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Some fans will!
BY ZHOU JUNLI
THE show starts with the Architect from
the Matrix on a video wall saying, in
Matrix fashion: "This show is older than
you know."
With this line, veteran Australian actor
Helmut Bakaitis captures the spirit of the
annual Christmas comedy, Chestnuts Unloaded.
This two-man parody has come a long way
since its humble beginnings seven years ago
playing to a half-empty Jubilee Hall.
The sixth version of the show opened on
Wednesday night at the DBS Arts Centre.
It's a feat unheard of in local theatre - no
other production has survived as long.
[ ] SOLD OUT
Conceptualised by funnyman Jonathan
Lim and his long-time collaborator Sean Yeo,
Chestnuts Unloaded is so popular that tickets for the first night were sold out.
Some loyal fans have even rescheduled
their holidays to catch the show.
"This is a far cry from our first-ever performance at Jubilee Hall seven years ago," said
Jonathan in an interview with The New Paper on Sunday.
"Most of the people who attended were our
family and friends, and we knew almost everyone in the audience."
While others might have been disheartened by the poor turnout, Jonathan has never
thought of giving up on the show.
He said: "Judging from the good
response, we knew we had hit up
on the correct formula, and that's
why we still keep running the
show year after year."
"The show is simply excellent.
There are so many good things
about the show it's hard to describe it in a few words," said
Ms Victoria Ho, 20, a student,
who has seen two productions
before this one.
Even people who missed the previous
years heard so many good things about it
that they marked this show down in their calendar early in the year.
"I've been looking forward to the show the
whole year and I really enjoyed myself. The
show had me laughing at every moment,"
said Mr Tan Shou Chen, 22, a full-time national serviceman.
What began in 1996 as a two-man spoof
with a modest budget of $15,000 and a
crew of eight has expanded to this
year's $30,000 production requiring 17
helpers.
It might not sound like much, but
unlike other theatre productions in
Singapore, which get help from the
National Arts Council (NAC) and other sponsors, Chestnuts pays its way
entirely on its own.
"The money comes from ticket revenues, both from this show and the
other shows we do. Fortunately, we
have been able to stay afloat," said
Jonathan.
"We have requested funding from
NAC before, but it was unsuccessful because our show did not fall under their
definition of theatre, and so we did not
qualify for sponsorship."
[ ] ALL IS FAIR GAME
Moving away from the Christmas theme
for the first time, Chestnuts Unloaded spoofs
everything from movies to pop stars to local
celebs to even the typical Ah Huay in your
neighbourhood shopping mall.
Glen Goei, veteran stage actor and director
of local movie Forever Fever, said of this
year's show: "The show is very funny and I
enjoyed it very much. I'm definitely looking
forward to next year's show."
Chestnuts is definitely roasting on an open
fire - and it has been getting hotter with
each year.
What:
Chestnuts Unloaded Where: DBS Arts Centre When: Now till 23 December Rating: R(A), only for members of the
public aged above 18. Ticketing: From $19 to $25, at all Sistic outlets.
Copyright © 2003 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.
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