What lies in Bedok Reservoir? A search for the truth…
PUBLISHED October 22nd, 2012 08:50 am | UPDATED January 21st, 2016 08:38 am
There’s nothing we love more than a play with a risqué subject, and that’s exactly why we love Bedok Reservoir. We say kudos to playwright Wesley Jean Aroozoo, and Director and Producer Elina Lim who strongly felt there was a story to explore in the rubble and controversially explosive events that happened in Bedok Reservoir last year.
They are ready for the controversy that is likely to go hand in hand with the staging of this play, but promise that the play will surprise you, beyond what you might imagine or think it to be about. Inspired by the several consecutive drownings in Bedok Reservoir last year, the story revolves around three divers going in search of a missing mother and son in Bedok Reservoir. Upon finding the mother, the divers begin a greater search for the horrific truth that led to her death. It’s a story about loss, searching and acceptance of one’s own demons, so expect less horror, more humane.
Aside from a very unique subject, the production is also unique in that, it is entirely self-funded through crowdfunding and advance purchase tickets– a true blue indie theatre production if ever there was one and a bold move in helping to develop our local arts scene. Now how can you not want to support it Nomads?!
We catch up with the cast: Erwin Shah Ismail, Ghazali Muzakir and John Cheah, to find out what it’s like to play the divers who strive to piece together the parts of the puzzle, and Chio Su-Ping who plays one of the departed in rehearsals…
What is it like having to get into character as a diver in search of dead bodies?
Erwin: It’s like searching for my house cat that loves to hide when I’m in a rush to leave home. I can never leave home until I find him!
Ghazali: It’s a very interesting experience and as an actor, it’s a role that pushes me to understand what a diver in the search and rescue unit might be going through as they are sent to the Bedok Reservoir.
Did you find yourself getting freaked out at all?
Ghazali: Yes! The play does have its haunting and chilling element. Sometimes, I freak myself out when I analyse things too deeply.
John: Not really. Eugene appears to be really messed up as a person but I think we’re all pretty messed up in some small way or another. It’s interesting, because he’s just a person with flaws, and these flaws stem from very understandable things.
Chio: Nah, it’s essentially a story about people so the fact that half the characters are dead doesn’t really make a difference because they have feelings and comprehensible motives, just like the live characters.
It’s a pretty eerie subject, how do you convey that through your character?
Erwin: My character is not really bugged by the idea of ghosts. He’s pretty laid-back and so am I.
Ghazali: I try to convey honesty in my character and keep him as relatable for the audience even though my character has its comic moments during eerie times where situations get twisted.
Chio: I don’t think the story or the character is very eerie. But then I play a dead person. So maybe the fact that she’s dead is eerie enough and I don’t actually have to do very much else to make her spookier (I hope)? My character’s quite calm about things that ‘normal’ people wouldn’t be calm about. I think that’s quite eerie.
What have been the challenges you’ve faced with this production? And what do you love best about it?
Erwin: I’ve never been spiritually possessed and even if I ever was, I’m sure I wouldn’t have a single memory of it. This role for me is an exciting new challenge and I love an exciting new challenge.
John: Connecting the diver and the human. Eugene enters into a Limbo World and the human side, I imagine, would be freaking out but he’s here on a mission and that needs to come first. That’s a challenge among others!
Chio: The most interesting challenge has been to understand my character, Diane. She’s supposed to be mentally unstable, but as an actor, I guess you can’t do justice to a character if you slap a label on them– in this case, just attribute everything she says or does to her being nuts. It’s been interesting trying to understand why she killed herself and her son, and seeing how close we all are to being mentally unstable.
If you had to persuade audiences to come and see Bedok Reservoir what would you say?
Erwin: An actual suicide incident in Bedok Reservoir took place on September 13, 2012. Nine months BEFORE this incident, the stage reading of ‘Bedok Reservoir’ with similar information was performed. What are the odds?
Ghazali: Please come and support local independent theatre! It’s a fantastic play which I gurantee you will love and never forget.
Wesley: Please come and watch it! It’s a play about Bedok Reservoir! How bizarre is that!?? How could you miss it!?
Elina: Come lah! It’s a good story, we’ve got a great cast, we are an independent group that needs your support.
City Nomads is proud to be Official Media Partner for Bedok Reservoir, showing at the Goodman Arts Centre from Thursday 1st – Saturday 3rd November. Tickets costs $26. For more information, show times and to purchase tickets see here.
CITY NOMADS DISCOUNT We have a limited number of discounted tickets for the Saturday 3pm performance including some complimentary wine and pizza at Café Melba, all for only $23. To purchase these tickets see here.
