This year, our Cornerstone Productions team put up MIRRORLAND, an original 30-minute, one-act play, which explores the idea of identity and purpose.
Written and co-directed by Joseph Kalai, and directed by Jeremy Joseph, it is a fascinating story at more than one level, and was a treat to watch during the Resurrection weekend (30-31 March).
Elisa, a stay-home mother (played by Lina Ng), steps into a Hall of Mirrors and meets Zoltar, the owner of the attraction (played by Victor Yoong). He takes her on a journey of self-discovery, telling her to look into the mirrors named VANITY, FORTUNE and POWER, and ask “Who am I?”
In turn, the mirrors offer unbelievable promises of fame, riches, and power, if she would buy in to them.
Carrying Your Mirror in Your Hand
In MIRRORLAND, an old, ignored mirror named TRUTH catches the protagonist’s attention by humming and speaking words of wisdom to awaken her each time she is dazed by the images of the other mirrors. Elisa eventually discerns and recognises TRUTH’s voice.
The lesson in MIRRORLAND is relevant to everyone across generations who holds a modern mirror, the smartphone, in our hands today. Every day, we are bombarded by different voices of influence that promise us health and wealth. Some draw us to be like them.
MIRRORLAND leaves us thinking about what images we are allowing to lull us, and which voices have underscored our identity and worth. Has our identity been primarily founded on the Word of God?
A Project of Firsts
Behind the scenes, MIRRORLAND was also a milestone for some of the production’s cast and crew.
For Lina Ng, a well-established Mandarin television actress and local celebrity, this was her first main role in a stage play, and an evangelistic one too! Lina brought with her a wealth of experience, a tremendous humble, learning attitude and camaraderie.
For Victor, who last appeared in our 2017 Christmas production ‘Snowglobed’, Zoltar’s smooth-talking and schmooze was a total opposite to who Victor is in real life!
The Experiential Installation
Six baroque mirror frames with acrylic mirrors were set up at our third floor Foyer. On each mirror were questions, “Who am I?”, “Are you rich enough?”, “What labels do you wear?” This installation was created to get our guests thinking about how they perceived their identity.
A Harvest of Souls!
Coming out of the pandemic, we hosted smaller Resurrection weekend services in 2022 and 2023. But it’s been five years since we put up a Good Friday Service, and it was such a joy to give out a record of 177 welcome packs.
Of the 71 people who prayed to receive salvation or to rededicate their lives to Christ, six of these decisions were made in the Next Steps Lounge after the service.
We give thanks and all glory to God for every life that was won for Him, for every seed that was sown, and for His faithfulness to us!
History of the Mirror
The word “mirror” derives from the French “mirour,” and from the Latin “mirari”, meaning “to admire”.
From time immemorial, we’ve been fascinated by our own image, for practical reasons, for identity or vanity:
In the world of literary fiction, Aesop told of a dog who lost his bone to its reflection in the river; Lewis Carroll’s Alice stepped through “the Looking Glass” (1871) to connect with a dream world; Snow White’s stepmother leaned on her mirror for daily assurance of her worth. Once a polished metal that reflected blurred images (from 2900 B.C. right till the 1700s), the mirror has evolved to become a tool for inspection and clear self-examination in our modern world.
The Apostle Paul was alluding to this analogy when he penned 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
Interestingly, the Bronze Laver which Moses made for the Tabernacle (1450 BC) was crafted from bronze mirrors offered by the “women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” (Exodus 38:8) The Levite priests could use these highly-prized possessions when they washed and cleansed themselves for their service.
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