If you are a Singaporean, and/or someone who care about what Singapore really is, then this really is a play to catch.
Because even though the play is so uniquely Singapore (in all true sense), its existence is not to be taken for granted.
Because it is one of the most honest local writing in a long while … I suspect for a long time to come as well. And in a country where many issues have not been discoursed in the public domain (until the emergence of social media), honesty equals dare.
The play is set in an army camp during a Chinese New Year when two shooting occurred resulting in death of a Chinese corporal and a Malay store man. The investigation spearheaded subsequently by a Eurasian officer through a series of interrogations on an Indian duty sergeant and fellow Malay corporals revealed plenty lies, and even more versions of truth, which begs the question:- in our relentless quest to achieve racial harmony, have our society become even more racist?
It is a play not to be missed, if you really care about what Singapore is facing … and if it is being restaged again. Failing which, you can get to read the script in a newly published collection of Tze Chien’s play. Though some uneven performance made the playwright’s voice louder than the character’s, the play never lost a moment of attentive engagement from this audience.
That’s what i call a strong writing.
