The Campaign To Confer The Public Service Star on JBJ

Nope. There was no need to profane a superfluous slew of Singlish in an attempt to accurately capture local sentiments. It took piercing, no-holds-barred insight, pithy analogies and penetrating satire to present a felicitous opinion of how some Singaporeans view ubiquitous red-tape and OB markers.

And there were only 2 actors.

You would have to watch it to decide if you'll agree with its propositions, but judging from the audience participation and response last night, it sure seemed the majority relished in Eleanor Wong's perspective.

Theatre's Rightful Place
What struck me from last night's play at the National Library, beyond the play's message, was theatre's role, if it even has one in Singapore, in civic society and society at large.

The way theatre has been presented to us since mainstream-schooldays, it is but a CCA and SYF-medal opportunity (thereby CCA points). Beyond that, it was for the lofty, the "creative", surely not as common place as mIRC or MSN Messenger.

But that was exactly what struck me; that theatre could be a very viable mainstream forum where ideas are exchanged, between cast, playwright and audience, and acts as a springboard for discussion after curtains fall.

In the play's synopsis, Ivan Heng's commentary suitably sums my muses: " Once in a while, a play comes along that reminds us about the necessity and role of theatre."

A partner, naturally
And what better way to appreciate such work with a well-dressed, smart, stage-experienced, critical and lovely partner? What better way to conclude a beautiful evening (albeit having to sidestep through the after-Parade crowd) by taking our after-thoughts of the play all the way to supper (and added kilos)?

I had Yong. Thank you.

Uncle T