What is Christmas without the lights, dancing and singing?
By Megha Bhattacharya, photo credits to Dream Academy
Along with the Orchard Road decorations and alldealsasia Christmas deals, another thing which marks the arrival of Christmas in Singapore is Dream Academy’s ‘Crazy Christmas’.
Directed by Selena Tan and George Chan, this was the fifth year of its successful running. The Singaporean-ness of the show attracts not just native Singaporeans, but anyone who understands the nitty-gritties of this vibrantly cosmopolitan city of Singapore and its well loved Singlish.
‘Crazy Christmas’ stuck to its theme of ‘Silver Screen Meets Silver Bells’, blending in the charisma of Marilyn Monroe, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Marlon Brando with the yuletide genre of Crazy Christmas.
The show started with an extravaganza of dancing and singing by the whole cast including the eight star dancing troupe called Merry Miss-el’toes. Continued by a joyful rendition of the famous ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ and a heart warming performance of ‘What Are You Doing New Years Eve’. One of the most interesting fragments of the show was the depiction of a conversation of a lost Ang Moh-ized
Singaporean at the typical hawker centre with an Angst-y Drinks Lady, Bubble Tea Straw Lady and Tiger Beer and his unfamiliarity with present day Singapore.
Next in line was a very entertaining performance by the famous a cappella band Vocaluptous. Then Judee Tan and Dr. Teo Chew Moi (TMC), her comic alter ego, made the audience roll on the ground with laughter ably followed by the famous Hossan Leong in a Charlie Chaplin avatar to suit this year’s theme of Silver Screens. Zack & Xander, sons of Adrian Pang, Rachel Quek, daughter of Karen Tan
along with their respective parents, put up a punk rock version of a Christmas.
Another highlight of the show was the Marilyn Monroe’s Happy Birthday to Mr President act. The finale constituted of the whole cast performing a mesmerizing medley of the soundtracks and dialogues of movies of the golden era of cinema. An apt end to the evening was the quintessential Christmas carols, which the cast sang accompanied by the audience’s energetic engagement.
As a whole, it was a well-directed show with copious amount of energy packed with very witty dialogues, which will keep you in splits. It is highly recommended that you catch this subtly powerful Christmas Broadway to set the right mood for the holiday season.
