Moved to tears
When was the last time you watched a performance and were moved to tears? Well, the Singapore Arts Festival is just round the corner. Starting on 23 May, there’s a whole month’s worth of performances to entertain you, provoke you, stimulate thought and discussion and give you a chance to break away from the vicious cycle daily routine to soak up some culture. This year’s festival will be the largest singular arts event on our cultural calendar, with artists from over 20 countries offering more than 500 activities. There’s even a kids festival for the young ones to experience some arts performances.
We’re excited to be working with the Arts Festival folks again this year and as the Festival date draws closer, we’ll talk more about what we have in store for you. But to kick things off, we have the Festival Director, Ms Goh Ching Lee, seeking your thoughts on a question near and dear to her heart: What is the most memorable performing arts performance you have attended, and why?
Ching Lee has had a long association with the local arts scene. She started out joining the then Ministry of Culture in 1984 and has been helping to grow and nurture local artists and the local arts scene since then. She’s eager to hear from you so please head over to her question now and share your opinion with her.
Cheers,
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I cannot really remember but I know that there was once where I was really moved because of the predominance of culture in the whole performance.
In my opinion, inviting people from 20 countries to perform is not a bad idea, but it would be great if you can showcase the culture of local Singaporeans as well (Malays, Indians, Chinese). Singapore is a multi-racial society and there should be some sort of possibility to actually reinforce this fact to the fellow Singaporeans so that they know that they are really being appreciated. Then they can proudly say they are Singaporeans. To summarise my comment, i would just like to say that Singapore should first concentrate on the locals and ensure that everyone is being treated fairly and equally. Then we can bring in more different cultures etc.
Thank You
I remembered this movie I watched not so long ago which I am still bewildered, as in why it didn’t win any major film awards.
I was particularly moved to tears when the lead character, Ron Burgundy was framed by his co-anchor, Veronica Corningstone, and was then promptly sacked by the news station.
That scene gives me an insight as in how vicious women can be. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
I know Ching Lee personally, but have not been in contact for ages.
Anyway, it was the original musical “Love Above All” performed by the Mount Carmel Bible-Presbyterian Church at the University Cultural Centre in July last year that touched me. It was based on a true story about Jim Elliot and 4 other American young men who decided to give up all and go into the jungles of Ecuador in the 1950s to share the love of Christ with a reclusive Auca Indian tribe. Sadly, they were all speared to death at the prime of their lives by the suspicious Indians leaving their young wives and babies behind as widows and fatherless. However, the story did not end there. Some of the wives actually went back with their babies and young children in toll to live among the same tribe who murdered their husbands in the jungles without much thought for their own safety and comfort. Only the love of God could compel any human being from risking everything, including their lives for the love of others, even their “enemies”. By the unselfish acts of the widows, ALL the Indians in the tribe converted to Christianity as they have never experienced such powerful (divine) love in action.
One particular scene moved me and just about everyone else in the theatre to tears. It was when Elisabeth (who is still alive and residing in Boston), the wife of Jim Elliot was putting her 5-year old daughter,Valerie to bed after the tragic death of her husband. Valerie asked her mum, “when is daddy coming home?” and Liz replied that “Daddy is not coming home anymore. Someday we’ll meet him. But now, he’s on a journey to a far-away land”. That’s when Valerie started to sing a sorrowful lullaby, which goes like this: “Daddy, I miss you…I wish I could kiss you…we love you and we’ll wait for you.” while hugging her teddy bear tightly to her heart in the quiet of the night. I could then hear muffled sobs reverberating across the silent theatre and many people pulling out their tissues hurriedly to wipe away moist tears.
If you like to know more about the musical and this amazing true story, go to Youtube or Yahoo search and type “Love Above All” or the official URL http://www.love-above-all.org.