Supervision @ W!LD RICE Funan
After 2 cancelled shows because of construction delays to their new home in Funan, W!LD RICE finally puts up their first production, Supervision at the spanking new Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre at the already not-so-fresh Funan Mall (since the whole of Singapore has already been here after they got over Jewel).
What is Supervision about?
Old man Teck survives a stroke but is now wheelchair-bound. His daughter Jenny hires an Indonesian domestic helper, Yanti to take care of him at home instead of putting him up at a nursing home.
Drama ensues when Jenny the daughter seems to know every little shenanigans that takes place at home.
My thoughts on Supervision
Tbh this wasn’t a very exciting synopsis but somehow the compelling look in Yanti’s eyes on the poster made me want to watch it:
Plus there’s always something about seemingly simple storylines that will make me think ‘if they can bother to make a movie/play/show around such a plot, it must be good shit’.
And boy did I not regret my decision at all!
Janice Koh (she plays the daughter) was the only name among the 3 member cast I recognised, and she put up a solid performance as usual. However, the true stand-outs for me were Umi Kalthum Ismail as Yanti and Patrick Teoh as Teck!
Watching them really made me feel like I was witnessing, say, my elderly neighbour and his helper going about their days. There is a very cute and special camaraderie between the characters / actors (see I can’t tell anymore).
The plot and premise of the play would be very relatable for most of us living in a rapidly aging Singapore – tensions between an adult daughter and her elderly dad, a paranoid employer being overly suspicious of her new foreign domestic help, watching Yanti spend her off day at Paya Lebar, etc.
At first, it was mainly laughs as the dialogue and scenes on stage mirrored real life conversations heavily. However, the play reached its climax in an intense dialogue scene between Teck and Jenny before a heart wrenching ending.
Before I wipe clean…
Proud to say that I successfully held in my tears but can’t say the same about many in the audience as audible sniffles could be heard all round.
If like me, you are local AF and love to support local, Supervision runs from now till 18 Aug 2019 and you can still try to buy your tickets here (some nights are either sold out or selling fast).
Bonus thoughts about my virgin foray into Funan Mall
Funan to me felt like your heartland mall that happened to be built right smack in the city. Outside of the W!LD RICE theatre, everywhere I looked was mainly your slipper-clad Aunty / Uncle and their bespectacled children in tow.
If you wanna see your neighbours out and about in downtown, or you want to feel like a Singaporean in Singapore again (instead of a minority), Funan seems to be the place to go, for now, until the next Jewel pops up next month.