Milestone reached ... 10,000 views !!! Thanks guys !!!

10,000 views !!!! Wow wow wow … I cannot believe that my blog will actually hit 10,000 views since my first post on 5^th December 2011. Thank you all for reading my reviews and previews. I shall strive to work harder on this blog. My next milestone … 20,000 views !!! J

Please Tie Me Up !! My review of Michael Chiang's High Class.

Review of Michael Chiang’s High Class by The Presenting Company

I was rather disappointed with “High Class.” Why? I had bought a pair of Stall Tickets but then just before the show, there were some Circle Ticket holders being upgraded to Stall seats. I guess the matinee show … second last day of the run … tickets were not selling well. But then … grr … never ever happened to any other shows I have been to .. matinee or not .. even on last day !!! (Just a small irritation). What irked me more was that maybe I was unlucky to attend the show when they were two alternates. Both Elizabeth Lazan and Siti Khalijah were replaced. All through my blog you can see how much I like Siti’s acting .. and she was one of the main reasons I bought tix to High Class .. but little did I know … strike Toto also not so lucky. I think they should put up on the Sistic website when the members of the cast are going to be not acting then the audience will buy tickets on the dates accordingly. All these left a bad taste in my mouth as the show started.

Now .. onto the show. It was a single set show … with the ingenious use of a rotating “stage” on the stage. This “stage” was used as a bedroom, “stage” and also a seating area in Sentosa Cove. The storyline to High Class is a very simple one .. 5 girls wrongly selected to be groomed to be Tai-tais in a new reality TV show. The show is to be hosted by an obscenely rich former Tai-tai. The show was sabotaged by her ex and new lover .. which goes all wrong and bites the new lover … ex realises .. dumps new lover .. suddenly many suitors turn up for the Tai-tai. What about the 5 contestants? They all decide which millionaire they want to marry after being groomed. Anyone expecting a twist to the end or more depth would be disappointed. I feel that this play is more suited for an audience seeking to enjoy 2 hours of slapstick laughter. The jokes were mainly based on the “actions” and “accents” of the 5 contestants rather than witty lines. The first half of the show was pretty slow and thin .. the second half of the show was slightly better.

To me, there were two things which kept the show above water. Firstly was Nikki Muller .. 2^nd was the music.  High Class had a cast of more than 10 members. The 5 contestants were just average with Audrey Luo providing some laughs as Ye Feng. I have seen Mina Kaye do better in other shows and Serene Ho was just downright over-acting ! As for Gloria Tan who played the role of Azizah, she was trying so hard to be Siti Khalijah. I could just picture Siti fitting into the role so naturally and I bet the lines and acting were based on Siti’s strengths.  Sorry Gloria, no offence but there is only ONE Siti Khalijah. I can also assume that Elizabeth would have been a better fit for the role of Sunita. As for all the other cast members, they were there, did their stuff but nothing really memorable. Nikki Muller … this is the first time she has gone on stage.. but SHE WAS GOOD. Her stage presence was strong and her singing, wonderful. Her acting and singing really blew everyone else out of the water. Not only was she head and shoulders over the others (literally .. she is tall!!) but the others were not even on the same planet !!! You could really picture her as this ex-tai tai .. with her poise and elegance. When she sang, it was with heartfelt emotions and confidence. She looked like she had been doing this for years !!

The music for High Class was arranged and composed by Mr Don Richmond (who so happens to be my ex-classmate in SJI). The tunes were catchy and fitting. The ‘tai tai me up’ song is still playing in my head and the ‘end of school’ number was rather Grease-esque.

As High Class’s run ended yesterday, this review will not serve much but solely MY opinion of the show.  High Class, to me is not a show I will watch more than once (unless I want to see Nikki Muller again) … I was honestly quite tempted to leave halfway … but then thankfully, I stayed on … it was enjoyable (towards the end) and quite ok. I guess my earlier grouses (see first paragraph) kinda tainted my experience. But isn’t that theatre … a culmination of all the senses into a wonderful experience? Sorry not here …

Do we HAVE a National Costume? ... my review on Wild R!ce's Cook a Pot Of Curry (Gala Nite!!)

Photo credits to Wild R!ce

Poignant, funny, thought provoking, melancholy, real, crude, melodic, serious, patriotic, sad, daring, REALity … these are some of the words which pop up in my mind when I am trying to describe Wild Rice’s “Cook a Pot of Curry (CPC).” It is all those and more wrapped up in many, many small little segments on a simple but effective stage. In CPC the focus was on the message … and not the petty distractions. The message was clear .. the acting was good ... the words used .. excellent. I must really comment Alfian Sa’at for his literary genius which gave us CPC. It is so real and yet he puts it across so clearly but yet hits you hard. He is able to think beyond the layers and show us the truth. As each segment ended, I found myself nodding in agreement to the message and how we must do something .. or understand ourselves better.

I caught CPC on Saturday night. Thanks to H for the wonderful tickets on Gala Opening Nite.  The guests were required to dress in “National Costume” … hardly anyone did !! When I got into the auditorium, I was facing this 3D-esque stage with cubes and lit only in white.  The play started out with the re-enactment of the scene between the Chinese and the Indian couple about the now notorious Pot of Curry !! .. after that the action came thick and fast … segment after segment. Each segment was couple of minutes long, having someone talk about the biggest issue which we face in Singapore today – new migrants / PRs . There were people from both sides of the divide in terms of nationality and social class. PRs, new citizens, Indonesians, domestic workers, taxi drivers (the best segment), yoga instructor, actress, Indians, Malays and more all had their few minutes. All acted out by the 6 actors and actresses.

Photo credits to Wild R!ce

The acting was good. The actors generally played their roles well … considering that each actor had many varied roles to play – varied Nationalities, race and profession. However, the one actor that stood out for me was Najib Soiman. I felt that he had that added oomph in his acting and he delivered his lines with conviction – like he believed in them. But maybe it was just that I could connect better with his segments.  However some of the accents were a bit lacking, especially the Phillipino one. It was not exactly there. Also, the facial expressions were also not very strong at certain segments. I am just nit-picking but I feel that the actors must really show that they belief in their message.

Directing was by Glen Goei so we know what to expect. Like I mentioned earlier, the key was the message. Glen made use of the simple set and just played with lighting to maintain the audience’s focus on the actors. Effective use of slides gave the stage some color and broke the monotony. I think the timing of the lighting and slide transitions were excellent.

Overall, Cook a Pot of Curry is a great way to kickstart the Alfian Sa’at “festival” as it shows the how brilliant this man is. CPC is a must see for all. Do not expect a typical play by Wild Rice. It has no real storyline where there is a plot with ups and downs followed by a happy ending. Do not expect tons of wild laughter … as this is no story .. this is reality!! We have always been fooled by the ‘story’ … read to us many, many times in school and through campaigns and policies … when are we going to realise that we must challenge the ‘story’. Let Cook a Pot of Curry touch your patriotic soul as it has for me .. when the laughter has ended .. we have to face reality.  Majulah Singapura.

Preview : Everything But the Brain by Jean Tay .... presented by Sight Lines Productions

It has barely been 2 months since Edges the Musical (early April 2013) and they are already advertising their next show, “Jean Tay’s Everything But the Brain.”  or EBtB for short. This play was first staged in 2005 and again in 2007, each time to sold out runs. However, 2012 is the Sight Lines version of EBtB. It also garnered two awards in the 2006 ST Life! Theatre awards for Best Original Script and Best Actor – Gerald Chew. GUESS WHAT … Gerald will be back .. reprising his role in the 2012 edition as well !! Woo Hoo !!

Sight Lines’s dynamic duo of Derrick and Engie will be directing and producing EBtB respectively. The cast of the show seems like a good mix of veteran actors in Gerald, Koh Wan Ching and Edward Choy. I last saw Gerald Chew in 2012’s W!ld Rice production of Romeo and Juliet. The young actors are Faizal Abdullah, Amanda Tee (last saw her in Boom … pls read my review of Boom for more information) and Cassandra Spykerman (related to Rebecca and Kimberly Spykerman). I love to see mix of veteran and young actors together. The balanced, steadiness of the veterans together with the exuberant, eagerness of the young stars always provide for good viewing.

“My brain tells me it will be better to just let him go. My heart... not so much.”

Author Unknown

It was about one year ago that I caught Jean Tay’s Boom also presented by Sight Lines. I can still remember the stage set for Boom and being completely in awe of it. However, what I remembered the most was the storytelling. The way the message was delivered to the audience. Boom was a relatively serious play (it had its funny moments) with a very powerful message .. about home and family and clinging to the past. From what I read in the EBtB synopsis, I can tell that there is a powerful lesson within which we have to face and learn. Under Derrick and Engie, I am pretty sure there will be plenty of light moments to keep the audience ‘awake.’ As I have always said, Sight Lines is a production house which focuses on the minor details which make the whole play and experience for the senses. You not only see and hear the actors, but you can feel the atmosphere via clever and non-distracting stage sets, excellent sounds and effect. All may seem minor but they bring enable the audience to better experience the play rather than just be present at a “play reading” session with some acting in between.

Again guys .. if you missed Boom last year… make sure you do not miss Eveything But the Brain. If you have watched anything produced by Sight Lines … you will know the high quality production that you will be getting … for those who are Sight Lines ‘Virgins’ .. you must catch this to see what they are capable of. Great work Engie and Derrick !! Keep it up and All the Best !! Stay tuned for my review ….

 

Dates & Timings: 10 – 11 August 2013, 16 – 21 August 2013

 No show on Mon

Tues – Fri: 8pm

Sat & Sun: 3pm & 8pm

Venue: DBS Arts Centre, Home of SRT

Ticket Prices: $35 - $55

Prices exclude $3 SISTIC handling fee

Ticketing Details: SISTIC

www.sistic.com.sg

Akan Datang : Alfian Sa'at's Cook a Pot of Curry .. presented by W!ld Rice

 

‘Everyone one of us has some prejudice inside us, but only the strong and respectful care to hide it.’

Author unknown

 

PRCs, NRIs, Ah Tiongs, Pinoys, Cina Kwee, White Trash … these are all terms commonly used in Singapore to describe a person based on their race or nationality. They are all derogatory in their own way. A local Chinese will comment about how the China Chinese talk “so loudly and are so rude.” A local Indian will comment about how the India Indian “act as though they are white and atas.” How many times have you heard your friends saying something similar?

With more and more immigrants in the country, the locals are getting more and more testy and irritated by the immigrants actions. The number of PRs being given out is being scrutinised.  The number of work permits, S passes and Employment passes are being questioned. There is also a growing fear of “foreign enclaves” within Singapore. The Indians have Serangoon, the Philipinos have Lucky Plaza, the Burmese have Peninsula Plaza and the Thais have Golden Mile.

Some of these unhappiness have erupted into very public spats such as the “Jollybee” boycott. To make matters worse, some have become from discriminating based on nationality to being borderline racists. The internet is rife with many such comments (just look at the ST Forum) and Facebook posts. A classic example would be Amy Cheong and her Malay wedding comment. Another ‘event’ which received quite some media attention was the need for mediation between two neighbours of different ethnicities and their makan habits. All over the cooking of curry, which brings us to W!ld Rice’s world premier of Alfian Sa’at’s Cook a Pot of Curry.

Cook a Pot of Curry is written by Alfian Sa’at and directed by Glen Goei. It features a six-member cast including the evergreen Neo Swee Lin, Rishi Budhrani and the red-hot Judee Tan. It is a play about the issues faced by both the locals and the foreign immigrants and their living together in this ‘little red dot.’ From what I understand, the play will be based on numerous interviews with Singaporeans, new PR holders and the foreign talents. It seeks to highlight the problems faced by all parties but are unable to express.

Alfian Sa’at needs no introduction. He is one of Singapore’s brightest playwrights with his plays receiving both local and international awards. His plays are also frequently used by Literature students in secondary schools and junior colleges here. He has a knack for telling a story which is so true to home (pun intended) in a way which we can all laugh about.

As this is presented by W!ld Rice, we can be sure that the audience will be treated to a sensory treat.

All I can say is … come catch ‘Cook a Pot of Curry’ and I am sure you will not regret it. Of course I will be there and will provide my review after. Until then, would anyone like some curry …???

 

Title : COOK A POT OF CURRY

Director : Glen Goei

Set Design : Wong Chee Wai

Producer : Tony Trickett

Cast : Rishi Budhrani, Nelson Chia, Noorlinah Mohamed, Neo Swee Lin, Najib Soiman, Judee Tan

Venue : The Singapore Airlines Theatre, LASALLE College of the Arts

Show Dates : 3 – 20 July 2013

Ticket Prices : Previews at 8pm on 3 & 5 July: $40, $50

Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun at 8pm & Sat, Sun at 3pm: $45, $55

Fri & Sat at 8pm: $50, $60

(Prices exclude $3 SISTIC handling fee)

Akan Datang : Melancholy Play by Sarah Ruhl ... presented by Couch Theatre

A few weeks ago, I was asked whether I could do an upcoming preview for a new production by a new theatre company, “Couch Theatre.” The play that they are staging is called "Melancholy Play by Sarah Ruhl." I gladly agreed (always open and willing to helping fledging theatre companies in any way I can) and also will do a review of the play after.

To be honest, I have never heard of “Melancholy Play” or either of “Sarah Ruhl.” So I did some research (via Wikipedia & FaceBook) to find out more as well as about Couch Theatre.  Couch Theatre in their FB page https://www.facebook.com/CouchTheatre) describe themselves as  ‘an upbeat and offbeat theatre company made up of young adults brought together by their enduring fervour for the arts.’ Their aim is to ‘create theatre that brings an enriching emotional experience to a wider audience, giving the common Singaporean <like me> a reason to fall in love with the theatre..' Wow .. a very ambitious aim considering that the latest survey states that Singaporeans are generally very emotion-less. I personally feel that it is not that Singaporeans have no emotions .. it is just that they do not show it as much as others. I often see how angry they are when they miss the sale … or can feel and hear their frustration / anger when someone cuts into their lane on the road. The problem is that we cannot show emotions of happiness and joy in public or else people will say we are “siao lang.” I was once happily shuffling my feet to “Sorry, Sorry” in the MRT and people were staring at me like I should check myself into Woodbridge. That made me more self-conscious and more restrained. However, I must applaud Couch Theatre for their efforts and I hope they are successful. I will do what I can to help them out.

Which brings me to the production itself. What is meant by “melancholy?” When the word melancholy is mentioned .. what frequently comes to mind? A feeling of sadness? Dread? Depression? Sympathy? A ho-hum kind of feeling. From what I understand, Melancholy play is about how the feeling of “melancholy” can be interpreted in various forms and how it may not be such a bad feeling after all. It also aims to portray why some people choose to be melancholy as opposed to bring all bright and silly. In this I think that Couch Theatre made the right decision in choosing to stage this play in Singapore. I think the feeling of Melancholy is very much prevalent in Singapore society. Worries and depression about the high rising costs of living, about childrens’ education, about not being able to find a job, about getting the best grades in school and about being able to get the complete Hello Kitty set in McDonalds. We are wired to be pessimistic .. to look for the half empty glass. With this play, the audience should be able to connect with the theme and be able to feel the same way as the actors. Why am I so emo? Is this feeling of emo something I am comfortable with? Can I get out of it? Do I want to get out of it? How to people around me see me / feel when I am emo? I hope this will all be acted out. It is now all down to the actors …


So please support Melancholy Play by Couch Theatre. The tickets are very reasonable at $25/ticket. You can get more details at http://www.ticketmash.sg/melancholyplay       As they are new, this is a very limited run of only 4 shows so please get your tickets early. If you are tired of the typical ha-ha, dialect, slapstick theatre then maybe “Melancholy Play” is for you. Yeah I know currently life is depressing enough … but maybe after watching this .. Singaporeans may be more emo ?? Better than emo-less, Ho Hum..  Stay tuned for my review ….

Brief sabatical .... watever that means ...

Hi all Ladies and Gentlemen … Boys and Girls … young and all … blah blah blah ….

It has been more than 6 months since my last post. I have been pondering closing down this blog due to work commitments. These work commitments has resulted in me having to spend quite a bit of time abroad and so unable to catch any shows / plays / musicals in Singapore. However as luck may have it … the issue has kinda been resolved and my travelling schedule has been reduced so WOO HOOooooo … all out Singapore theatre for the rest of 2013!!! I will watch everything I can for the remaining 7 months of the year to make up for missing out from January to May 2013!!

So please stay tuned … previews and reviews coming up soon …. Love you guys !!!