behind those forbidden walls

Watching a musical at the Esplanade can be quite an experience. After all, the durians by the bay often spot a conglomeration of novel and prestigious events. It is also where the artsy people in town come together. Hence, I was right there last week for the sell-out performance of Singapore’s grandest musical, Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress.

It has been a long time since I did something apart from the mundanities of everyday life. I have always and still looking forward to lead a high life; watching musicals, playing tennis, and most important living life to the fullest. Of course, I’ve very much realized that this comes with a hefty price tag. Having to look for like minded company each spending $74 for left brain nourishment ain’t no easy task. So we, Jayden, Roy and I had a high-life night.

For a local production, Forbidden City didn’t disappoint. Though I wouldn’t use grandeur to describe the set, props and storyline, it is a musical that can put Singapore onto the map of world-class musicals.

Forbidden City is really a historical retelling of the story of China's Empress Dowager; the story is seen from the eyes of an American painter, Kate Carl, who is commissioned to paint the Empress' portrait.

The Empress recounts her amazing journey from a young imperial concubine to become the Empress of China and the pressures she faced. The musical explores the myths surrounding her reign, from the controversial death of her only son to her ambitious tussle for power.

For myself and many, I’ve grown up learning that Cixi was better known as the Dragon Lady, the Empress sent from hell. Folklore has it that Cixi killed her only son and often tortured her servants. It was known that she once ordered for an old Eunuch to be killed for commenting, "The humble servant will now kill the Old Buddha's horse." while playing a game of chess. She is better known as a devious despot who maintained a death grip on what little power she had until that power faded out completely.

Or was she misunderstood? Forbidden City opened my eyes to this lady as it depicted a different side of the story. A Cixi that has been unfairly maligned and when seen more closely, her actions were reasonable responses to the difficulties that China faced.

This inevitably got me thinking. Perhaps everyone has a different side of the story to tell. On the same note, everyone has secrets they cannot bare to tell.

At the end of the day, even if it was only for Kit Chan’s singing I was paying for, I would have already gotten back my every cent worth.

Another song please, Kit.

____________________
walked along Singapore River after the musical
stumbled upon an exhibit of the Singapore Biennale, Miracle.
Imagine on a dry day, you walk past a tree and you observe the
tree raining, literally.

What a strange sight.