Boy Boy 20th Birthday Bash~

                                                          My King Richard cake ~


               This is my Boy Boy 20th Birthday Cake. He seems very happy today! The cake cost RM200++, very expensive~ By the way, thanks to all guest and friends who attend my Boy Boy Birthday ya!



Happy Birthday Richard, mommy loves you!!

Review of Emily of Emerald Hill

                   The plot revolves around a woman named Emily as she grows from a young girl into an old woman. The themes that are highlighted include women against men, society and women in a family. Emily was a mother who by a series of schemes rose from a lowly second wife to the family matriarch. So Emily who knew in such a society, she would definitely be below a man in terms of status, began to take care of every need. A notable incident would be when she chose and took care of the schooling arrangements and another clear one is where she makes every single decision for her children. She does not give a choice and forces Richard to give up taking care of horses to study in a university which in the end results in him committing suicide. This can be seen as a sign of escape from his mother's scheming as she feeds him, clothes him and takes care of his every need in life. Yet later, she realises her mistake and begins to make suggestions in the hope of bringing the family back together but fails.

                  This theme is conveyed strongly through a series of events ending with Richard's death and also when she just suggests that her daughter spend more time with the man she wants to marry. Emily was a lowly second wife with no maid of her own at the start. She learned that power lay with the matriarch of the family and earned her favour. Eventually, Emily takes care of every need for her husband. When her husband starts to live with a mistress, Emily makes it inconvenient by tossing a few comments in her face. Emily also continues to take care of his food but does not let him divorce her as he wishes. This is because Emily feels she has not done anything wrong and will not give him the satisfaction of a divorce. And then, during a dinner to celebrate the end of the Occupation, she brings all his clothes back 2 days before it starts from the house of his mistress. After that, he never saw his mistress again but he began to gamble and lose a lot of money, eventually dying in the hospital and refusing to see his wife. She won the conflict yet lost her husband. Society commands that women obey their husbands and she does so but twists it by forcing him to obey her will because of his dependency. The actor was also very versatile and was acclaimed as a good actor. Margaret Chan could suit the various ages used and expressed the emotions well. Stage lights start out focused on Emily and slowly spreads to the rest of the set. The focus hints at the focus on Emily. In act 2, the main stage is dark with low lights on acting area. Later Emily enters and this shows the focus on her and that the rest of the characters are less important. The stage grows dark with the light on her when she reflects on her past. This creates a atmosphere with tension as it leaves the watcher wondering why is there such a focus. In the end, the lights go out as she begins to talk to Richard, her dead son. Overall, the entire culture of Nonyas has been transcribed into this play. The themes have also been portrayed clearly and the play is a touching one, showing the struggle of a woman against society and man for her family. The play has a convincing actors with lighting that is used well. The play is quite a success, in other words.