A Taste of Home
A Raffles Hall Musical
Reviewed by Kenneth Lyen
I have seen 8 Raffles Hall musical productions in the past 8 years. This year maintains the high standard set by the previous musicals. Everything is original. The story, the songs, the choreography, the sets, costumes, and performances, etc, are all 100% original. We pay tribute to Raffles Hall students’ creativity.
I am always amazed by how incredibly challenging each project demands. First is the large number of students corralled into the enterprise, totaling over 200. Secondly the time constraint required to mount the musical: 4 months for the book, lyrics and music, and only 2 months’ rehearsals for the show. The academic year starts in August, and the show is staged in October, and within these 2 months everything needs to be carried out: appointing the production team, deciding on directors, secretaries, finance managers, choreographers, finalizing the storyline, doing the music arrangement, conducting auditions for the main cast and supporting cast, selecting stage managers, choosing set and costume designers and then making the sets and costumes, raising funds, getting publicity out, designing and printing of the program booklet, etc!
The story is about a declining Chinese restaurant run by a third-generation owner Ah Huat. A property investor, Ms Lin, is eyeing the building to purchase for future development. David, Ah Huat’s son blames his father for the death of his mother, and the two always quarrel with one another whenever they meet. David has recently inexplicably quit his overseas job and returned to Singapore where he chances upon a former friend Michelle Lin, who assigns stars to her food blog (Michelle Lin Stars! Haha!). Michelle cooked a meal for her own birthday, but when her mother fails to turn up, she quickly invites David, who fortuitously is able to accept. From the way they interact, you realize they are falling in love. Michelle tells of the distancing relationship between her mother and herself, and that echoes in David’s mind reminding him of his relationship with his father. The latter make up and David starts helping Ah Huat in the family restaurant. Michelle visits David at the restaurant and coincidentally Ms Lin turns up to buy out Ah Huat, but Michelle realizes that Ms Lin is her mother. She persuades her mother not to buy the restaurant, and the two make up. All’s well that ends well; the performance of the waitress who was a former singer brings in more customers to keep the restaurant open.
The fact that “A Taste of Home” managed to pull off a most successful production is a tribute to the remarkable team that Raffles Hall managed to assemble. Kudos to the producers Fabian Ho and Phee Ren Yi. The directors did a brilliant job bringing out the humor, poignancy and sadness of the story, and one has to give credit to Jasper Lee, Ong Wei Shuen and Gwan Ke Xuan. It would be churlish of me if I did not mention the main cast members that impressed me most. Before I receive catcalls, let me preface my choice by saying that all the cast were excellent. I was touched by the singing and performances of Mark Ho (David), Rachel Teng (Ms Lin) and Chan Chi Yin (Rose). Acting prowess is recognized for Reuben Chua (Ah Huat), Germaine Lim (Emily), Choo Yuen Yeng (Michelle Lin) and Low Shi Jer (Ah Cai).
The creative team was absolutely magnificent. Scriptwriter Alson Soh conceived a compelling story, and the script sparkles with laugh-out-loud jokes. The clear lyrics that augmented the story and personalities, were written by Teo Yuan Shao, Shannon Seet and Alson Soh. Music composers did a wonderful job of creating hummable melodies and capturing the emotions of each character. Kudos goes to Thomas Gan, Clarice Low, Marcus Sim, Kou Kai Seng.
The music would not sound so seductive if it were not for the music arrangement, created by Yeo Xin Hao, Charis Low, Lim Ee Teck and Shanon Seet. And were it not for the dazzling lighting, designed by Koid Chia Sing, we would not be able to see the actors so clearly, plus the stage never looked so glamorous! The sound designer enabled us to hear every joke and we must thank David Chew Ho Tin for this. The Choral Directors Chuah Jin Wei and Michelle See ensured that everyone sung together and with feeling. The dances were well choreographed, and the dancing well-synchronized, thanks to the choreographers Tan Shi Bei, Tristan Teo, Adabel Tan and Loo Jun Ho.
Congratulations to Professor Stella Tan, the Resident Fellow of Raffles Hall. Highest praise must go to Professor Ho Chee Kong, the Master, who initiated the annual Raffles Hall original musical eight years ago. He sparked off an incredible degree of passion, creativity, teamwork and lifelong friendships in Raffles Hall. He has left an indelible mark on the life of students at the National University of Singapore! This is what education is all about!
Reviewed by Kenneth Lyen
20 Oct 2018