Kanye West - Glow in the Dark Tour

First of all, I ought to thank Raymond and his team for their generosity in extending a pair of tickets to the concert, albeit the last minute notice the night before. That said, it wasn't at all surprising to know that his concert would start after 9pm, following two local beatboxers and a DJ as the opening acts.

It didn't take much effort to guess what made this Kanye's Glow in the Dark tour, as the impressive stage lighting blinded us in the audience. Rapid bursts of spotlights in various colours zapped onto stage and around, accompanied by the upbeat beat of the congos, asian drums and steel drums, and naturally, Kanye's soulful rap and rhyme spilling out with finese.

Kanye opened the concert with "Good Morning" from his latest album Graduation, and followed through with several familiar tunes from previous albums that include "Through the Wire", "Gold Digger", "Love Lockdown", and "American Boy" (the second single off Estelle's sophomore album Shine which featured Kanye). So by the time he did "Good Life", "Flashing Lights" and "Homecoming" it was only right for him to end the night's encore with "Stronger".

The Wizard of Oz

I Theatre's latest and most ambitious production to date, The Wizard of Oz, comes to life this holiday season at the Drama Centre, with a limited run from Oct 24th to Nov 15th. Adapted direct from the Judy Garland movie, complete with unforgettable songs and characters, The Wizard of Oz is a huge hit with children, teens, adults and families alike. (You will be glad to know they welcome anyone between the ages of 4 and 104, though I reckon anyone with an open mind and open heart qualifies.)

For the ignorant/deprived, here's a brief summary of this childhood fable:

Little Dorothy Gale of Kansas, like so many girls her age, dreams of what lies over the rainbow (and yes, there really is a song she sings to open the first Act). One day a twister hits her farm and carries her away over the rainbow to another world. There, in Munchkin-land (a state of Oz), she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the cowardly Lion, who join in her quest for a way back home. Naturally, their journey is filled with danger, surprises and song, which will entertain you altogether.

As you begin the play, you begin to admire the lead, Dorothy, played by Mariel Reyes, who pulls off an incredible enthusiasm filled with oozing sweetness, while at the same time, engaging you to feel afraid everytime danger lurks. Of course, her co-stars Timothy Nga (cowardly Lion), Dwayne Lau (Scarecrow), Robert Jenkin (Tin Woodman), and Rayann Condy (Wicked Witch of the West) shine just as equally in their supporting roles. Look out for theatre veteran Gene Sha Rudyn as well, if you remember him playing the distinct Tua Hia in Wild Rice's Jack and the Bean-sprout (2006) as he returns once again to his first love in theatre: performing for little people.

Jazz by the Beach

If I ever live that long...

Cyril Niccolai - Live at the Esplanade

"French indie rock singer-songwriter Cyril Niccolai is back in Singapore with his band for a concert at the Esplanade Recital Studio for one night only.

Also known to his fans as Gringoire from “Notre Dame de Paris” , the wildly successful French musical that has enthralled international audiences in more than a dozen countries, Cyril also received critical acclaim as Benvolio in “Romeo et Juliette” . Having already completed the maiden Asian Tour of “Romeo et Juliette” last year, Cyril will reprise the role of Benvolio in the highly anticipated 2009 Asian Tour. Already an accomplished song-writer in the Francophone world for major French singers and movies, Cyril released his own single, "No Love Around" last year, which has already earned itself a cult following in Asia and France. Cyril and the band are now working on their soon to be released new album importing a strong rock influence. Coming off his promotional world tour in China, South Korea and the United States, Cyril and his band are making a stop in Singapore to bring his distinctive style of Anglo-French rock music to the Esplanade."

-Tubes Inc

Learn more about Cyril and his music at www.myspace.com/tubesinc.

"Who is Cyril?" you may ask. If you watched Notre Dame de Paris at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in November 2006, you'd remember him play the Poet Gringoire!

ABBA Mania

ABBA’s timeless songs were written to be enjoyed LIVE and ABBA MANIA gives you just that. Two hours of uplifting, dance inducing hits, as the last concert that ABBA ever gave is recreated on stage in a tribute concert. All the costumes, the lights, the music and the memories of ABBA, altogether in one unforgettable night.

-Lunchbox Productions.

Sure it was enjoyable, unfortunately, it just felt like a mass karaoke session. Thankfully, the two female leads had synchronised some groovy moves pegged to those hit songs.

The Vagina Monologues

"The Vagina Monologues is an award winning play that has been performed internationally to critical acclaim. Eve Ensler's rich text lends itself to many different interpretations, allowing a keen insight to the lives of women across the spectrum. It makes you laugh, cry, seethe and shudder while it informs, educates, illustrates and inspires but above all, The Vagina Monologues makes you deeply aware about humanity. The stories shared are all real. Be it a happy take of a budding romance or a passionate love affair; a coming to age story of poignant self discovery or the painful sharing of a forgotten memory - neglect; domestic abuse, rape. These stories never fail to strike a chord with all - men or women.

-Zebra Crossing Production.

The Vagina Monologues, or VM for short, comprise of at least 10 separate anecdotes, engaging the audience in every element of anticipation, sometimes disgust, but mostly humour. If I had to pick a favourite, the one which tickled me the most, it'd be a tie between "Because He Liked to Look" and "The Woman who made Vaginas Happy".

In the former act, theatre veteran Loke Loo Pin (if you remember the TCS Channel 5 drama series "Triple Nine" where she plays the superintendant of cops Lim Yu Beng and gang?) deliberately renders her dead-pan face and monotonous voice in re-enacting her first sexual encounter with a man named Bob, who "needed to see her". Describing her vagina as akin to furniture just so she'd get her mind off it, and not saying the "vagina" word aloud except with the use of the V-shaped sign using her hands, Loke impresses the audience in stirring up a balanced mix of sarcasm and honesty.

The other act, "The Woman who made Vaginas Happy", traces the life of a geeky-looking girl who turned to an incredible "moaner". She is then serviced by a lawyer-turned-butch-cum-dominant, who slowly explains her purpose in "helping" other moaners like her. A series of laughter erupts when both characters illustrate the various moaning tones during sex, from a combi-clit-cunt moan to a elegant moan, and from a mountain-top moan to a convent-girl moan.

As always, a stellar cast that comprised Bernie Chan, Sabrina Renee Chong, Asha Edmund, Elnina, Samantha Kan, Loke Loo Pin, Eleine Ng, Judy Ngo and Elizabeth Tan did not disappoint. Director Loretta Chen impresses yet again with this season's The Vagina Monologues. If you have a chance, do take time out and catch this hilarious comedy that you cunt, I mean, can't, possibly miss!

*Note: This show is rated M18 for strong adult themes and language. Tickets still available at Sistic. Hurry before it ends its run on 12th Oct 08.