As hoped, Jonathan Lim's brought back this heartwarming, intelligent and wildly imaginative musical that I first gushed about in 2009. Set transitions, though still imperfect, are smoother, and the slightly altered, slightly diminished cast delivers the performance with as the same delightful gusto as the original (though quality of singing is still iffy, and I do miss Gene Sharudyn's zany portrayal of the tech-savvy 66 year-old Cik Mariam).
This is important though: if you're coming for the show, SIT ON THE FLOOR. I've heard that the cavernous space of the Gallery Theatre reduces the impact of the puppets for some audience members - certainly, the detached legs of the Hantu Galah are more suited to the lower ceiling of the Alliance Francaise theatre. On the other hand, if you dare to share the floor cushions and benches with the kids, you'll get a closer-up, more intense, more participative experience (hopefully the Hantu Pocong won't fall onto you!), and you'll actually feel a chill as the actors shine their torchlights across the distant brick walls, searching for spirits. Thoroughly recommended for the young, the young at heart, and anyone who just loves honest-to-goodness, unabashedly Singaporean entertainment.