Everything But the Brain

Jean Tay's Everything But the Brain was one of the best Singapore plays for the past decade.  It tells the story of a still single Physics teacher Elaine who hatches a plan to turn back time to save her father, who was suffering from a stroke.
While executing her plan, she has to contend with 3 bears and the male doctor who is looking after her father.

Sightline Productions / Derrick Chew did a decent job in staging this production, with good performances from the main characters and fine use of multimedia.  Gerald Chew was convincing as the father and had good chemistry with Koh Wan Ching, who played Elaine.  Koh interpreted the role of Elaine as a frustrated secondary school Physics teacher who has to take care of her father, and at the same time longing for companionship. Edward Choy was competent as the role of the doctor but there is a limit to the scope of the character development.

The role of 3 bears is important in the play.  While each actor gave his or her best, as an ensemble, ie. 3 bears, it felt uneven.  At most times, they felt annoying.

I could not help recall the version that I saw years back which was held at Action Theatre.  The late director Krishen Jit created a sense of urgency surrounding the daughter Elaine, where she was trying to stop time and had to deal with her 3 bears.

Having said that, it is a good effort by Sightlines Productions in restaging a good piece of work. And hope that this young theatre group would continue to produce good works.  (See review of Edges The Musical)