in Putrajaya.

Well, I replied that the first copy is for circulation to other colleagues to share my joy. The second copy is for laminating purpose for my permanent filing. And indeed, my colleagues in the office were excited too to see me appearing in the newspaper.

After three months of hard work, the cast is almost ready to perform the drama. Last night (Thursday, 20 July), while the cast was rehearsing, our talented Director, Loghan, was laughing away seeing the hilarious acts. Even the Director, who wrote the scripts, could not contain the laughter.

There will be another three days of final rehearsal (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday). After that, show time will start on Wednesday 26 July 2006, 8.30pm.

Come and support us, will ya? And enjoy yourselves in a fun-filled evening with lots of laughter.

Port Dickson Triathlon, 22-23 July (Saturday and Sunday)
Next posting is on next Monday morning. I will be going down to Port Dickson to support my friends who are participating in the Triathlon race. The Organizer was most pleased to issue two media passes to me in order to facilitate me in taking photos. Yes, I will be the cameraman there. Stay tune for photos of triathletes in action – the muscular guys and gorgeous gals.

Meantime, please click here to view the photos taken by Jason Lee and I during the pre-race training two weeks ago.

Please click here to view pre-race training photos taken by KC.

Please click here to view pre-race training photos taken by Jason Lee.

By KC

Over the Red FM Airwaves

SOS: I am having difficulty in selling all the tickets allocated to me where I had made the payment. To you, all the kind and good people out there, I would appreciate it if you could help me to purchase one or two tickets to this play – Flagrante Delicto comedy drama.

Come and enjoy yourselves in an evening of light-hearted entertainment. I assure you that there will be lots of laughter. The proceeds will go to Speakers’ Dream Toastmasters Club. Please scroll down for details.

For RM 45 ticket, you only have to pay RM 33 each. My handphone: 012-266 8166, email: kcle3@streamyx.com

The Interview

Oh! What a feeling. If only someone were beside me to share my joy: I was so excited to hear the interview of my fellow cast members over the radio in Red FM 104.9 at 8.30 a.m. on Monday, 17 July.

Loghan, Celine and Saba were there in the interview for the promotion of Flagrante Delicto comedy show. Yes, it is not about fragrance, neither it is about delicious cuisine, interjected the DJ – this show is about being caught in the act for committing …

I believe that interview spurred the cast members on to try even harder in performing at the show which starts from Wednesday 26 July to 30 July. And that is exactly one week from now.

Celine, a trainer and consultant by profession, did a fantastic job in introducing Speakers' Dream Toastmasters Club (SD TMC). Her voice can rival other lady DJs in term of crispness, clarity and fluency. Being an experience and distinguished speaker, she was able to speak on the following topics within a short span of two minutes: the origin of the Club from IBBM (Institute Bank-Bank Malaysia) TMC and the dream or aim of every speaker.

Saba's voice, to my big surprise, sounds like Rod Steward, but not too coarse (rough). He mentioned about making one million Ringgit and the lady DJ, Ms Nell Ng, immediately asked for the ways to become rich. Much to my amusement, the guy DJ, David, promptly replied: in play, everything is possible.

Loghan, our Director for this show, as usual, took control of the airwaves with his lively and interesting contents. You need The Master to be able to craft the funny side of a serious subject, and the distinguished speaker, Loghan, is good at it. After all, having done ten standing comedy previously, he is talented in thinking and acting humorously.

The last three weeks have been hectic schedule where the rehearsal has been intensified to three times a week. Acting in front of paid audience for 1.5 hours is a different ballgame that demands synchronization in movement, facial expression and vocal variety with other cast members.

In all outdoor quests, the foundation to become fit is the simple and humble running. Nevertheless, in acting, the foundation is established from giving solo speeches in Toastmasters Club meetings.

The Anxious Wait

I was informed by Siew Chien, the Producer of the play, about the interview over the airwaves. I waited in my car (parked at the covered car park of the Bank) from 8.10am till 8.30am. At 8.20am, they introduced the KL Arts Festival and the happenings in July. Then the DJ, David, gave a lead: there will be an interview with a group that will be performing in the Actors Studious. And just before that, they played the song: Flashdance, What a Feeling by Irene Cara. Oh! What a feeling.

David asked what would be the reasons that the Government stages the KL Arts Festival in July. The spokesman replied: according to statistics, July is the month with the highest number of tourists visiting Malaysia. We were glad to be part of the happenings supporting the Government's initiative. And that put even more pressure on the cast to perform the show even better.

According to Loghan, the judges from Kaki Seni, an authoritative body on performing arts, would be there to review the show. Since we are used to Toastmasters environment, the project would not have been completed without the evaluation. It is indeed an honour to have them to give their feedbacks so that we can strengthen the strong points and improve on the weakness.

Show Time:

Dates: 26 - 30 July 2006 (Wednesday to Sunday)
Time: 8.30 pm
Venue: Actors Studio, Level 3, Bangsar Shopping Complex, Kuala Lumpur.

Tickets: RM 33 and RM 45
Telephone: 03-2094 0400 or 03-2094 1400

Note: Only Sunday show starts at 3pm.

Speakers' Dream Toastmasters Club Web site: Click Here.

By KC

Flagrante Delicto Comedy Drama

After taking over 200 photos in the recent Port Dickson International Triathlon, I did not have the chance to take one for myself since I was holding the camera. Nevertheless, attached below is a photo where I was in it. It was taken with a group of Toastmasters Club members in YS Photo Studio in SS2. I am not sure whether you could recognize me, yours truly. I am in yellow shirt.

One unique feature of this photo is that all were putting on sunglasses. There are a few reasons why we put on sunglasses: it was too bright; putting on sunglasses has more style. Anyway, this photo is for the printing of banner for the comedy drama titled Flagrante Delicto. Since this is a dark comedy, we put on the sunglasses that remind every one that it is associating with “dark”.

Show Time:

Dates: 26 - 30 July 2006 (Wedn to Sunday)
Time: 8.30 pm
Venue: The Actors Studio, Level 3, Bangsar Shopping Complex, Kuala Lumpur.
Tickets: RM45 and RM33

Telephone: 03-2094 0400 or 03-2094 1400

Please come and enjoy yourselves in an evening of light-hearted entertainment. There will be lots of laughter.

The date of the comedy drama coincides with the KL Arts Festival in July 2006.

The proceeds from the show will go to the Speakers’ Dream Toastmasters Club and in turn will be used for purpose of improving communication skills.

One of my running friends asked me whether I will be one of the main actors or the ke-le-fe. Another running friend said I am torn between two lovers: the two “… ters” – Toastmasters and Pacesetters Clubs.

The Show

Our first major performance is “Flagrante Delicto” which means ‘the act of committing a crime’ in Latin. This is a dark comedy. The story revolves around a group of senior bank employees who planned and managed to pull off an act of crime. They made a total of RM9 million but the bank incurred no loss. It was to be a perfect crime, but was it? The bank auditor’s investigative vibes were alerted. The auditor’s relentless search leads him through a trail of lies, seduction and intrigue.

The director and script writer, Distinguished Toastmaster, K. Loghandran has added twists towards the end.

The Cast

The cast consists of 19 actors from the Speakers’ Dream Toastmasters Club. This is the second performance as a group after the successful “Funny Money” comedy drama.

Speakers’ Dream Toastmasters Club Web Site:
http://sdtmc.blogspot.com/

My contact number: 012- 266 8166

KC

Flagrante Delicto – The Comedy Drama

Other than running, trekking, swimming, scuba diving, what else can a runner do to live life? Well, to engage in a project for comedy drama – that is what I am doing. Interwoven with training runs and other races, the rehearsals for the comedy drama have been intensified too. This is to ensure that the cast, comprising of 20 members of the Toastmasters Club, would give our best to entertain you.

We are lucky to have Loghandran, a distinguished speaker from our Toastmasters Club, to be the director for this comedy drama. He is an educational trainer and also a stand-up comedian. He has performed 10 shows so far in the Actors Studio. Much like producing a movie, we too, have a Producer, Ong Siew Chien, another distinguished speaker, to ensure the necessary activities are being done according to schedule.

One the theory side, I just learned it last Sunday during rehearsal, a drama contains series of events with vivid, emotional and conflicting acts. And a comedy has the same elements of a drama. In the acts, characters (acted by actors) are defined and the audiences are watching the characters. Interestingly, there are speech assignments from Toastmasters manuals where speeches are focused on plays.

From the bunting, you would deduce that the comedy drama is about Money, Money and Money. What make it interesting are the abundance of plots and sub-plots. I assure you that it would be funny and full of laughter.

Dear fellow runners and friends, please come and support me, will ya? The proceeds will go to the Toastmasters Club.

For booking of ticket before 9 July, you pay RM 33 only for a RM 45 tickets (for Wedn, Thursday and Sunday). So, Hurry!

Date: 26 – 30 July 2006

Time: 8.30pm (26 – 29 July); 3pm (30 July)

Venue: The Actors Studio, Bangsar Shopping Complex, Kuala Lumpur.

My Contact Number: 012- 266 8166, kcle3@streamyx.com

By KC

Flagrante Delicto Rehearsal

To view other photos taken by KC, please click here.

This is one of the photos taken by me during the rehearsal for this comedy skit. The progress of this endeavor by Speakers’ Dream Toastmasters Club members is progressing well. The 11 scenes were mapped out and re-arranged by the director, Logi; the scripts were improved and printed; the last rehearsal was done with 17 cast members doing the preliminary reading of the scripts. With the big number of cast, it is considered as a mega production that can rival Hong Kong movies.

During the rehearsal, certain acts were so funny that we could not contain our laughter. Taking part in this comedy skit is also about fun and camaraderie. The next rehearsal would be this Sunday afternoon, 25 June. Since I would be taking part in the acting and running (Powerman Duathlon) events where both are happening in end July, I would have to do a 20km training run from Bukit Aman – Sri Hartamas on the same Sunday morning too.

As you can see, I spend most of my leisure times with the two “…ters”. That would be Pacesetters in the morning with all the running and the recent new task – webmaster for Pacesetters Club; Toastmasters in the afternoon or evening for improving public speaking skill. With Pacesetters runners, I would introduce Toastmasters, and vice versa. There are not many who embrace the two “… ters” and I am one of the rare type.

According to Chee Wee, he said: "So your morning is running, afternoon is acting, evening is eating and night is sleeping, in between is talking; very busy schedule, hahaha! too many '...ING' lah, the name of my insurance company."

So fellow runners and friends please come and support me for my performance in this comedy skit.

Show Time:
Date: 26 – 30 July (Wedn to Sunday)

Time: 8.30pm (only Sunday is 3pm)

Venue: The Actors Studio, Level 3, Bangsar Shopping Complex, Kuala Lumpur.

By KC

The Incredible Logi and Monti

I was looking forward to an event on Wednesday, 14 June. It was not about which team was playing in the World Cup. I was referring to watching the comedy skit performed by Monti and Logi, both distinguished speakers graduated from Toastmasters Club.

Together with 12 other Toastmasters members, we met at Bangsar Shopping Complex, Level 3 Food Court for dinner before the show started at 8.30pm.

The turnout was not predictable. It was mainly influenced by the World Cup when Brazil team was playing against Crotia on wee hours of Wednesday. Most people would find time to rest whenever possible. One thing for sure, the audience was well dressed.

Other than Monti and Logi, there was a supporting live band consisting of two guitarists. They sang a few songs and provide backup music too. Monti and Logi not only were good at telling jokes, they sang and danced too. They even dressed up as women! All were having non-stop laughter throughout the show. There was one girl in the audience who laughed very loud and I have “side laugh” because of her laughter.

After many performances, Logi (an Indian) has perfected the act of emulating Datuk SV. When he answered a reporter's questions (acted by Monti), he would fold his arms, face slightly upward and gave snobbish expression. In one of their comedy skits, part of the hilarious conversion was as follows:

Reporter: What is your Ministry's vision?
Datuk SV: (in SV’s accent) Just like the Vision 2020, we also have our vision. We intended to build 2,000 toll-booths by 2020.
Reporter: Is that possible, Yang Berhormat?
Datuk SV: When there is a will, there is a highway (way) …

I was really having a good time and submerged myself in the laughter. I was expecting for more until I was jostled back to reality when they say "good night" – it was already 10pm and I did not realize that I was there for 1.5 hours.

Verdict: Recommended; have lots of good laugh.

Details:
Date: 14 to 18 June (Wednesday to Sunday)

Time: 14 to 17June @ 8.30pm, 18 June at 3pm.

Venue: The Actors Studio, Level 3, Bangsar Shopping Complex, Kuala Lumpur.

For Reservation: 03- 2094 0400 or 03- 2094 1400

By KC

Note: I have tried numerous times to upload two photos for this posting but fail.

Please click here to view photos on preparatory work for the next comedy skit. Yours truly would be acting in this skit too. Showtime: 26 - 30July.

Up, Standing And ... Coming

Note by KC: My two sifu (master) are performing in their own comedy skits. If you have not seen a live stand-up comedy before, this would be a good one to start with. I can assure that it would be full of laughter.

And in July 26 to 30, it would be my turn to perform at the same venue… ahem! Instead of stretching my leg muscle, I would be flexing my face muscle. Please come and support, will ya?

10th comedy in 8 years, that is the milestone for both Bolehmen, Monti and Logi.

This new comedy will be filled with more heartwarming stories and even more sensitive issues.
For those who liked Taruh!Taruh! Taruh!, they will enjoy this comedy skit. In Taruh3, Monti and Logi talked about sensitive words and issues like “keling”, “greedy Chinese” and zany antics of politicians.

Monti & Logi in performing arts.

In UP, STANDING AND … COMING, the Bolehmen want to ask why some men want to be women, and why some women behave like men. You can expect more political humour, more stories of them, about their lives and the people they meet.

Come and take a look at our zany country through the eyes of Monti and Logi. Come also to meet two caustic and hairbrain comedienne, Devina Choi and Jill Jill Rani who will tell you what women want.

They will be supported by their country and blues band – The Virtual Gang.

Date: 14 to 17 June (Wed to Sat) @ 8.30 pm, 18 June (Sunday) @ 3.00 pm

Ticket Price: RM35 and RM45

Venue: The Actors Studio@ Bangsar Shopping Complex, Kuala Lumpur

For Reservation call 2094 0400 or 2094 1400

In Flagrante Delicito

What is so special about the photo below? I was missing! By right, I should be in the photo. Since I was the cameraman, as such, you do not see me in it. Yes, these are a few members of the cast performing in the coming comedy skit.

On Sunday afternoon, 14 May, I went for the second rehearsal. This comedy skit is a Club project staged bravely by the Speakers’ Dream Toastmasters Club, of which I am one of the members. We are actually applying the public speaking skills and expanding our horizons.

A Toastmasters member spends time and effort on honing public speaking skills: body language including gestures, facial expression that enhances the message; eye contact that helps communicate the message and achieve the speech’s purpose; vocal variety of varying voice volume, pitch, rate and quality to add meaning and interest to the message; and much more.

The Director, Logi, briefed the outline and main structure of the story to the cast, which consists of about twenty Club members. After performing almost ten comedy skits with Monti, another partner, they sure know how to arrange the ideas, the scenes and the acts together to give strong impact to the comedy skit.

The title “In Flagrante Delicito” is actually Latin words which literary or humorously means “caught in the act”. Even when he briefed us, there was already full of laughter from the cast. I shall keep you in suspense by not revealing much about the story.

These words first caught my attention a few weeks ago. I read in the Star newspaper that one guy was caught in flagrante delicito for sex. When the police raided and stormed into the hotel room, the guy was caught red-handed. I was not sure whether Logi was reading the same piece of news. Don’t worry, admittance of this comedy skit is classified for general viewing and it is not for eighteen and above.

A file photo showing a comedy act during Club Installation Nite on 16 Setember 2005 -- Mei Han and yours truly. To view more photos, please click "Speakers' Dream Toastmasters Club" link at the left sidebar of this web site. Scroll to the bottom of the postings.

Clashing of Three Activities

The Producer, another distinguished speaker from the Club, announced yesterday that the shows would be scheduled from 26 to 30 July at the Actors’ Studio, Bangsar Shopping Complex, Kuala Lumpur. From Wednesday to Saturday, the shows would be staged at 8.30 pm except on the last day, Sunday, where it would be staged at 3 pm.

Now, I am in a dilemma. The Penang Bridge Marathon is clashing with Powerman Duathlon at Putrajaya on 30 July. My group of running friends preferred Penang Bridge Marathon over Duathlon as the Penang Bridge Marathon was miraculously absent for three years. Missing in this run could mean another few years of waiting. Now, the comedy skit is clashing with these two activities.

After giving much thought, this is my plan on split personality: I would perform show on Saturday night, 29 July, go for Duathlon race on Sunday morning, 30 July, and then perform the next show on Sunday 3pm. This means I would have to forgo the Penang Bridge Marathon.

What role am I playing? Well, let’s keep it a secret for now. I hope you can come and support me. I am sure it would be fun to watch me performing other than exhibit only happiness (when crossing the finishing line) or agony (when limping with pain for ‘hitting the wall’) in running marathons.

By the way, these two sifus (Logi and Monti) will be performing from 14 to 18 June, 8.30pm at The Actors Studio, Bangsar Shopping Complex. Come and enjoy yourselves, and submerged in an evening fill with laughter. Reservation: 03-2094 0400 or 03-2094 1400.

By KC

KLPAC

To view 61 photos taken by KC at KLPAC, please click here.

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The photos for MMDS1 Duathlon at Dataran Merdeka are finally ready!
Participants can buy their photos from here: www.andylim.com/hotshots
Note: It takes extra seconds to download. Photographer: Andy Lim.
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Together with another 14 Speaker’s Dream Toastmasters Club members, we went to KL Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) at Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday 6 May. I arrived there slightly early at 6.15pm as I wanted to take some photos of the scenic surrounding.

I have not been to this place before but I have seen those photos taken by the photography friends. So, on a solo mission, I equipped myself with the necessary photographic tools and hurriedly taking photos as any moment soon, there would not be enough light when the sun sank below the horizon.

What really amazed me was when I looked at the photos earlier, I thought there was a huge empty land near the Japanese Restaurant. But when I reached there, I had a rude awakening that it was only a small compound.

At 7.30pm, we were ushered into one of the studio rooms at top floor of KLPAC. Most of the invited guests were seated on the floor with shoes left outside the room. It was a graduation night for the 14 committed and enthusiastic cast of the academy.

We went there to support our sifu, Monti, who was receiving the Certificate of Achievement and at the same time, to have a feel of what “acting” was like. It was an excellence idea that before the certificates were awarded, the cast performed and demonstrated a fraction of what they had learned to the audience.

Different from running, the prominent muscles that have to be strong and active when performing arts must be the face muscles as facial expression was most vital. Nevertheless, it would be great idea that during runs, we would also exercise our facial expression: make a face, put on a brave face, keep a straight face, etc.

According to the announcement, one lady member from the cast comes from Penang. She was so committed that she boarded an express bus from Penang on every Saturday morning. She would arrive at KLPAC in the late morning, rehearsed with the cast and later boarded another express bus back to Penang in the evening.

Taking photos in this room was easy. I just sit there quietly clicking away, but the result was not that stunning as flash was not used in order not to disturb the performance.

So, if you are interested in performing arts, send an email to me. I would establish connection for you. The reward, according to the instructor, is bountiful. For shooting in TV commercials, the fees could be a few hundred thousands Ringgits.

Sunday Morning Run, 7 May

I woke up at 4am by the ring of alarm clock. While lying on the bed, I could still hear droplets of water hitting the gutter at long interval. The rain must have stopped after raining a few hours ago before I slept. Standing by the window, I could feel the freshness and coolness of air.

The bad news was that I felt dizzy after having endured a few days with flu. After a self-check, I decided to cancel my Sunday 20km training run with Chee Wee and Meng that started at Bukit Aman. After sending a SMS message to the guys, I continued with my sleep.

I woke up again at 9am. I felt guilty for not able to run this morning. On a normal Sunday, I would have completed my 20km run, met new friends and chatted with Pacesetters runners. This morning, nothing much was done. I did not siege the moment and let it past.

Though it is tough to be involved in lots of work or activities and scarifying good times, but there is a sense of accomplishment and I later feel good. I believe satisfaction in life is derived from the achievement after putting in lots of efforts; it is not the case of just sit there and not doing anything.

By KC

Stand-up Comedy

You would not believe where I went on Sunday, 30 April afternoon. From the report, you knew that I went for 20km training run with Meng and Chee Wee in the morning. No, I was not running another race in the afternoon rain. I actually went to the inaugural training session for the next skit. Yes, to blow my own trumpet a little, Yours Truly is into “acting”.

There were 20 of the Speakers’ Dream Toastmasters Club members present. Monti and Logi, both distinguished speakers, were our sifu (masters). They explained the mechanics of acting; for example, sub-text, intention, putting the ego aside, body gesture, etc. which were very different from running.

Divided into multiple groups, every member was required to demonstrate the prominent human expressions. First was “happiness” – that would be easy. I should have imagined when I crossed the Kuala Lumpur International Marahon and that would have heightened my expression. True to the Toastmasters tradition, every one was asked question and given feedback by Monti and Logi.

Next, exhibit on “anger”. That would be easy too. Just imagine that we are caught in daily traffic jam and condition was worsened by other drivers who jump queues and later raised middle fingers at you.

Next was “sorrow”. Depending on one experiences in life, more dramatic encounters yield vivid expression. As Monti asked, “Who rears dog at home?” Those who rear dogs were able to give better expression as they sure would have mishaps to the dogs.

It was a missed opportunity that Monti did not ask us to express “in pain”. Otherwise, I would have scored top marks to show the expression on hitting “the wall” when running in marathon. Every step forward was limping in pain of varying intensity expressed over substantial duration. Anyway, I was not sure whether it would surpass those in labour pain.

The most difficult one was to act on “lust” – a feeling of strong sexual desire for someone. Oh my gosh! I think running a marathon is easier. If he asked me to vary my running pace from 4 to 6 minutes per kilometers, that would be easy. Lust? Obviously, when come to feedback session, Monti could not comprehend what I was trying to express – brain signal and facial muscle were not in sync.

Three years ago, we acted in a comedic skit called Funny Money with different cast members. We acted in The Actors Studio, Dataran Merdeka to two nights of pack audiences. We later went to act in The Actors Studio, Penang. The acts were about the hilarious moments in banking industries since we are working in Financial Institutions. Examples of the scenes were Loan Sharks, Chattier, Bengali money lender, at the Bank counter, after office hours at mamak stores, etc.

The new scripts are still being written by these two sifu. Let’s see what it entails going forward. Meantime, stay tune for further funny stories on acting amid all the running activities.

These two sifus are performing from 14 – 18 June, 8.30pm at The Actors Studio, Bangsar Shopping Complex. Come and enjoy yourselves, and bask yourselves in an evening fill with laughter. Reservation: 03-2094 0400 or 03-2094 1400.

By KC