| |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SINGAPORE : For all the ladies and self-assured men out there, if you think you know all there is and have what it takes to be a man these days, ACTION Theatre’s latest comedy “Manhood” might just change that.
Integrating several tales about different men, their manhood and the things that they don’t talk about with women, the play aims to dispel all pre-conceived notions about the male psyche and demonstrate what being a man is really all about.
Channelnewsasia.com got beneath the skin of playwright, Desmond Sim, director Samantha Scott-Blackhall together with cast members Lim Yu-Beng, Claude Girardi and Dwayne Tan to find out more.
“Every guy I know, empathise and sympathise with - in this day and age of liberated women - inspired me. It’s not about whether it’s better to be a guy or a girl, it’s just an honest look at what it sometimes mean to be a guy in the world today,” said Sim on what inspired him to write “Manhood.”
Describing the pertinent issues that men face, Sim added, “There are so many forces tugging at men today. From issues of sexuality, shifting images of sexuality, the somewhat dated and faded of machismo and what replaces that.”
Director and rose among the thorns, Blackhall revealed that after spending much time with the mainly male cast, she has come to appreciate that “being a man is just as hard as being a woman these days.”
“The significant difference is that not only do men have to deal with their own problems but their world is also compromised by how the woman in their lives are feeling! Men also suffer the fate of extreme 'stereotyping'. It seems ‘being a man’ means being macho, being slobby, being unemotional,” said Blackhall, admitting that she did not know many men who belong to the above categories.
Sharing similar sentiments is cast member Tan who felt the most difficult aspect of being a man was the need to live up to society’s expectations where they are supposed to be household breadwinners, liking women or better drivers.
While it may all seem overwhelming to deal with, Tan offered some insight into how men cope. “Guys in this day and age actually have the potential to be who they want to be. The modern man is pushing boundaries and breaking stereotypes. Some men believe staying single is the key to happiness, while others believe that having a sculpted body defines them. Whatever he needs to cope with comes from how he defines himself.”
Cast mate Girardi said that having self-assurance is necessary. “It can be the way you dress, excessive body hair, love of sports, being male is all about what you think makes you male and a guy needs to be self-assured and stand by his choice.”
Avoiding being stereotyped aside, men also have a whole lot of other issues to deal with as the other actors can attest. Actor Lim has always been annoyed by the fact that he can never find clothes his size.
“It happens because I am not built like how the clothes makers imagine most men are built, so I can never get anything decent. I have bought clothes from the ladies' department, or the teens' department before. In fact one of my favourite pieces of clothing comes from the latter,” lamented Lim.
Girardi’s problem is one that plagues most men. The hirsute actor often has to shear, wax and shave off his body hair, all for the sake of art. He divulged, “Unfortunately my body isn't too comfortable with this arrangement and every time my thick course hair is waxed, tweezed, shaved or plucked from my body, I develop a nasty rash!” He blamed today’s trend of being smooth and clean for him having to often put up with “the dreaded waxing salon for a two-hour pain session.”
Locker room talk is an activity that most men don’t shy away from. Lim explained that guys indulged in it as it’s about “the joy of being male without apologies!”
“Perhaps it has got something to do with everything and anything guys can say about women while they aren't around,” said Tan.
Agreed Girardi, “The locker room is quite the private place! It's where guys let it all hang out physically and metaphorically. Of course this is if a guy’s best buddies are around and it's an appropriate time for a heart to heart. When a guy is with friends and feels secure I think the locker room becomes a sort of men's club in a way, where guys can talk about almost anything. I think the locker room just becomes a greater metaphor for security and guys, just like girls, need to feel secure too!”
"Manhood" runs from September 9-19 at ACTION Theatre's The Room Upstairs.
- CNA/il
|
