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I wasn't sure what to expect from a Chinese Musical, really. I was at once pleasantly surprised and distinctively unsatisfied with December Rain... I wanted more!
Although it is the 3rd time that the Toy Factory is producing this musical, it is my first time watching it. I can imagine in 1996 how modern and popular this musical would be; in 2016, it is still superb in many ways, but there are parts where one wonders if there could be a more contemporary feel to it.
The scene was decidedly enchanting pre-start, with the raining sound, not a drizzle, definitely the kind of rain that you know will last a long time... A lone figure stopping over a box, occasionally tinkling away at a metal.... later, it was dawn on me that it was the ding-ding sweet seller. Brides and grooms in all white gradually appear, haunting at various corners of the stage, some arms stopping in mid-air. A recital of a passage unfamiliar to me opened the first scene. Strong voice, bilingual, yet I wished it would slow down a little and take time for us to savor the words longer.
First half of the show was set in 1950s, with the backdrop of the bus riots in Singapore. The oppression of the Chinese educated at that time spurred the 2 main characters - Yingxiong and Liqing to take on very different routes of their lives. Yingxiong was an activist and supported the riots, which caused the death of some students. However, the reason to therefore go to China and support the revolution there eluded me. There wasn't enough support for the character to reach this point, and it wasn't that convincing to me that this was the logical thing to do. On the whole, first half was nostalgic, but it does not feels like Singapore. It had me wondering if the story was set in 1950s China instead, until the bus riots scene puts it in context. The first song at the grand wedding at the start of the scene was so China-variety-showy that I thought it would be a stage performance and not a theatre.
The theme, rain, became more and more obvious as the scene moved towards the faithful day where both of them were scheduled to depart for China. The rest of the show revolved around this theme - rain - as reference to this faithful day where Yingxiong decided to leave for China without Liqing, a decision that haunted not only the 2 of them, but the ones who stayed with them throughout their lives - Mingli and Ah Ling. The story remained tight with constant references, double meanings and rhetoric on this rain that never did stopped for 30 years. One very significant scene where Liqing and her mother sat by the bed asking each other/themselves what should be done, and her mother asked her "If you step out of this house, have you considered if your umbrella is reliable?" Simple question, loaded meaning. A strength for this show, the story line could not be stronger.
As a musical with songs written by the veteran Father of Singapore Chinese music - Liang Wern Fook, the singing was impeccable with many singers from the local singing contests. The gentlemen's strong baritone voices were most enduring. The ladies carried the melodies smoothly and effortlessly, with just an occasional flat at the end. The showy performance were kept largely at the start and as it moved into the second half the scenes were a lot tighter and the songs made sense. The trio at the end of first half between Yingxiong, Liqing and Mingli was one of the highlights of the show, perfectly blended, totally captivating!
The story between Yingxiong and Liqing, was it a tragedy? A love lasted and lost for 30 years? The real tragedy were Mingli and Ah Ling, the 2 person that stayed beside Liqing and Yingxiong all these years, waiting, wanting and wishing for their love and attention. Finally, when Liqing and Yingxiong realised their regrets and finally noticed them, it was too late. Liqing and Yingxiong were fortunate to have them all these years, in contrast, Mingli and Ah Ling lost much much more. Yet, did they? The one sentence that echoed in the show was "so long as I can stay beside the person I loved most in my life..." they've got exactly what they wanted.
I enjoyed this musical very much both in the story and in the singing. I smiled, I cringed, I sobbed, and I laughed. I applauded so hard at the end and celebrated the success of a musical and a theater group that matured over 25 years. No regrets.
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