Blast from the Past?

Felicia Tee | tee.felicia@gmail.com
the ridge transmedia
A NUSSU Publication

Photo Credit: Satya Saya

Midway through his Valedictorian speech, the environmentalist John is puzzled into disbelief when an old friend appears in the audience. Alex brings with her the magical Edward Hallifax, zesty Zsa Zsa and ancient General Bao, for four is company and one is none. The only problem is, no one else but John can see them!

You’ve Got a Friend in Me is National University of Singapore (NUS) Eusoff Hall’s 2008/2009 Dance Production, an annual performance that has gained itself recognition within the rich performing arts tradition of Eusoff Hall.

Scriptwriters Eva Pillai and Tan Kim Ong spent about 9 months developing the story, an ardous process they describe as similar to carrying “a baby” to full term. While the importance of friendship remains at the heart of the production, Eva hopes the audience will start questioning society’s take on normalcy and what it deems as right or wrong. Kim highlights “the journey of self-discovery”, and the “parallel between (John’s) imaginary friends and a normal person’s conscience”. Indeed, an earlier scene has John in a tight situation as he struggles to hold a conversation with his sweet girlfriend Claire while Alex meddles around as a third party. The colourful character Edward Hallifax enters dressed as if he just arrived from Charlie’s Chocolate Factory. Bringing a whole new meaning into the question “Do you believe in magic?”, actor Chen Jieming enthralls with his happy-go-lucky demeanor and the enticing possibilities of three wishes. Masquerading as John’s future employer’s secretary, the sassy Zsa Zsa paws and purrs her way around the office. As for General Bao, the audience was greatly tickled by his innocent wit and quirky defense strategies such as the “Hidden Panda”. Despite John’s repeated annoyance with the four, it appears that he is only truly himself with them.

The sets for the show were nothing short of stellar. Designed and built from scratch by the hostelites themselves, the central motif of a gigantic flower in John’s laboratory echoed vibrant hues of red, yellow and green – a parallel to the growing potential of the hall and its members. The Ultimate Cure Machine looms to the fore as overbearing, dangerous and yet doomingly alluring. The juxtaposition of nature’s beauty with a man-made monster machine calls into mind the harmful effects of urban progress unto the environment.

Photo Credit: Satya Saya

While You’ve Got a Friend in Me is primarily a dance production, the incorporation of a narrative somewhat failed to gel with the themed dances. Out of the eight, “Pure Imagination”, “Personal Relations” and “The Ultimate Cure” were executed with admirable aplomb. The twirling of fairies and nymphs in “Pure Imagination” opens an enchanting doorway into Edward Hallifax’s world of magic where one’s imagination may run wild. The alumni outdid themselves with a smart rendition of life in the workplace, revealing their years of training, expertise and dedication to the hall. “Personal Relations” was an energetic number aptly titled for the alumni group whose body locking and pumping dynamics brought up energy levels for the audience. Finally, “The Ultimate Cure” exploded as the climactic height of the storyline whereby John’s imaginary friends are purged from his life one by one. In formidable red and black costumes, the dancers showcased kicks and jumps with intensity and control.

In response to the show, first-year Nanyang Technological University (NTU) student Jonathan Tan was expecting something “small-scale and short” for a hall production but was surprised by a “performance complete with music, story, lavish props and costumes”. He adds that “the characters were costumed very well and had strong identities”. A non-NUS student who prefers to remain anonymous remarked that “it left quite a great and memorable impression for a first time hall production go-er”, although remarking that there is room for improvement. Well, it certainly injected comic relief amidst the mad rush to meet deadlines and provided a gentle reminder to appreciate the good company around us, imaginary or not.

After all, you’ve got a friend in me!