Chinese Drama Night 2009 brings to us a mouth-watering dish of tantalizing braised pork.

The Chinese Drama Night 2009 Poster, which can be seen, hung up all over the school.

The mysterious veil around the Chinese Cultural Society’s (CCS) 2009 ‘Chinese Drama Night’production was removed on the night of April 17th. An annual event in its 28th year, the theme of braised pork is used this year as the common theme in both of the plays that night. With this production, the CCS hopes to reflect reality through stage, highlighting societal trends to create a thought-provoking sensation for the audience.

From left to right: The actors playing the role of Son and Father.

The first play, referred to as ‘Set A’, was about a son’s struggle to cope with his career while taking care of his dementia suffering father. As his father’s condition worsens, taking care of him becomes more of a burden. What is the son to do?

The production was a touching one, tugging at heartstrings while constantly reminding us to value those closest to us and not take them for granted. There was plenty of intricate exploration into the emotional aspect between the parent and the child. Detailed planning of the acting and the props enhanced the experience greatly. The changes in between scenes were minimal, unobtrusively keeping the show going at a constant pace. ‘Set A’ is going to be performed by the CCS for their upcoming SYF. Judging by their performance this night, it is indeed worthy of all the hype and mystery it has been given.

The members of CCS take a group shot!

‘Set B’ became the highlight of the production, with its satirical nature and dramatic form of presentation. The play starts off with a cameo appearance of Mr. Ng Hao Wee in a faux news report video. Wearing an afro wig, his cameo appearance caused an eruption of laughter among the audience and was a delightful surprise. The newspaper report was politically satirical, setting the scene for a dystopian scenario in which people have replaced food with a simple nutrient injection. The play touches on societal expectations and how we are often under pressure to meet them. The protagonist is a girl who refuses to conform to the social norm. She faces ridicule and is given the cold shoulder from both family and friends. As the play progresses, the amount of pressure she receives increases and we witness her heightening internal struggle.

The incorporation of the projector for the background transition between art works and pictures of organs made a strong visual statement. Giving the audience an insightful look into how the health deteriorates under such unhealthy slimming methods, it gives us the perspectives of the various body parts. The twist came in the final scene as the protagonist’s mother visits her in an asylum. In a monologue, the mother explains that she orchestrated all the diet plans her daughter underwent in a bid to protect her from societal view. Her daughter ravenously attacks her later and bites off her ear.

One of the three hosts of ‘Chinese Drama Night’ 2009!

Both plays were morbid and grotesque, yet magnificent. Not only were social concerns highlighted, the vivid portrayal and the effective use of symbolism made Chinese Drama Night 2009 well-worth its $8 ticket price. The three quirky hosts that night made various references to JC life, such as health camp, the recent revision of the time-tabling system and student’s usage of the lift. These drew parallel to the second act and struck a chord with the audience, arousing laughter and appreciative applause. The hard work placed into the production was well-evident in the quality as well as the camaraderie shared by the society members, both the actors and backstage crew.

It was undeniably a job well done by the CCS. We hereby wish the CCS members good luck for their SYF!

This interview is brought to you by our guest writer, Chan Di and Eunice of NYConneXions.