I'm excited. We are now seeing more and more young people coming out of Theatre or Literature courses in JCs, polytechnics and universities saying, Hey, let's rent a space and put on a play. Not everything I've watched has been of so-called "professional standard" but remember this is how theatre companies like The Necessary Stage started up.
this collective is one of the more promising of such groups. It helps that their debut production deals with the lives of 20-something Singaporeans so the actors don't have to go too far out of their comfort zone.
Specifically, F'Friends tackles the complexities of being in a sexual relationship. The story of twelve Singaporeans is told in six vaguely connected acts, each featuring a pair of lovers / friends as they grapple with infidelity, open relationships, fear of commitment ... and partners who check their phone messages while having sex.
What makes the play so refreshing is how matter-of-factly it handles the topic of sex in terms of onstage depictions and language used. Yes, undergrads do it. Even in Singapore! And yes, they even have oral sex too: the sight of a young man's head disappearing into his lover's skirt which opens the third act is not something you often see onstage here ...
Writer / director Jocelyn Chua, a professional practitioner working in partnership with this collective, has a good ear for dialogue but the play lacks rhythm or momentum. Particularly taxing is the repetition in ideas and lines that drags each act for longer than it needs to be. Still, Chua has her moments: some of the rascally humour is legitimately snigger-worthy and she ends the play with a poignant thought about the difference in expectations and responsibilities when one is in an emotional relationship compared to when one is only coupling for sex.
The acting is generally tentative, with a handful of the actors relying too heavily on exaggerated hand gestures and high-pitched voices. Some of the cast show potential though and it is important to remember that for quite a few of them, this is their professional stage debut. Best in show: Willy Beh, Quek Hui Ying, Marcus Yew and especially Ellison Tan.