Exploring mechanics of power

IT'S hard to critique Square Moon purely on an artistic basis, without being reminded of its difficult gestation period and the grim inspiration behind it.

The play is written by former political detainee and playwright Wong Souk Yee who was detained without trial in 1987 for allegedly participating in a Marxist Conspiracy to overthrow the government.

The play serves as a critique of Singapore's one dominant party system as well as the Internal Security Act which allows a person to be detained without trial - which, incidentally, is also the subject of another play last week titled Kakak Kau Punya Laki.

Square Moon is the first play Wong has written in 26 years since her arrest. It almost did not make it to the stage; its proposed reading was cancelled last year for reasons not entirely clear…