PUBLISHED April 20th, 2017 06:00 am | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 03:01 pm
W!LD RICE will presenting two great productions in the upcoming months – a restaging of La Cage Aux Folles and Tony-award winning comedy, Boeing Boeing. Associate Artistic Director of W!LD RICE Glen Goei and Director of Boeing Boeing Pam Oei have things to say about the two productions.
La Cage Aux Folles
When it first played at the Esplanade Theatre in 2012, La Cage Aux Folles was described as as a show “oozing unabashed joy, a passion for life and an unerring belief that the best of times is now”. The next year, it took home the Straits Times Life! Theatre Award for Production of the Year (Readers’ Choice), with nominations in categories like Production of the Year, Best Actor (Ivan Heng), and Best Costume Design (Frederick Lee).
“The message of La Cage Aux Folles is timeless and one that we need more than ever today,” explains Goei, who is returning to helm the effort. “In these strange and turbulent times we live in, La Cage reminds us of the value of embracing diversity and seeing things from a different perspective.”
To re-imagine La Cage Aux Folles for an increasingly divided world, Goei has assembled a crack team of designers. Ivan Heng, Artistic Director of W!LD RICE, will be leading the company of La Cage Aux Folles in the lead role of Albin – a family man by day, who transforms into Zaza, a glittering cabaret star, by night.
La Cage is a fabulous nightclub in the heart of Tanjong Pagar. George is the charming host of the establishment and Albin, his long-time partner, headlines the world- famous cabaret as the glamorous diva Zaza. Life is beautiful, until George’s son, Jonathan, announces his plan to marry the daughter of Mr. C.K. Tan, an ultra-conservative politician hell-bent on shutting down the colourful local nightlife. When Jonathan brings his future in-laws home to ‘meet the parents’, the bonds of family are put to the test and the feather boas fly!
Playing the lead role of George opposite Heng will be Sean Ghazi, one of Malaysia’s brightest stars. After winning the Singapore Fame Awards in 1995, Sean has performed all over the world, from America to London and Germany, and has sung with top international acts such as Pink Martini and Elaine Paige. La Cage Aux Folles marks his return to Singapore theatre after 19 years.
Providing much of the show’s comic relief are some of the region’s best performers, including veteran actors like Hossan Leong, Darius Tan, Jo Tan and Dwayne Lau; and promising talents such as Aaron Khaled, Frances Lee, Mae Elliessa and Erwin Shah Ismail. Eight incredible dancers will transform into Les Cagelles – a chorus line of tall, gorgeous showgirls who will set the stage alight with their singing and dancing.
Close to 35 years since it premiered on Broadway, La Cage Aux Folles is as relevant today as it ever was with its themes of family, love, acceptance and being true to oneself. Featuring Harvey Fierstein’s sparkling script and Jerry Herman’s classic songs (including I Am What I Am and The Best of Times), W!LD RICE’s production of La Cage Aux Folles will demonstrate precisely why the show remains a musical comedy classic.
La Cage Aux Folles runs 19 April to 13 May 2017 at Victoria Theatre. Please see SISTIC for tickets.
Boeing Boeing
W!LD RICE’s first rendition of Boeing Boeing opened at Raffles Hotel’s Jubilee Hall in October 2002. It was the first production to set the play in Asia. Due to overwhelming popular demand, Boeing Boeing has been re-staged twice – in 2005 at the Victoria Theatre and in 2010 at the Drama Centre Theatre. All three productions played to sold-out houses.
15 years later, Boeing Boeing will be flying back to Singapore in the capable hands of director Pam Oei, who was part of the cast of both the 2002 and 2005 productions. “Boeing Boeing ranks right up there as one of the most favourite shows I have ever performed in,” says Oei. “It’s a tight, laugh-a-minute script and there is no feeling on earth that can compare to what goes on inside an actor as he or she makes the entire theatre roar deliriously with laughter. It’s the best feeling in the world!”
Marc Camoletti’s comedy tells the tale of Bernard, a modern day Casanova who is living a swinging bachelor’s dream come true. Three beautiful air stewardesses, each taking her turn as his girlfriend, and each happily unaware of the others’ existence. Sounds impossible? Not if you’re Bernard. With careful, down-to-the-minute scheming, he’s managed to keep his hectic love life cruising at the perfect altitude. But turbulence ensues when his friend Robert comes to stay. Suddenly, Bernard’s schedule falls apart, as typhoons, volcanic ash and speedier planes wreak havoc on his precision planning. Can Bernard ride out the storm? How long can he keep it up?
Some of Singapore’s finest, funniest actors will take centre stage in Boeing Boeing, including Rodney Oliveiro, Shane Mardjuki, Oon Shu An, and Judee Tan.
Boeing Boeing runs 23 June to 22 July 2017 at Victoria Theatre. Please see SISTIC for tickets.