Media's very own columnist Jim Aitchison is enjoying similar success as Chris Kyme's acting debut in Glengarry Glen Ross' recent Hong Kong run. In between penning his books, Aitchison seamlessly morphed between man and beasts for a Singapore production of the George Orwell classic, Animal Farm. According to Aitchison, director Ivan Heng insisted on using body language to portray the animals . "No funny suits or amateur tricks like that," says Aitchison of the acting challenge of playing evil Farmer Jones, a pig executioner, a chicken, a glue factory man and an American ambassador who does a deal with the pigs at the end. "His actors could morph from a chicken to a horse just using their bodies and the audience instantly recognised them," he adds.
Now Heng and his ensemble have a clutch of awards from the Singapore Theatre Awards organised by Singapore Press Holdings and local bank DBS.
Aitchison adds: "I guess the walk to the stage to share an ensemble acting award was the last thing I ever imagined when I left Bateys six years ago...there is life after advertising."