Beryl, 20, was last seen in the 1993 De La Salle musical depicting the life of St. John Baptist De La Salle, founder of St. John’s and La Salle schools. From 1987-1991, Beryl acted in and directed approximately eight plays, two of which were inter-school plays, for her former school, SM Convent Sentul.  The Mourning After has given her a deeper understanding of issues such as abortion and peer pressure.

“I’ve put a lot of energy and emotion into ‘becoming’ Hope - in the last few months. Hope’s disillusionment and bitter frustration have also become my own,” Beryl says.

“Playing a dead person who wanders amidst the living has made me think. Can the dead actually hear us and see us?  It’s a scary thought.”

“You rule your own life.  No one can control your thinking, only you can.  Everyone has a mind of his/her own - if you allow something to happen to you, it will.”

Benedict, 18, describes the character he portrays as being an “insensitive, male egoistic pig."  Benedict, a law student, has taken the 'bad guy, good guy and stupid guy' roles in the few pageant plays he has been involved in since 1989.  On life – Benedict dislikes the fact that he has to face situations that he would rather avoid and he feels that he grew up before his time.

“I got into things relatively younger than others,” Benedict says.  “Also, I love playing rugby.  It’s most exciting having people on the other side of the team trying to kill you…and you’re just running.”

“Dead people do hear what you say and pregnant girlfriends can be a pain!"

Kennedy, who has significant experience in professional theatre and drama, co-wrote the script for The Mourning After along with Richard and Simone.  Kennedy, 23, took on his first major role in the musical drama, Franigo In The New Horizon.  In 1993, he challenged himself with De La Salle – in which he was actor, lyricist, publicity and sound and lights person.  Kennedy was also seen in Pieces, I Remember The Resthouse and Left Luggage/One By One, a series of monologues which was staged recently in May 1995.

“I’m observing the development of The Mourning After for future productions,” he says.

“I’ve had no striking experience yet, except that April has struck me a few times.”

“Just when you think you know everything, you suddenly realise you know less.”

“the bottom line is that it’s another life.  If you consider a foetus as a life, every life has a right to live.”

Anita who is also the Assistant Producer feels deeply and emotionally for The Mourning After.  Anita, 22, acted in three plays in Church during her teens. She stresses the need to fight consumerism and aims to continue working for the Church.

“We have a very strong message to relay – essential points that require projection, especially in our community,” says Anita.

“If we don’t do something about it, chances are, no one else will.  We just want to help make this world a better place.

I wish to live a simple life, because Christ lived a simple life,” says Anita.

“I love waking up at six in the morning, only to see that it’s raining…and I can go back to bed!”

It has been nearly 10 years since Kieran’s last theatrical experience. Kieran played the lead in a 1987 Christmas Eve pageant play, prior to which he was seen in 'The Hunter,' his 1977 kindergarten concert!  Kieran 24, stresses the importance of the themes (abortion, consumerism, peer pressure, promiscuity) addressed in the play.

“Everyone seems to say, ‘It’s happening everywhere, it’s normal, what to do?’ And then, we keep quiet.  That should not be!  We should do something.”

“it makes life a lot less confusing.”

“I actually apologised to the pillar and kissed it ‘cos I didn’t mean to vandalise!”

The Morning After is 10-year-old Joanne’s first acting experience.

Joanne, a Standard 4 student is pleased to be labelled the smallest, shortest and timidest actress in the play because she thinks it will make her more noticeable.
 

Paul Antony’s last theatrical involvement was with The British Council Hall in 1965. He describes The Mourning After as a good lesson about AIDS.

The play tells us that we should avoid prostitution and that we should be faithful to our spouses,” says Paul, 60.

“Let it be banned, for it causes the killing of an innocent life while still in the womb.”

April, a student with Dance Art Ballet Academy, intends to build a dynamic career in dancing.  April acted and danced in Good Shepherd Church plays from 1987-1991. Her last involvement was in De La Salle.

April 22, labels love as the most overrated virtue around.

“Everyone keeps saying ‘I love you,’ but when it comes to making sacrifices, there is no action, let alone love.”

“I enjoy dancing thoroughly as it makes my worries fade away – it’s something that’s within me,” April says.

“It was a striking and fulfilling experience working with children, although it can sometimes be exasperating,” says April who is obsessed with height (her preferred height – 5’ 10”)

Raymond, 16, is glad to be involved in The Mourning After.

“I was pleasantly surprised with the issues brought up in the play.

The rising level of major problems such as abortion and sexual promiscuity deserve sufficient interest because these are the main issues destroying the lives of many people – especially teenagers like me.”

Carolina, 22, believes that Kelly in The Mourning After is important as the voice of reason.

“I portray Kelly as a down-to-earth person with strong, positive opinions on pre-marital sex and consumerism.” she says.

“I don’t like the helplessness of not being able to do enough for them,” she says.

“People shouldn’t be so comfortable in life when their neighbours are so chronically poor.

“It’s the strongest influence on people, whether young or old.  Hence, we must be strong enough to make up our minds for ourselves.

Consider suggestions, but don’t ever feel pressured into doing something you know you shouldn’t.”

Denise, 16, learnt through the play that committing suicide is not the way to solve a problem like Hope’s.  A prefect in her school, Denise acted in school plays prior to The Mourning After.

“Just last week I caught a girl in school for having long fingernails and ordered her to cut them off,” she said.  “After that, I felt bad because I know how it feels to have long nails,” further adding that she can sometimes get very vain.  “The play has made me see that showing off will get me nowhere.”

“I now realise the importance of sincere friendships,” says Denise.  “Nowadays, its hard finding a friend you can trust.

I also know how easy it is to get an abortion – you can get it done anywhere.  People don’t care about the lives of babies anymore.”

“I was down with mumps.  I’m lucky I caught it before the real play took off,” she says.

For Ann Marie, 19, the most important issue brought forth in The Mourning After is the instability and immaturity evident in countless ‘boy-girl relationships’.

“Let’s just take a look around – teenagers jump from one relationship to another without even a blink of the eye” she says.

“It’s going on everywhere. Youths must learn that there is more to relationships than just fun and games.”

“Sadly, it’s only when something unwanted happens that we open our eyes,” she says.

“Must we actually wait for a disaster before doing the right thing?”

This is a new experience for Paul, who labels himself a "smart-alec".

“The play has given me a new thinking perspective and an awareness of the topics addressed,” says Paul, 21.

“Young people should try to overcome peer pressure to avoid the snares of consumerism.  I’m a bit of a scrooge, and basically old-fashioned too, so consumerism’s not a problem for me.”

“It really is up to each generation to educate the young,” he says.

Chris’s distinct talent lies in his powerful singing and songwriting skills. Chris, who will turn 21 in November, was a songwriter and an actor in De La Salle.

His acting experience includes the Lenten Campaign Video ‘Who Cares?’ and the Radio Pendidikan show.  Chris sang and acted in the musical drama, Franigo In The New Horizon, and has produced one Easter play.  He was also the winner of the Inter-School Catholic Society “Songwriter” competition.

He says, “The Mourning After is a noble effort.  We are putting a message out and, hopefully, we will pull on some heartstrings.

I am totally pro-life and I’ve always wanted a baby.”

“I hope to be a rock star one day.  I want millions of beautiful women to be crawling at my feet,” he says jokingly.

“After this play is over, I’d like to catch up in some sleep.”

The Mourning After

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