Beauty World

  

 

Went to watch Beauty World the Musical last Saturday with a bunch of JC friends. At the ticket price of $44, we sat at the 2nd last row of the huge Esplanade Theatre - Circle 3, four floors from the stage!!! It didn't help that we were completely surrounded by primary school kids, haha! 

 

Everything about Beauty World is good except for the plot and the ticket price. The main set is magnificant - 2 stories showing the inside of the glorious nightclub of Singapore 60s, with live ensemble on the second floor. Whenever it is not needed, it is hidden by lowering a veil. Then there are 2 extremely versatile platforms which can slide in and out of view (into the side of the stage) in front of the main set which can transform into different settings, be it home, tailor shop, backstage make up room, rooftop of Beauty World etc... Because of this design, the scene change is seamless. Plus the 'on the rooftop under the beautiful moonlight in a starry night' scene, with the perfect use of dry ice to create the on the clouds atmosphere... Dammmnnn zai.

 

Acting and singing-wise... Can't see a thing ah... but supposedly quite good la.

 

Alas, the plot... haiz... and the price, haiz... Frankly speaking, I would rather have less magnificant set for lower ticket price. 《天冷》's budget is only a small fraction of Beauty World and yet I enjoyed it much much much more!

 

I swear to God that I will not watch any local english play above $40 ever again, unless it is the BEST seat in the theatre.

 

Anw the morale of the story is: If the script is not good, at least impress your audience with your set, and keep it cheap... so that they will grumble less.

 

 

P.S. So far the only 剧团 that never disappoints me is 实践剧场 (except for 'Tosca', but well, it is 'pay as you want'...), founded by Guo Bao Kun. Their upcoming new show is 都是当兵惹的祸 The Soldier & his Virtuous Wife, directed by Huang Mei Lan. I remembered that last time when I was in Huang Cheng she used to talk to us about theatre theories and stuff, so I think should be quite zai ba. Haha!  Anyone interested?