Singapura the Musical (Review)

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This year is of major significance to Singapore, as we celebrate 50 years of Nation Building. With the recent passing of our founding father Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, any musicals or dramas about Singapore, has increased in prominence. Recently, we were invited for the premier of “Singapura the Musical” at the newly refurbished Capitol Theatre.

 

First off, I think the developers did a great job with the refurbishment of Captiol theatre. The old movie theatre has been transformed into the largest single screen cinema with approximately 800 seats, built for red carpet movie premieres, first run screenings and MICE events. The theatre will also host in-house theatre and dance productions, featuring local and Asian repertoire. With an added boost from technology, the theatre is fitted with an advanced rotational floor system which will allow innovative staging of performances. Its independently movable seat platforms can be transformed from a stepped floor with seats into a flat floor within minutes making it possible for conventions or gala dinners to be held there.

I used to watch movies at the old Capitol theatre, and those were the days were there were $2.50 movies tickets, Circle sitting options, and a cheap Kachang Puteh man, who could you buy peanuts from. However, the transformation has been impressive, and we are definitely looking forward to more events here in the future.

Now about Singapura the Musical, here is a brief Synopsis:

Singapura: The Musical takes the audience through a journey of love, hope, and new beginnings while exploring the strength of the human spirit during the formative years of Singapore’s history from 1955 to 1965. Through the eyes of ordinary men and women, audiences will witness how hope and youthful determination transcend the struggles of everyday life during this time period as Singaporeans strive towards a better future for themselves and their loved ones. Their passion and drive sees them dreaming, hoping and creating – against all odds – a place where they can truly call home.

Our Impressions:

I think we did like some songs in the Musical. The Song “Kopi Tiam” has a catchy melody, and any scene set in a local coffee shop with local banter is sure to strike a chord with any Singaporean. It was an interesting scene, hearing the gossip and cross talk between the characters in this scene.

We did find the plot a bit complicated, as there were a bit too many sub-plots and we would have preferred a focus on the main character. However, if you are looking for a brief introduction to the highlights of Singapore’s history from 1955-1965, the musical does give a quick run through of Singapore’s history.

The Singlish by the Filipino cast was a bit trying, and it did sound like a ang moh trying to be Singaporean by adding a “lah” to the end of the sentence. Any native Singaporean, would know that the Singaporean accent has a form of attitude, which requires a bit more than a mere punctuation at the end of a sentence.

The show will be running till 7 June, and if you are interested, you can buy tickets from the musical’s website.

For more information, visit Singapura the Musical.