Cavalia gallops into Marina Bay Sands

Cavalia, an innovative multi-media and multi-disciplinary theatrical production created by Normand Latourelle, one of the co-founders of Cirque du Soleil, will make its Asia debut in Singapore from 12 August 2014, under its signature White Theatre Tent at Bayfront Avenue, beside the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

Cavalia is a lavish production involving 50 magnificent horses and featuring 43 riders, aerialists, acrobats, dancers and musicians from all over the world. It is a harmonious celebration of beauty and nature, encompassing imagery that whisks the spectator’s imagination around the earth over land and sea by displaying a vast array of equestrian and performing arts.

Supported by state-of-the-art multimedia can be described as an epic adventure, a fantastic demonstration of horsemanship that transports the audience into virtual atmospheres. In Cavalia, horses cavort with the many artists in front of a constantly changing digital background projected onto a 60 metre-wide screen, drawing spectators into dream-like environments. Unlike traditional horse shows, Cavalia’s audience faces a single 50 metre-wide stage which allows the horses space to gallop at full speed, at times running completely free, unfettered by bridles or halters.

The show takes place under a white, 2,440-square-metre big top, rising some 35 metres high that gives the horses an ample playground to perform with their trainers and artists.  Cavalia’s White Theatre Tent is the largest touring tent in the world.  The show has received critical acclaim from around the world. The Washington Post described the show as “Horseplay of the highest order”.  Las Vegas Magazine claimed it is “One of the most spectacular hybrids of modern theatre in the world” while Paris Match defined it as “Pure poetry”. 

Cavalia explores humankind’s longstanding relationship with the horse’s horse training is based upon a philosophy of understanding horses, rather than making horses understand the humans around them. The tone of the show, embraced by the entire company, is one of mutual respect, kindness, patience, and trust. Audiences have found Cavalia exhilarating in scope, yet touching in the compassion shown by both horse and human.  

WHEN:   Premieres 12 August, 2014
WHERE:  Under the White Theatre Tent, at Bayfront Avenue, beside the Sands Expo and Convention Centre
TICKETS: Available at http://www.cavalia.sg/www.cavalia.sg or by calling tel:65-31586735 Ticket prices S$58 to S$288 + applicable fees.

The Sound of Music opening at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

The evergreen musical The Sound of Music would open at the Marina Bay Sands Mastercard Theatres Singapore in 2 weeks’ time from 11 July 2014.  Due to good demand for tickets, this musical has extended its run to 10 Aug.

The Sound of Music tells the uplifting true story of Maria, the fun-loving governess who changes the lives of the widowed Captain von Trapp and his seven children by re-introducing them to music, culminating in the family’s flight across the Austrian mountains.

As the name suggests, The Sound of Music touches hearts of all ages and includes those memorable tunes that we all grew up with: My Favourite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, Edelweiss, The Lonely Goatherd, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, and of course the title song The Sound of Music.

For the Singapore run, the coveted roles of six out of the seven children of the von Trapp family will be played by eighteen of Singapore’s young actors and actresses. The successful young boys and girls, aged from six to 13, will perform in rotation as the small and cute Gretl, the brothers Federich and Kurt, as well as their sisters Marta, Brigitta, and Louisa.

The original 1959 Broadway production of THE SOUND OF MUSICwon six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and was Rogers and Hammerstein’s biggest success.  The 1965 movie starring Julie Andrews as Maria won five Oscars, including Best Picture, and remains one of the most popular movies of all time. The musical's original score is the genius output of composer Richard Rodgers collaborating with the lyricist and librettist Oscar Hammerstein.  This current production is by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian.

PERFORMANCE TIMES: Tuesday– Friday 8:00pm; Saturday 2pm and 8pm and Sunday 12pm and 6pm

TICKET PRICE:  From $65* (excluding booking fee) available from SISTIC.
* Excludes the booking fee of SGD$3 per ticket

Review: Light and Nothingness by John Mead Dance Company

Based on the programme note of Light and Nothingness, choreographer John Mead wanted to create a dance piece that was equivalent to a musical "tonal poem", which required audience to engage in a "longer, connected tonal or melodic thread".

This site specific work was staged at the gallery space of The Sculpture Square at Waterloo Street, a former church venue.  It offered the creator and dancers the opportunity to feel and explore space. The dancers, mostly Lasalle and Nafa graduates and also included the Co-Founder and Co-Director Lim Mei Chien, conveyed the sense of lightness or wander well. Some dance movements reminded me of yoga and taiji poses.

Each dancer had a solo segment, which in some way prolonged the length of this piece.   While the choreographer's aim was to create a meditated mood, it went slightly long for me.  But overall the John Mead Dance Company succeeded in creating the right mood in this space, and I was engaged most times. It will be interesting to see their next site specific show.

Review of Le Noir 2014: Daredevil act adds sparks to arts spectacle

There was a good turnout at the opening night of Le Noir 2014, making a return after a successful run last year. (Read my review for Le Noir 2013) I was fortunate enough to be seated at the ring-side seats and was closed to the actions.

The addition to this year's programme is the Wheel of Death, featuring two acrobats who perform high-risk feats atop and inside a pair of spinning wheels rotating high above the stage.

Buds Theatre's Death and Dancing in Joo Chiat

This is Buds Theatre Company's second staging of Death and Dancing by Claire Dowie.  An American gay student met a lesbian while studying there.  A relationship developed, and may possibly turn into a relationship.  And of course, one party backed out.  While this play explored theme that was beyond same sex relationship, it took some time to develop.  Some of the jokes were rather long and repetitive, and the second half was quite preachy.

Buds Theatre chose to stage this production at a space at Joo Chiat Road shophouse, partly to give an intimate setting, or to save on theatre rentals.  Director Claire Devine made good use of the venue where the audience were seated close to the actors. Rebecca Lee and Zuhairi Idris gave credible performance as Max, though putting on the foreign accents did strain our ears at times.  The 2-hour performance was also taxing to the performers during the second half of the show.

While I did not really enjoy the first act more for the script, I was more engaged in the second act. Script aside, Buds Theatre put up a good show in a simple setting and we felt the commitment of the 2 actors.  

Review of Tap Dogs at Mastercard Theatres: High Energy performance from the guys

It was a welcome return of Dein Perry’s Tap Dogs back in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands MasterCards Theatre.  Taking a dance form in the era of Vaudeville and made it relevant to the modern day audience.

The performance started with a solo from Doug Mills and we were introduced to the rest of the dancers, or their feet I mean.  The first part of the performance was set in a neighbourhood, where a young man was trying to fit in with his friends, with a little help from an older pal.  This quieter duet moment between the two was one of my favourite scenes in this 90 minute performance.      The sequence involving the basketball was well choreographed and with good humour.

The Finger Players' Rant and Rave: Singapore theatre scene rewind and reflected

In Rant and Rave, playwright and director Chong Tze Chien searched through piles of newspaper archives and presented a survey of the Singapore theatre scene over the past few decades.  The script was based on the words of arts personalities such as Robert Yeo, Kuo Pao Kun, Margaret Chan, T Sasitharan, Ong Keng Sen, Alvin Tan and representatives from the media and also the government.  It touched on the challenges faced by our artists through the ages, ranging from the search for a national identity and a local play, the issue of censorship, and of course government funding.

All these roles were played by 2 capable actors Karen Tan and Janice Koh, who switched swiftly from one personality to another with simple use of props or costumes.  In addition to the action on stage, there were comments and quotes from more arts personalities, at times making the audience difficult to focus on either.

Singapore Repertory Theatre's Merchant of Venice: Shylock with a Bollywood Twist

The popular Shakespeare in the Park organised by the Singapore Repertory Theatre is back for another year.  Audience arriving at the Fort Canning Park was greeted with the beautiful Venetian building set designed by Richard Kent.  It was my first time seeing Merchant of Venice live on stage and the production did not disappoint.

Remesh Panicker was convincing as the moneylender Shylock but I was wondering why he portrayed the character with an Indian accent.  We have sympathies for Daniel Jenkins' Merchant of Venice Antonio.  These 2 actors were the star of this production.  The production moved at a good pace and I liked the lighting design and also the clear sound system.

While there was no surprises in this staging,  everything worked as a whole. A usual high standard SRT production.

Le Noir 2014 returns with new acts

Le Noir, a theatrical production featuring astonishing cirque-style acts, is returning with new, daring performances from 7 June 2014 at The MasterCard Theatres at the Marina Bay Sands.  I caught the performance last year and while I am not a big fan of acrobatic arts, this production was impressive and was one of my favourite shows of 2013 (Le Noir 2013)

From the publicity materials, several new acts have been added to LE NOIR 2014including The Wheel of Death  — one of the world's most complex circus stunts that will have audiences on the edge of their seats. The act features two acrobats who perform high-risk feats atop and inside a pair of spinning wheels rotating high above the stage.

The Grand Theatre will be fully transformed to seat audiences around a custom-built circular stage of about 2.5 meters in diameter giving a spectacular 360 degree view of the performance.  Audiences will be ‘enclosed’ within a canopy of curtains designed from LED lights.  The seating in the Grand Theatre will be limited to just over 1,300 seats to create a unique and intimate experience.  Led by Creative Producer Simon Painter and Executive Producer Tim Lawson, the creative team behind LE NOIRhas launched many large-scale productions including Le Grand Cirque Adrenaline, which is the biggest and most ambitious thrill circus ever staged in the Sydney Opera House.

TICKET PRICE:    From $70* (Excludes the booking fee of SGD$3 per ticket)
BOOKINGS: 
THROUGH INTERNET:www.BASEentertainmentasia.com,  www.MarinaBaySands.com

Review: Grease the Musical at the Marina Bay Sands Mastercard Theatre

It is inevitable for the audience to compare the movie version with the musical.  Thankfully the production team and the Australian cast of Grease, currently playing at Marina Bay Sands Mastercard Theatres, managed to hold its own. The story of teenage romance set in a high school would not make a great plot, but it is the classic songs such as the title track, "Summer Nights", "Hopelessly Devoted to You", "Sandy", "Beauty School Dropout" and "You're The One That I Want" that helped string the show together.

Stephen Mahy played the lead role Danny Zuko with a hint of goofiness, unlike the John Travolta version. Gretel Scarlett was convincing as the Sandy.  Both of them were supported by a good ensemble cast, which at times overshadowed their performances.

The production is generally slick and was more exciting during the second half.  More importantly, this production is about the songs we are familiar with, and it is about having a good time at the theatre.   Based on the reaction on a Tuesday evening, the performance delivered on both counts.