February 1998

It all began with singing

Ada to Man Wai's musical odyssey

by Chloe Chan

After completing Form 7, Ms Ada To Man Wai did summer work for the Cultural Unit of Radio Television Hong Kong. She was then invited to be a full-time presenter and producer for RTHK. She has composed two musicals, Forever Yours and Snow White. She has also been the lead characters in two stage plays, That’s Entertainment and My Fair Lady.

I composed my first song when I was in Primary 6, ’ said Ada To, who added she has been a music enthusiast since she was a child.

“I love singing very much. I learned playing the guitar just because I wanted to play the guitar to accompany myself when singing.

“As I didn’t want to sing other people’s songs, I composed the songs for myself.

“When I was in Form 3, I learned playing the piano. But I did not study for a very long time — just enough to help me compose songs was okay.”

The piano is Ada’s partner. When she is having trouble sleeping, she plays to pass the time.

Although her songs were not very mature or professional at first, she still thinks she had a great start in music.

By Forever Yours, Ada was awarded the fifth Best Original Music of Hong Kong
sic.

By Forever Yours, Ada was awarded the fifth Best Original Music of Hong Kong Drama Award. Her talent was assured.

Said she: “I was very happy because it was my first attempt to write a musical. Musicals are the kind of music format I like most. I was longing to write my own musicals.”

It was not until the coming of Phantom of the Opera that Hong Kong people knew more about musicals and operas. Plugging songs from musicals is difficult in Hong Kong.

Ada said, “Hong Kong people may be scared by the words ‘musical’ or ‘opera’ because they are not familiar with them. They might conceive them to be very artistic or difficult to understand.

“Hong Kong has lagged behind in this respect when compared to foreign countries. For instance, Phantom of the Opera and Cats originated in the ’70s. They have been running for many years. But it was only few years ago that Hong Kong people could see them.

“For a musical to succeed, it must be easily accepted and understood. So the songs of musicals or operas are not so complicated.

“My short-term goal is to continue to compose more good songs. I am now working on my third musical. After finishing all the songs, I will ask a repertory to perform it.”

But being a disc jockey is the most suitable job for her, Ada said.

“Being a disc jockey, I can expose myself to music all the time. Sometimes, I have to introduce classical music to the audience. Then I collect some information or read some books about it. I am very interested in it.

“Besides, some listeners phone me to comment on my performance right after the programme. I get their feedback immediately.

“I also enjoy the close relationships with the listeners. Some listeners tell me a lot about themselves, though we haven’t met each other before. The feeling is so special.”

Last year, Ada was invited by Spring Company to act in the musical That’s Entertainment.

She said, “When I was in secondary school, I loved to see stage plays very much. I wanted to experience the feeling of being onstage.

“I was very happy and excited at that time. It was so fresh to me. But I was worried that I could not do well.

“A musical demands a lot of mental and physical effort. We may need to rehearse 3 months for a 2-hour play. Also, there are many things to be remembered, such as rhythm, music, lyrics and positions.

“Though it was harder than being a disk jockey, it was worthwhile.

“Onstage, I can be whom I cannot be in reality. That is most enjoyable thing for me. In My Fair Lady, I sell flowers and I scold person on the street. I would never do that in reality.”

In That’s Entertainment, Ada picked up enough experience to improve her stage performance.

She said, “I was not very satisfactory with my performance in That’s Entertainment. Because everything was so unfamiliar to me, I needed some time to adapt.

“Luckily, there were many people who taught me how to act.

“But in My Fair Lady, the whole feeling was better. My confidence had built up. Maybe the character of the ‘fair lady’ is like me; it was easier for me to handle.”

Ada is optimistic about the prospects for stage plays in Hong Kong.

She said, “I think the stage play (as an art form) in Hong Kong is developing gradually.

“In the past, the scope of people who saw drama was very limited. Every time I went to see a drama, I would meet nearly all the same people.

“The profile of the audience is expanding. If more people come to see them, more repertoires can be produced.”