The Humanity Beneath the Myth
I must admit that when I was first approached by Ken and Ekachai to work on this project, the idea of embarking on a musical based on the larger-than-life figure of Admiral Cheng Ho was an intimidating one. However, I was drawn to the image that Ken shared with me, the image of a young boy filled with awe and wonder, dwarfed by a gigantic footprint. For me, that became the key to re-imagining Cheng Ho's voyages from a twenty-first-century perspective, by telling the story through the journey of a young boy, who is inspired by the memory of the 600-year-old admiral.
As I began to develop the story, I realised that I was far more preoccupied with the painful cost of pursuing one's dreams and the price paid by those left behind, rather the adventure and glory of the voyages itself. And in trying to invoke the humanity that lay beneath the myth of the Admiral, I found that the heart of this musical about China's greatest explorer was to be found back at home. For, in the end, the story of Cheng Ho is essentially about a man leaving home. This has particular resonance today, where work and studies bring the modern traveller across the oceans with increasing frequency. Technology may have shrunk the world, but leaving home will always be a matter of the heart.
Working on this musical with an extraordinary group of people has been nothing less than an odyssey. I would like to thank Ekachai and Ken for taking the chance on me, and giving me the opportunity to work on this very special project. And I am indebted to the wonderfully talented cast and creative team and the very dedicated crew, who have surmounted incredible odds and given their all to bring this musical to life. In particular, I have been privileged to work with a wonderful director, Darren, who has shown patience and energy beyond what is humanly possible, and whose faith in the project has never wavered in the face of great adversity.
Finally, none of this would be possible without the unconditional support and love of my family. Without them, I am nothing.
– Jean Tay
