“The History of Singapore, as written by the Dim Sum Dollies“

Reviewer: Gan Soon Rui
Performance: 12 June 2015

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana

That is, perhaps, one of the major takeaways from the Dim Sum Dollies, what with the celebrations for the country’s jubilee beginning to intensify (#SG50).

Originally staged in 2007, Dim Sum Dollies’ The History of Singapore Part 1 is a musical revue spanning the founding of Singapura to its independence in 1965 … with, of course, a little creative twist that would have drawn dirty looks from historians.

Sang Nila Utama’s search for Singapura is (in a manner reminiscent to a typical drama series) spurred by the guilt tripping from his mother, forcing the poor prince to find himself a new city with his girlfriend Siti in tow… you get the drift.

What follows subsequently is a two hour performance of comedy and puns neatly portioned into vignettes, and culminating into a NDP-esque sing-along (with Singapore flags to boot), complete with a selection of nostalgic national day songs. Suffice to say, the synchronicity of the Dollies with the chopstick, Hossan Leong, and their “if you know what I mean” face, has the audience thoroughly entertained and actively participating.

Amidst the feathers, sequins, and glitzy song and dance routines however, one aspect that this reviewer finds lamentable is the songs. While the tunes are catchy (kudos to composer Elaine Chan), the lyrics and word play are underwhelming, even clumsy at times. This makes some of the songs forgettable and hard to understand.

Those who are not familiar with the Dim Sum Dollies be warned that while it is performed in English, there are certain points where the characters lapse into Malay or various varieties of Chinese. It is, however, not that big of a deal, as this reviewer (who has problems distinguishing between Sembilan and Sepuluh) has no problem reading between the lines.

In a city of construction sites, Dim Sun Dollies’ The History of Singapore Part 1 serves as an important reality check that reminds us not to overlook the past, even in its tireless progression towards modernity.

Yet, one can’t help but wonder whether this play with/on nostalgia, and its purpose of remembering the past, can be a truly effective piece of performance, or will it be dismissed as being over-the-top due to its carnival-esque treatment?

“History according to the Dollies“

Reviewer: Gloria Ho
Performance: 12 June 2015

A cup full of sequins, a dash of quick-witted puns and a pinch of sociopolitical commentary are just some of the main ingredients found in this steaming Dim Sum Dollies production.  Throw in the myriad of flashy costumes, extensive (2D) set pieces, disco lighting, a live band.  Of course there is the highly-energetic dance routines faultlessly executed by the sextet – Loh Mai Guys.

Dim Sum Dollies : The History of Singapore Part 1 returns for a re-run after its successful debut back in 2007. We retrace major periods from Sang Nila Utama’s discovery of this little island to the “Nanyang” period when opium dens and brothels were common to the early independent days of Singapore.

In Dim Sum Dollies’ version of history, the shtick is the juxtaposing of elements from different eras forming little vignettes – often to hilarious effect. Sang Nila Utama meets a modern sales person; Rickshaw pullers encounter a parking attendant – the juxtapositions do present interesting viewpoints. While most work, some feel strangely misplaced (like the Irish missionaries disciplining a Singlish-speaking, pinafore-wearing school girl).

The joyous chemistry that Selena Tan, Pam Oei, Denise Tan and Hossan Leong exhibit manages to excite and keep the audience in suspense.  Individually, each Dollie (I think Leong qualifies as an honourary Dollie) demonstrate versatility and command a strong stage presence. Collectively, they complement each other without stealing anyone’s limelight.

The main draw of a Dim Sum Dollies show is surely the easily recognized local jibs and references. The mischievous plays on acronyms, nudge-in-ribs references to local sentiments, to issues such as MRT breakdowns and witty comments made in dialects may have disoriented, excluded the foreigners but these delight the locals.

The lightning quick costume and set changes are impressive and help maintain the brisk pace of the production. The production ran like clockwork – with Selena Tan incorporating the cleaning up of the streamers into her own segment – a brilliant move.

The sociopolitical commentaries are, however, weak. They are amusing but do no more than to remind us and reinforce what we know. Perhaps it is time for the Dim Sum Dollies to relook at their formula and whip up something with more bite.

“Dolly Folly”

Reviewer: Andre Theng
Performance: 13 December 2014, 8pm

The Dim Sum Dollies are back with a sequel to their last production (History Of Singapore Part I was staged in 2007), the History of Singapore Part II. The well-known trio of Selena Tan, Pamela Oei and Denise Tan (who replaces the late Emma Yong) have become somewhat of a local pop institution. They have performed for ‘Singapore Days’ abroad; they’ve also become public transport ambassadors (“Love Your Ride…”). This iteration of the History of Singapore series is directed by Glen Goei, and presented by Dream Academy at the Esplanade Theatre.

The formula of this show is no different from previous shows: the dollies perform a series of skits and sketches together with sidekick Hossan Leong. Completing the cast is a group of “Lor Mai Guys”, or back-up dancers. This time, the post-colonial history of Singapore comes under scrutiny and gets the “Dolly treatment”, tackling events such as the introduction of National Service, the opening of Changi Airport and more recently the influx of “foreign talent”. The sketches are presented in chronological order in various degrees of explicitness; while certain sketches were unambiguous about the event being presented, others required some “decoding” to understand. For example the foreign talent debate was presented in terms of “local and foreign flowers” with each cast member playing the role of a different flower and where each cast member was a different fruit in a sketch illustrating the 1987 Marxist Conspiracy.

In my opinion, there are definite hits and misses. There are good bits, like during a sketch about our local athletes, many of whom are new citizens and which combined other issues such as the recent spate of MRT breakdowns. However, the inclusion of other relatively minor events in our history may have done nothing to raise awareness of them during the audience. For example, the election of opposition Member of Parliament J.B. Jeyeratnam in 1981 and the Marxist Conspiracy are events that are possibly not so well known. I think the many expats in the crowd would have missed the references. In addition, the combination of many different languages and Chinese dialects that challenged a native Singaporean such as I (although admittedly largely monolingual) would surely baffle the poor foreigners.

Overall, History of Singapore Part II fell short. There were a few laughs to be had, but the music by Elaine Chan was excellent. Given the relatively high ticket prices, the show seemed to have attracted a well-to-do crowd looking for some entertainment, and the production came across as engaging “rich people problems”. But there can only be so many times that we hear the same clichés about Singapore, and although Dim Sum Dollies tried to offer something in between political commentary and light-hearted festive entertainment, it was neither.

Often during the performance, I had to listen attentively to get some of the jokes especially those contained within lyrics which were said or sung so quickly. I thought that was a ploy to sell more CDs so that one could re-listen to the music. If you want some of the Dolly-esque humour, perhaps you can visit their YouTube page for clips of their old shows, and if you are in the mood for some socio-political humour you may be better off listening to a Mr Brown podcast. Dream Academy is re-staging Part 1 of the show next year for a third run, but the Dollies are in need of a new formula, or at the very least, cheaper tickets.

“Lively Romp Through Local History“

Reviewer: Isaac Tan
Performance: 12 December 2014

The Dim Sum Dollies complain that our history textbooks are white-washed and they want to present their version of Singapore’s history. Boy did they keep their promise. The History of Singapore Part II is a history lesson that went Broadway by way of Singapore (and vice versa).

I am amazed at how they managed to pack every major event in Singapore from 1965 to the early 2000s in 80 minutes. Despite the dash through the decades, the Dollies certainly had amusing things to say for each event; and they got the audience howling incessantly.

The greatest strength of the production is the writing. While the main jibes are not new, Selena Tan (writer, one-third of Dim Sum Dollies) must be commended for re-contextualising them in new and creative ways that gave way to many possibilities for comedy. There were plenty of witty quips and jibes that invite the audience to revel in the cleverness of it all.

The clever writing is complemented by the energetic performances of the cast. Despite the unending series of costume changes and choreography, The Dim Sum Dollies (Selena Tan, Pam Oei, and Denise Tan), Chopstick (Hossan Leong), and Loh Mai Guys (backup dancers) performed the show to great aplomb. There was great chemistry amongst them. The choreography was tight and well-executed, especially the rapid transition to dikir barat in one of the scenes. Special mention must go to Hossan Leong for portraying all the major ethnicities in Singapore history—including a British colonial master and a Japanese soldier— within the span of the opening scene.

A show by the Dim Sum Dollies is never without high production values. Elaine Chan must be commended for her wonderful compositions which encapsulated the musical style of the various eras presented on stage. Her adaptation of hits to new lyrics definitely brought the audience down memory lane. While I enjoyed the re-arrangements of various hits, I wished there were more original tunes included in the show.

CK Chia (set designer) and Frederick Lee (costume designer) must be praised for adding a Broadway pizzazz to the show in full flashy and sequined glory. Chia showcases his versatility in designing a variety of scenery from Gopal’s laundry to the wild jungle that was wheeled off and on stage. Lee does not pale in comparison with his giant flower costumes and familiar mascots of yesteryear.

While The History of Singapore Part II is mainly about fun and laughter, its educational value must not be brushed off. Even though I am generally familiar with most of the events mentioned, I did learn about a couple of lesser known campaigns that were introduced before I was born.

Regardless of historical accuracy, I definitely welcome the literal and figurative ruffling of feathers—Dim Sum Dollies style.