Singaporean art festival blends modern with tradition

By T. Sima Gunawan

SINGAPORE (JP): He is romantic and rich. She comes from a lower middle-class family and is average looking. But who can stop a couple who is smitten?

His father.

Parents' approval is crucial in determining the happiness of the future marriage, or so the young woman believes. Charlotte Tan Siok Imm (played by Nancy Yen), the lead female character in Opera Bunga Mawar, (Opera of the Rose) turns upside down the notion that love is blind. She is not the kind of Juliet who would elope for the sake of love. She even tells Andy Wong Chee Loong (Eng Meng Chia), her Romeo, to ask for his father's blessing.

His anger bars our happiness and you should not rebel

They're clear beyond dispute

You're the forbidden fruit

Ask for forgiveness to your Pa without dispute

This Singaporean take on Romeo and Juliet was produced by the Singapore Lyric Theatre and the Victoria Theatre here during the Festival of Asian Performing Arts, which runs until June 27.

It is the group's first original work but the Singapore Lyric Theatre is not new to audiences. This opera production company was formed in 1990 with the main objective of presenting music theatre and opera to audiences in Singapore. It staged Mozart's The Magic Flute in 1991, followed by Lehar's The Merry Widow (1992), Rossini's The Barber of Seville (1992), Verdi's Rigoletto and Die Fledermaus (1993), Wolf-Ferrari's Suzanna's Secret (1994), Puccini's Tosca and Gounon's Faust last year.

An impressive line-up of the nation's best are behind Opera Bunga Mawar. Music is composed by Leong Yoon Pin, whose Dayan Sampan Overture was performed by the Washington Symphony Orchestra recently. Lyrics are by Edwin Thumboo of the Department of English Language and Literature & The Centre for the Arts, National University of Singapore. Conductor Lim Yau is one of the country's best. Producer Choo Hwee Lim is chairman of the Choral Advisory Committee and director Hugh Halliday is from Australia.

All of the main players in the opera are of Chinese descent, but not necessarily Singaporeans.

"For this production of Bunga Mawar, the Singapore Lyric Theatre engaged some of the best Asian singers based in Europe, England and from Singapore and the Asian region," Choo said.

It comes as no surprise that all the singers are outstanding. Indeed, their golden voices were much more impressive than their acting or the simple plot. The audience was entertained by their vocals and the splendid music during the two-hour performance. This is a Western opera with English songs, but there were subtitles in English and Chinese on a huge screen above the stage.

The tussle between modern and traditional values are present here. Siok Imm (she is pointedly referred to by her Chinese name, not her given English name of Charlotte) faces a dilemma: Whether to rebel or bow to the tradition of obedience to elders. Unlike Andre, who has a worldly education in the U.K., Siok Imm, completing her honor's degree in philosophy, chose the second. Is she miserable because of her choice? No, for this is a happy ending opera. Andre's father (Leow Siak Fah) soon realizes his mistake and welcomes Siok Imm as a daughter-in-law.

The Opera does not talk about the past but depicts today's Chinese community in Singapore. The messages are clear. For children, be a good kid and respect your elders. For parents, pay more attention to the children.

The message is not hammered home through lecturing or explicit dialog. Instead, subtle devices convey the point to the audience in an entertaining way.

Festival

The opera is one of the performing arts at the third Festival of Asian Performing Arts, which aims to promote awareness and appreciation of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Asia. The biennial festival presents a total of 55 performances by 11 local and 13 foreign groups.

A festival village and a fringe program were organized earlier this month. The fringe program, involving 39 local and three foreign groups, was held in shopping malls, parks and suburban community centers.

The festival village, held from June 1 to June 5, featured Kecak and Fire Dance from Bali, the Jiangzhau Drum from China, the Formosa Aboriginal Singing and Dance Troupe from Taiwan and Yakshagana Theatre Troupe from India.

Liu Thai Ker, chairman of the National Arts Council, said the village festival was held to reconnect traditional performing arts to their village roots "and bring a more complete dimension to the presentation of Asian performing arts".

The entire festival cost about S$3 million, S$1 million more than the previous one.

Indonesia

Among the foreign participants in the performing arts festival were Indonesia's Gumarang Sakti Dance company and the Ballet Philippines, which recently played in Jakarta.

Gumarang Sakti Dance company, led by Gusmiati Suid, kicked off the festival on June 6.

Long applause from the sell-out crowd greeted each performance.

The first piece was Salawatan (Invocation), choreographed by Gusmiati's son, Boi Sakti, followed by Batagak by Benny Krisnawardi and Boy Sakti, Amai Amai (Woman) by Boi Sakti and Seruan (Cry Out) by Gusmiati Suid. The music was composed by Piter Slayan, Epi Martinson and M. Halim.

Lively original music on unique string, wind and tuned percussion instruments from West Sumatra accompanied the dances.

The dance troupe combines West Sumatra's Minangkabau martial arts with romantic ritualism in presenting energetic repertoires.

Seruan is a medium to express social concern over modern people's greediness through a vibrant and dynamic dance.

There is a strong Islamic element in Seruan, with chants in praise of God to banish Satanic influences.

The choreographer underlined that the dance's message was not exclusive to Islam. "It is not for Moslems, but for all. It is a call for people who are overpowered by their desire to get back on the right track and remember the Creator," Gusmiati said.

The Jakarta dance company won New York's prestigious Bessie Award for Choreography/creativity in 1991.

Gumarang Sakti, founded in 1982, includes India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Germany, the United States, Canada and New Zealand among its list of previous tour spots.