The Swimming Instructor
Written by multi-award winning Singaporean writer, Desmond Sim, “The Swimming Instructor” has been staged thrice in Singapore with huge success, enjoying full houses throughout its run. For performing arts lover in Malaysia, you better start counting your luck as this sizzling poolside drama will finally making its grand entrande in Kuala Lumpur, starting 3rd to 13th December 2009.
The original stage version was held in Singapore starring MediaCorp TV actor Ix Shen and Emma Yong, who are no stranger in “Dim Sum Dollies.” KLPAC production directed by Christopher Ling will feature three new exciting faces and personalities. There are: Journalist/actor/blogger Niki Cheong; model/actress Davina Goh, as well as the multi-talented Michael Chen.
He may not be a familiar name on Malaysian soil, but playwright writer Desmond Sim has been pursuing an active career in the theatre and literary scene in Singapore for the past 20 years. To name a few, Desmond had co-written some of the critically-acclaimed films like “Beautiful Boxer” and the more recent “The Wedding Game” starring Fann Wong. His latest play simply titled “Manhood” was largely sold out when it opened at ACTION Theatre in Singapore.
During his recent visit to KL, Voize had the opportunity to grab hold of this versatile writer and have him share his opinion as a playwright and also about his new stage play in Malaysia – “The Swimming Instructor.” The following interview was done at the Precious Old China Café located at the Central Market.
____________________________________________________________
Loong Wai Ting tries to get the man talking
1. Hello, Desmond! Welcome and thank you for coming.
Hello. Thank you for seeing me.
2. So, Desmond. Tell us briefly about yourself, that others don’t know.
(Pauses for while) Well, I stumbled into playwriting by accident. It was really fun at first, reading foreign scripts and going to plays. I entered the National Short Play competition organised by SHELL-NUS just on a whim. Unfortunately I won a merit prize instead of the top three prizes. I did not give up just yet. Instead I bought the different winners’ scripts and tried picking up tips and insights into play-writing on my own. The next year, I entered two pieces in the same competition and my script won first and second place. It was a turning point in my life. I was offered the position as the first full-time playwright-in-residence in Singapore – just to write scripts for TheatreWorks for a year. And that’s how I stumbled into playwriting.
Singapore playwright, Desmond Sim
3. That’s great! Over the years you’ve written more than thirty theatre pieces. Which is the achievement that you are most proud of? 
My most recognised work was “Drunken Prawn”, which is studied in some schools today. It’s about family relationships and the generation gap we have today. It is also about finding a common level to communicate between generations. Another piece I am proud of is “Autumn Tom Yum,” which is about prejudices. That play won Play of the Year in the Life! Theatre Awards, as well as awards for Best Original Script and Best Supporting Actress.
4. Then what about your other play like “Manhood,” which was a sold-out as well?
“Manhood” is about the different men and the many different situations they find themselves in life. I wrote this play especially for and about everyday men. After the play, I was glad that women came to me and told me that this work has changed the way they see the men in their lives. The men also had a chance to laugh at themselves! (laughs)
5. Let’s talk about “The Swimming Instructor.” How would you describe the play?
“The Swimming Instructor” is a very simple modern day love triangle story. It is a hilarious and poignant tale about the undercurrents of love, lust and loss. It starts off with a girl coming from a dysfunctional family, a career driven executive who is disappointed in love, and a no-nonsense swimming instructor who teaches kids to swim at the public pools. I would say, the play is about the subtleties in relationships and love being an ambiguous thing. It’s about romance and anticipation – and this is precisely the thing that we somehow lack in our world of instant love and relationships today. This play is about a dance of courtship and trying to find true love.
6. Speaking about audiences, who should come to see “The Swimming Instructor?” Any specific age or group that this play is target for?
I think young people in and out of love will like this. And even older people who want to understand their young adult children – all should come see this play. It is an eye-opener for them. It’s definitely not a morality tale, but certainly a funny one.
7. What can the audiences expect to see or get at the end of the play?
(Pauses to think) I think people will like the humour the play projects. It’s very local… meaningful… and projects this sense of poignancy in life. Life is special. Relationships are special.
8. What about messages?
It’s definitely got to do with deeper connections with the people you care for.
9. Can you please describe to us the writing process for “The Swimming Instructor?” Was it harder to pen than most of your other playwrights?
(Writer’s note: I think I am giving a real hard time for Mr Desmond *grin*)
Hmm… Oh well, I used to swim laps at a public pool when I was younger, and I used to imagine what went on in the lives of the people I saw there. I would see people, and craft stories from the lives I imagined they had. At a deeper level, I loved the leveling effect the swimming pool has on us. Stripped of all our clothes and ornaments, we are just people with similar needs and feelings underneath it all. Then on the other hand, at the marketing level, the sexiness of a play with attractive actors in swimwear certainly doesn’t hurt ticket sales as well. Haha!
10. How would you compare “The Swimming Instructor” and your other works like “Manhood?”
I don’t really compare my works with one another. I see each play as a milestone in development for me as a writer. I never look back and compare. I am driven by this idea that I have not written my best piece yet. I’ll let the audiences and critics decide which pieces work best, and which are their favourites.
I hope Malaysian will like "The Swimming Instructor"
11. Where do you get all the inspirations from?
I get inspiration from all sorts of things. Scenes I happen to observe, conversations heard… young people bursting with energy…older folk spouting wisdom from experience… everyday life has become the source of my writing.
12. What are the challenges that you faced, while being a playwright? We’re looking into since you first started out and up till today.
We, in the theatre have always been challenged by the scarcity of support and funding. I am part of the second generation of playwrights in Singapore (the first “wave” was during the 60s and 70s) who started writing in the 80s. Since that time till now, theatre has always struggled to stay afloat. It is always a precarious venture. As a playwright, I sometimes try to help by minimizing the number of characters in a play. If you are skillful, you don’t need a huge cast to create riveting drama. Apart from that, the other challenge is in encouraging more people to participate in the theatre. To that end, there have been good programmes set up in the past two decades that teach the craft of playwriting. Many successful playwrights today started out through such public programs.
13. After “The Swimming Instructor,” what is your next project? Will we have the opportunity to see your new Peranakan exhibition?
(laughs) Yes, of course! In fact, my next Peranakan exhibition (painting) will open in Singapore on the 2nd of December. That’s one day before the opening of “The Swimming Instructor” in Malaysia. I have had more than 10 solo exhibitions of my paintings of nyonyas. So, after this, I’m going back to paint.
14. From what we saw online some samples of your Peranakan paintings, people love it for its vibrant colours and the story behind each of the paintings.
I think I am a very lucky person. I am so glad that people love and support my pieces.
15. All right. Any last messages that you hope to convey to your fans or the public?
I am thrilled to show my work here in Malaysia for the very first time. I really hope that Malaysians will truly enjoy “The Swimming Instructor”!
____________________________________________________________
“The Swimming Instructor” opens from 3rd to 13th December 2009 at Pentas 2, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac)
Ticket Price: RM 38, RM 28 (Senior Citizens)
: RM 23 (Students & The Disabled)
For more information, visit www.klpac.org
