Theatrical treats down memory lane

Singapore

SAKURA Teng, Rose Chan, Kartina Dahari and other music icons of the 1960s and '70s come alive in Great World Cabaret, Resorts World Sentosa's exuberant new musical produced in collaboration with Selena Tan's Dream Academy.

Opening on Chinese New Year's Day and running for a month, Great World Cabaret is a terrific ride down memory lane as today's popular talents such as Joanna Dong and Aisyah Aziz take on the roles of these legendary singers and belt out hits such as Rose Rose I Love You and Bunga Melor.

Top comedians such as Mark Lee, Hossan Leong and Sebastian Tan also take turns doing stand-up comic routines on the show, directed and choreographed by George Chan.

Says Chan: "We took elements of the 1960s, such as the popular dance halls and the famous Flamingo Night Club within the Great World Amusement Club, and reimagined this bubble of a world. We also included acrobats and magicians so that the show would appeal across the board."

Judging by the enthusiastic audience reception to the press preview on Tuesday night, which was also attended by beneficiaries of Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society, Great World Cabaret certainly holds much appeal across the demographics.

The story begins with an old night guard (played by Shane Mardjuki) doing his rounds at a museum. The sight of objects from the 1950s and '60s makes him fondly recall his earlier days as an emcee in a fictitious cabaret joint called Great World Cabaret.

As he reminisces, the museum transforms into a glitzy night club and lovely dancing girls in short sequin dresses shimmy in.

Rose Chan (played by Seong Hui Xuan), "Queen of Striptease", does a sexy number with large red fans. She promises to reveal "all" but doesn't. Teng (played by Dong) bops and boogies in silver boots, while Kartina (played by Aisyah) vamps it up in a tight-fitting kebaya.

Other cast members include Caleb Goh, Linden Furnell, magician JC Sum and an acrobatic act from China. The music is expertly arranged by composer Bang Wenfu, who stayed true to the sounds of the 1960s. The script is written by Alfian Sa'at and Benjamin "Mr Miyagi" Lee.

Asked why the show is opening smack on Chinese New Year night, director Chan replies: "We are entertainers. We have no holidays. We're always performing on Chinese New Year, Christmas, New Year's Day, and all the other public holidays when people are celebrating. We think of this show as a gift to our audience on this new year."