And So it is Finished

RJGE Euphony is over.

It was an excellent night, a positively miraculous night. Preceded by two days of positively nerve-wracking (self-imposed and infectious) stress. But when the concert was started, and there was nothing left to do but to sit back and let it run, it was excellent. Memorable.

Heh, I told myself that I would never stage manage again, because it's too close to directing, and there are all sorts of moral issues about ownership that I haven't figured out yet, and anyway it's terrible if you don't have a good team to work with. So imagine my mix of resignation, anticipation and horror when I found myself sinking into that all-too-familiar role of shouting out stage directions and tech cues at anyone who would listen. And to have only 2 days to work out all the tech cues and scene changes is a nightmarish experience. Next year, whoever is stage manager-ing had better start sooner, to protect his or her own health =P

But it was miraculous, like I said...in the end, two hours before the start of concert, we did our first full run of the second half. And we finished our second tech run of the first half one hour before concert start time. Really hectic, really nerve-wracking, to think that the concert itself with be our first full run of the entire shebang. I was convinced that something would screw up. Nervousness and agitated energy when half an hour before curtain time, we were changing into that familiar all-black SYF attire. Then, giving last instructions on backstage behaviour, my mind suddenly blanked, and I hecked it and just told them to have fun out there. Sitting behind the curtains, expecting the tech to screw up any moment, and realising that in stage-manager-ing for 2 days, I hadn't had the chance to practice any of the pieces.

But when it actually began, it went surprisingly well. Tech didn't screw up majorly at all. Somehow, despite our very few tech runs, they managed to figure out most of the cues. At least they didn't switch on the wrong mikes or spotlight the stagehands or something. And that was miraculous, given the little practice they had, and the screwed up wiring for the PAC stage. Multimillion-dollar school, and they can't connect the right wires to the right port. Where the heck did all that money go to? The false facades?

Special mention must go to our team of stagehands, including Ming Yong. Heh, it was hilarious to realise that he was stage-hand-ing for us. And the entire team was so hyped up for the two days of tech rehearsals, practically storming across the stage setting up chairs, footstools, music stands, amps, drums and more with precision timing. Heck, these stagehands are better than any props crew I've ever worked with =P All the Guitarists were really impressed...I was about to try to persuade them to work for us forever =P

I found myself gripped with stage fright when the curtains finally opened. Partly worrying about the tech, whether the hanging condensers they so nicely put up for us (originally wanted to use normal condensers, but the sound quality was so bad that I think the tech head had pity and decided to hang the powerful mikes, which was a real boon for us) would actually work, partly realising I was onstage without rehearsals in 2 days, and with a guitar that I borrowed from Ben and had not played on before to boot. First time that has happened...every time before, could draw comfort from the 50 people around me. So the first three big ensemble pieces, I fumbled through, trying not to hit the wrong strings.

Anyway, playing the pieces, changing quickly, then standing backstage behind the two really smooth MCs we got this year, Monish and Esther, watching as tech, stagehands, performers and MCs worked together and flowed through the concert. Mixed feelings, I guess...partly wanted to take over the cueing from the AV tech, but then I know that that would have been a mistake, because AV is a self-contained unit, and they work best with each other. Anyway, part of leadership, it is important to remember, is that you have to trust your teammates to be able to do the jobs you give them. So there was worry, lingering, but also pride, that they could work together so smoothly. It really is quite remarkable how everything fit in, given the really little time we had to tech run the concert. Seeing everything flow smoothly helped to steady my nerves, I think =P

So after that, could perform better. So Nice was really nice, according to the audience =P The dialogue bits that I had to add in actually came out alright, I think...something happens when you start to enjoy the stage, suddenly you can do all sorts of superconscious things, like talking and keeping a rhythm simultaneously. Hehheh, anyway, I really liked So Nice. Really fun to play on stage, with all the gags that we built in, and anyway, throughout SYF, then Camp, then Euphony, the comm really has drawn together. What better thing is there than to appear on a stage with a group of great performers that also happened to be your friends?

Ah...the Exco...a brilliant bunch of people to work with. For these two weeks, I've been looking forward to our draggy concert planning meetings, because they are a really nice change from Humans people. It's refreshing...I'll miss the feeling of working with such frank, unassuming people, especially when Term 3 starts and I'll have no official excuse to work with them anymore. We grew on each other, I guess, from the time last year when we took over. I think the comm really blossomed this year, when we suddenly found ourselves without the need to assiduously pander to school formalities. Last year, we were too bogged down by bureaucratic admin issues to actually do anything big. This year, freed from such unnecessary obligations, we had SYF, a Camp, and a concert. It's brilliant to see us all suddenly taking up the challenge, and handling it so coherently too.

Anyway. Back to the concert...the last few songs. Now I felt better, now that the first half had gone off without big hitches, and the two high-tech groups, the Rock Performance (that sounded brilliant, and the crowd loved it) and Hotel California (that sounded brilliant too...and I loved it as much as the crowd, was humming the riffs backstage even as we were straightening out an emergency chair shortage =P) had happened smoothly. And Quien Sera is just a fun song to play...you get to whack away at the guitar with easy rhythms and chords. And the finale was really quite moving. I never paid much attention to the lyrics before, but when I heard Chern and Terence singing it last night, it suddenly hit me, the significance of You Raise Me Up as the last song the Main Ensemble would play together. Looking around at all the faces of the Guitarists, so solemn and intense (but you guys really should smile more =P), and suddenly was filled with pride. These are the Guitarists.

And I daresay that we actually got a real encore, originating from the front of the audience. Or if it was a plant, then a Junior Ensemble person had infiltrated himself well =P Anyway, was really quite a shock, because once the first call for encore rang out, suddenly the whole auditorium dissolved into calls and cheers. I was worried that things would get awkward, like at the HC concert, but this was one last nice surprise for the night (the others being the miraculous appearance of our brilliant banner outside the PAC, put there by the JE, and the miracle of the tech). And so we played for the last time, the last official song of the RJGE Main Ensemble 2004-5: Yesterday Once More.

When the curtains slipped close, there was a strange mix of emotions. Relief that the concert had finally ended, and without hitches. Pride that everyone, the comm, the performers, the stagehands, the tech crew, the MCs, had managed to pull it off so smoothly. And a profound sadness, because I had known that Euphony was the last official event for my batch, but I hadn't allowed myself to think about it before that last moment on stage.

It really is quite sad, that Guitar has come to an end. I'm going to miss the trainings every Tue, Wed and Sat. Life is going to seem so aimless now that all those short-term goals have been cleared, and all that's left to work towards is ephemeral and distant. For all the rough patches last year, this year has really seen RJGE blossom into something great, something memorable. I know I'm getting sentimental, but bear with me a bit. Yes...a lot of people have born with me for a long time in Guitar too =P It's an incredible feeling, to feel like you're part of something greater, that you've made a difference to something that will outlast your tenure in the school. The only thing now is that I hope each and every Guitarist also feels the same way. That we've made a difference to the Ensemble. That we've transformed it into something that belongs to us. Together. And that this difference will persist. I only hope that it has been as enriching for everyone else as it has been for me.

Anyway, with the curtains closing and the house lights coming up, I couldn't resist anymore. The stage burst out into cheers, and what euphoria. For all the good memories of CHS EDrama, I daresay we never felt so high after a performance before. I think it's partly because Drama is really more exhausting. A flurry of hugs and handshakes and photo takings, mingling with the crowd, getting a mound of flowers (heh, exaggeration for effect). My thanks to Yvonne, YS, Grace and Yiting for coming for the performance. It was a real pleasure to see everyone there. But yea...it was a real happy feeling. We had pulled it off. Our tenure of RJGE had culminated with this successful concert. There was a feeling of completion.

And so that is finished. I don't really know what I feel right now. I suppose Guitar will become a memory as strong and as precious as EDrama. I reckon that any CCA that I join from now on will be hard pressed to beat these two great experiences. All in all, it has doubtlessly been an enriching experience. And our time is coming to an end. But perhaps there is some hope that this will not be the end, but the beginning of a different kind of membership. At any rate, I will remember Guitar, for all that we've been through. I hope everyone will upload photos. I'll be waiting for them, and the great notes I got yesterday, and my guitar, my footstool, my scores, to keep me company in the days ahead.

Rock on Guitarists.

And thank you.

pondered by phoenican @ 18.5.05