Wild Rice’s annual pantomimes are known for delivering plenty of laughs, especially in-jokes poking fun at Singapore’s politics and society under the disguise of a well-known fairy tale. This year’s production, The Emperor’s New Clothes, delivers laughs and reflects on fundamental issues and the year’s events to raise plenty of interesting, thought-provoking questions.The show’s narcissistic emperor, Henry Lim Bay Kun, rose to power, standing alone with his violin against the evil Colonia, 49 years ago and each year he celebrates the momentous event with an elaborate NDP (New Dress Parade) where he intends to be the belle of the ball. But when the musicians overshadowed his garish costume, LBK imprisoned its musical director and rightful critics of his attire (foreign press journalists) without trial, and resolved that for the 50th parade, there will wear better clothes.Enter two young tailors — Khairul No Surname (musician Sezairi, who makes his theatrical debut) and Nathan No Surname (The Sam Willows’ singer Benjamin Kheng) — who decide to teach him a lesson, promising to make a set of clothes so fine only the most enlightened and cleverest can see them. Surrounded by highly-paid yes-men and a trophy wife who yearn for his affection, the foolish and vain emperor falls for the trick and soon end up naked in front of his population.Playwright Joel Tan, who was tasked with adapting Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, keeps the jokes coming while providing plenty of local parallels in the year when Singapore is itself celebrating its 50th year of independence. Beyong the earthy laughes, the play aims to raise more fundamental questions: Should society never question its leaders? Should a society be ruled by power and money or love and caring? Can one man standing alone against oppression make a difference? is history fated to repeat itself?.Set designer Eucien Chia has created an interesting fish-eye view of skyscrapers that allude to the dystopian society, while director Pam Ooi led a strong ensemble cast of equally matched actors, with each given the opportunity to shine, though in a few instance, the younger cast steals the thunder of the professional actors with their well-rehearsed dance moves and singing. All in all a very enjoyable evening.
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