Friends Forever! By: The Boss 1 comment

What's happening, ppl? Hope you guys like the new additions to the blog template and our very own header (thanks to Kenny!). Anyway, just a lil' report on the latest happenings around town, and in our church.

Where do I begin? Oh yes, not too long ago, the youths of GT Klang staged a heart-warming, charming and entertaining musical entitled 'Friends Forever'! For those of you who missed it, such a pity...this was arguably the best musical we've staged by far in our church, and for those of you who were there to be a part of it, savour the memories...and for the rest, if you're a good boy/girl this time around, we'll be kind enough to perform 'Friends Forever' again during Christmas. This time with a lil' touch and taste of the festive season, givin' it the Christmas feelin...

The play basically had 3 elements to it: Acting, singing, and dancing. Yes, I know what you're thinking...its exactly like a Bollywood movie, just that its in English! And of course, no rolling down hills, playing with sari, and no coconut trees to bergayut with...The acting was simple and loud, the dance moves were fresh and vibrant, and the singing carried the whole message of the play.

The show was basically about a group of 16 classmates, who had been given an assignment by their class teacher on the subject "What Is A Friend?" They're supposed to pen down their thoughts and what they understand by the word 'Friend'. And as the story goes, along the way...there was fun and laughter, friction and tauntings, hugs and tears, and the show wrapped up with telling the audience about the best friend one could ever have...Jesus. One of the unique elements about this play was that each actor was given a role taylor-made to suit their own character. And this made it easier for the actors to bring the character to life, allowing people to feel the characters and identify with them, seeing themselves through the musical.

The show started off with a scene where the characters were introduced, as they entered the 'classroom' one by one, allowing the audience to quickly identify and get to know their characters. We had bookworms, Mr. Emo, sleepyhead, showoffs, sports freaks, best pals, kiasu fellas....basically your typical everyday kinda' friends! :) The night got off to a good start with the actors dancing to the catchy tune of 'Everything with you is better'. Once class started, everyone got seated down and Ms. Lau gave each student what they dreaded most...ASSIGNMENTS! Yup..they're to write about what they think a Friend is. Then everyone got the crowd moving with their dancing and singing of the song 'Everyone Knows'.

The next scene was probably one of the highlights of the night as Laura and Alison got the ball rolling when they fought over the rights to 'have' Christopher Tan! Pity the poor lad...:) Next, the boys squarred up with the girls...having their age old arguments...the guys being all MCP... the girls as feminist as ever, doing their girl-power thingie...telling each other to get real and be natural. The dance was refreshing...and the argument scene even better! This time, the boys lead 1-0 over the girls! Haha...and all the men say "Amen!" All is well in the end...

The next scene was basically about how distant youths and children can be from their parents. Its like...we can live under the same roof with our parents, and yet feel miles apart. We can talk to them using our thoughts and mind, but never with our hearts. This was the story for the scene...Julian and Shie Yee played it beautifully with their singing of the song 'I Cant Talk To My Dad'...

Up next was the part where Alison's secret got blown wide open to the whole world...you guys should have seen her explode! Its like...volcanic explosion that hovers over the whole world! Its true...hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Hehe! After going through a sad and meloncholic scene before this, it was appropriate that we spiced up the night with a some rap and cool shades. The next song, entitled 'Is There Anybody Out There', spoke of a need deep within our hearts...our need for someone we can trust and share our hearts to without having them blabbing it to the whole world! Cool stuff wei..

Then we decided to tone down things once again...this time with the news of a student leaving the group, not by her own will...but following her father's instruction. The group emphatized with her (Donna), even as she shared her heart, the pain and sorrow she felt...there were many of us out there that could feel her pain, and understand exactly what she's going through. The crowd joined in the singing this time around, as we the group sang the unofficial theme song of the musical..'Friends are Friends Forever'. Touching...*sob*sob*

Next, we decided to spice things up a lil', with a exquisite touch of creativity...what an emotional roller-coaster ride eh? Haha...Wei Chuan captured the imaginations of the audience with his cool and innovative definition of what a friend is...putting all his friends to good use! Check out the pics...you'll understand why...:)

Soon after that, the group finally shared about Jesus being the best friend one could ever have. There's no greater love in this world than that of a friend that would lay down his own life for us. And that was exactly what Jesus did! After the preaching, the cast members came on stage for one last time, for the finale. They danced to the medley of all the songs that had sung for the night...a fitting way to end the show. And to cap the wonderful evening, there was even a special bloopers video prepared, showcasing the fun time and the mistakes and comical acts done by the actors during practice session. It was marvellous. Everthing was...awesome!

We truly want to thank God for bringing almost 800 people for both nights and out of that total, there were at least 150 newcomers/first timers to our church! Woooo hooo!!! Cmdr. Gideon shared the gospel on both nights, letting people know about this one special friend they have in Jesus. We thank God for this opportunity to share the Gospel through the musical and through the preaching, most of them first time hearing it. Now we gotta' keep on praying and believing that God's Word will accomplish the task its been set forth to do! Amen?

This play...its been a special journey for the 16 of us. All the nights and hardwork and sacrifices put into it...its been worth the while. We've gone through the good and the bad...but most importantly, we had each other to make this journey a lil' easier. Hats off to the committee, namely Mabel, Mark, Chow Peng, Theresa, and Maxim for sharing this vision with us, having the determination to see it through, and never losing focus of the goal along the way. You people are superb!

And lastly, this blog entry is specially dedicated to each and everyone of the cast member of 'Friends Forever' with this special message..."Thanks for being everything that a Friend should be."

God bless...*wink*

Enjoy the pics, friends...

Everyone rushing to get their 'stage' make-up on!

Hehe...cmdr. Alison and her mascara! and oh, cmdr. shie yee in polka dots dolling up too!

Li Li! Go slow with the pink blusher, wei! HAHA!

Everyone with their grand entrances :)

Alright then, 1st song : Everything Is Better With You! - David and Sher
"Everything with you, is better, we got it good as long as we're together!"

Woo Hoo Ah Sher!! :D

"Anything we do, whatever, everything is better with you!"

Miss Lau explaining the assignment to the class...and do you have any idea whooo Miss Lau is??

None other than our very own Cmdr. MAXIM!! :D

2nd Song : Everyone Knows! - Cmdr. Wei Chuan, Cmdr. Theresa, Donna!

Yeahhhhh, move those shoulders boys...move it! :))

"It's a well known fact, a secret to none, just what a friend should be!"

Come on...everyone knows what a friend is!
(Mark, Cmdr. Reubs, Cmdr. Wei Chuan, Melvin and Cmdr Alison getting emo...hehe)

Oooh, i love the paper effect! Nice eh :)

This is the part where the girls get taunted by the guys.
And the biggest bully? The one in the jacket and super long sideburns! >:)

3rd Song : Get Real! - Mark and Sher

"Here I am an open book, anyone can take a look...
if you doubt, all you gotta do is check me out!"

"Let me give you my advice, when you're cool, you're cold as ice!"

Boys: Get reallllllll, girls... (fuyohh, check out their expressions! :D)

Cmdr. Reubs (the big bully) disturbing Ah Sher (the nerd)

4th Song : Can You Reach My Friend? - Mabel and Melvin
(lovely lovely song...) *wipe tear*

5th Song : Thank You! - Andy and Laura
(don't worry, those white stockings will nv see daylight again... :D )

"Thank you, thank you for loving me. Thank you for all you have done...

...I could never be, all I was meant to be, if you hadn't given your love" :)

6th Song : I Can't Talk To My Dad/Mum - Julian and Cmdr. Shie Yee

"I can't talk to my mum, I don't know why.
Nothing in common, we've got nothing to say..."
(bet a lot of youth could relate to this song) :)

7th Song : Is There Anybody Out There?? (rap!!) - Cmdr. Reubs and Cmdr. Alison!
(didn't you know they could RAP??? well, they did it superbly!!)

"Is there anybody out there..."

Cmdr. Alison is a rapper chic, yo! :D

"Is there anybody out there, someone I can trust!!"
(is there? is there??)

When Donna announced that she was gonna leave to another state... :(

8th Song : Friends Forever - Yee Leng, Cmdr. Eric, Mabel, Cmdr. Reubs
(this is my favourite song of all... :) )

All the girly girls giving Donna a group hug... *aww*
(eh, maybe next time we can shout..."GROUP HUG!" before hugging...hehehe)

Cmdr. Wei Chuan's artwork. Well, the pic ain't very clear...
but the guys on stage were spelling out the word F.R.I.E.N.D :)

Discussing about our own meaning of a Friend

9th Song : I've Never Had A Friend Like You - Melvin
(we formed a cross!! See!! See!! aiks...not so clear, but WE FORMED A CROSS!!!!) :D

Cmdr. Jeff performing his solo :)

Cmdr. Gideon speaking to the crowd
(while we were backstage, getting ready for the finale)

"So...friends, let me tell you about my special friend, who is not only a friend,
but who sticks CLOSER than a brother..."

FINALE!!! All of us in our Friends Forever t-shirt! :D

We summarised alllll the previous songs to portray our meaning of Friends :)

"FRIENDS FOREVER!!"
(it was a wonderful musical...make sure you don't miss the next one, ya!)
:)

Disclaimer : If you happen to realise that some of the casts' costumes aren't consistent, it's because these pics are from both days (a few wore different set of baju for both days). So, don't worry...your eyes aren't playing tricks on you (yet)! :D