Edges – The Musical: A different kind of magic takes the stage

PUBLISHED March 19th, 2013 01:55 am | UPDATED January 21st, 2016 07:39 am

Confronting emotions, escaping expectations, and deciphering complicated relationships. Sound familiar? Ever aspired for something greater, hated an ex, been afraid to grow up, been addicted to Facebook or scared to say ‘I love you’? Yes we thought so.

And so on that note it’s time to sit up and pay attention to a locally produced musical which we will all be able to relate to. Make way for Edges –  The Musical, the latest production from Sight Lines Entertainment to grace the Singapore stage, showing from 3rd April.

Edges is an exciting new contemporary musical about four burgeoning young adults at the edge of their lives and a compelling and emotive ride set to get audiences of all ages reflecting on their younger years – the mistakes you made, the love you thought was going to last forever…that kind of thing.

It’s full of heart, humanity and humour, pop-culture references, themes of change and freakishly familiar situations which will probably leave you thinking ‘deja-vu’!

Now we’re so used to seeing the big guns like The Lion King, Wicked and the Jersey Boys being wheeled out in Singapore, that us curious cats at City Nomads couldn’t resist the chance to find out what it takes to put on a locally produced musical. We got to catch up with the show’s Director Derrick Chew, Musical Director Joel Nah and Choreographer Kristy Griffin to find out just that…

Why did you decide to stage Edges?

This is Sight Lines’ third production and we wanted to do something different. Our first was a comedy spoof, second was a play so we thought, maybe should try a musical!

Having come across one of the songs in a performance at LASALLE  a year ago, the research started! The storyline felt very relevant and accessible, reflecting things we all face in our lives, with ideas of pursuing dreams and being at a crossroads – themes that are central to the musical.

What is the casting process like for a musical? Is it much different to that of a regular stage production?

In a musical, it’s all about the triple thread – dancing, singing and acting and so the cast have to be skilled in all three to varying degrees depending on whether the musical is more music or dance heavy. That means having separate casting calls for the different disciplines.

Edges specifically is a contemporary musical incorporating dance numbers so we spent more time on the vocals but we didn’t have to do many auditions because we knew the cast members already, and thankfully knew that they could sing!

What are the challenges of putting on a musical?

Scheduling and budget are always the biggest factor. The musical theatre community is small in Singapore (most of them coming from LASALLE’s musical theatre programme) and talent is concentrated within a small network of people who are never out of a job –  so you have to act fast to secure them!

Being a State-side musical, have there been any adjustments made to cater to local audiences?

Yes, the play is set here so it has been localized, with the songs written in New York set to a more local context to make them accessible to Singapore audiences. We also purposely selected a multicultural cast to reflect that aspect of life in Singapore. Having said that, we haven’t needed to tweak things too much because the themes in Edges are so universal – anybody in any part of the world could relate to them.

Tell us a little bit about what we can expect from the choreography and music of the show?

On the music front, expect a one-man band merging tracks and live play in a variety of styles from tango to big band and everything in-between! The beauty of this musical is that every song stands out on its own.

As for choreography, expect something very different. Kristy (the show’s choreographer) is her own source of inspiration and doesn’t turn to anyone else for ideas. It’s not a hugely technical show, with the emphasis more on communicating physicality, as well as the music. The movements are very punchy, clean and impactful, with some funny numbers thrown in for good measure!

What will people get out of seeing a locally produced musical, as opposed to some of the big Broadway shows we have seen here of late?

The use of local talent makes it more fresh and fulfilling in terms of acting, direction and ownership, and that’s something that the audience will feel when they come to see it. Seeing a show that’s been made from scratch, as opposed to a big touring show which is just following a preconceived formula makes for a much more creative experience, and allows for more spontaneity  – and some of the best acting is done when you can be spontaneous.

If, however, you’re looking for big spangly show, then forget it – because this is a very a different kind of magic, something very raw and intimate. We’ll be transforming The Drama Centre Black Box in a way that’s never been done before. Audiences will be touched, moved and be able to relate and connect to something real.

And if there’s only one reason people should come and see Edges it is….?

The sheer talent – people will be blown away by the talent on stage alone. The songs are great with one of the more powerful parts of the show being its simplicity making it accessible for everyone who comes to see it.

Edges – The Musical runs from 3rd – 20th April at the Drama Centre Theatre Black Box, 100 Victoria Street, #05-01, National Library Building, Singapore 188064. Tickets are $38. For more information including show times, and to buy tickets see Ticket Mash here.