If Sleeping Beauty were to wake up in today’s Singapore, would she end up in Woodbridge? What have a beauty corporation, Batik and the Merlion got to do with the twists and turns of her new story?

Was at the spanking new Drama Centre on Fri evening for Oi! Sleeping Beauty!!

It was more of a “support friend lah” kind of thing initially. And because I spent an afternoon at the Mazda showroom, I was feeling a little sleepy. “It had better be good hor”.

Oh, it was good. Hilarious. Cool.

100 years ago, the royal family threw a party for their one month old princess. They invited Goddesses of the North, South and East- Fairy Cha Cha Ambo, Fairy Tipah Tertipu and Fairy Muneru Valliba. (In case you don’t geddit, they represent the Chinese, Malay and Indian communities.)

The Sultan, however forgot the Goddess of the West. (In case you don’t geddit again, she represents the Eurasian group.)

And of course the Evil Witch sibeh buay song.

So she gatecrashed the party and put a curse on the baby.

The three goddesses couldn’t cancel that curse, but changed the dying sentence to a “sleep for 100 years” charm instead.

A century later, the sleeping beauty was awakened by a Prince Bin Charming, by what else—a kiss lah!

She woke to discover that society has changed dramatically. And we’re not just talking about skyscrapers here.

Complete with sarcastic and not so subtle digs at a country not far from ours, Oi! Sleeping Beauty!! pokes fun at the system we’re so familiar with. Unless you were too fascinated by Chua En Lai, aka the Chinese Goddess’ over the top make up, the Indian Goddess’ sut sut outfit, complete with peacock feathers, or Pamela Oei’s excellent performance as the Sleeping Beauty, you shouldn’t have problems laughing at the punchlines. Funny, it sure is.

At the same time, a sober message was sent across strongly. Are we all too preoccupied by GDP and productivity? In a place where merit is (probably) all that matters, have we all neglected the simple pleasures of life? Are we just going through a mundane routine, so that we can get (and show off?) that car, that condo, or that club membership? Have we forsaken our dreams and aspirations for money and comfort?

Maybe, it’s time to “Oi! Wake up!”

.

.

.

I don’t watch theatre productions on a regular basis, so I’m not that good at reviewing these lah. And I don’t want to malu myself in case Mr Ivan Heng reads this. Heh. Just go get a ticket and watch Oi! Sleeping Beauty!! lah.