Indulgence

Spent the late afternoon in the Black Box theatre at the National Library Building on Victoria Street, and was very glad to be there. Quite a few of our drama guys were in attendance also for Family, an engaging play that I'd never heard of before. I think it's a homegrown piece, based on the matriarch of a big Chinese family which establishes itself in Singapore , involving numerous trials and tribulations.

I can't remember having a bad afternoon or evening in any black box style production in this country. And this was no exception with the usual virtues on display: great ensemble work: beautifully economical sets, making much of little in highly imaginative ways; a delightful physicality in performance; nicely measured and cleanly executed lighting and sound; a desire to engage with experience in a serious yet entertaining manner. It was especially pleasing to see one of our old guys, the very talented Hadi, in action - and to recognise his growth as an actor.

The only downside I'm aware of in this 'local' style of theatre is a tendency to milk scenes for all they're worth in a somewhat self-indulgent manner. These groups are not afraid of a bit of melodrama. But perhaps that is an essentially Asian trait. And I suppose self-indulgence is a virtuous fault - it speaks of a confidence in communicating depths of emotion and experience