The national icon was the undisputed star of the otherwise unsatisfying show that was not quite a musical or a concert

Local singer Kit Chan’s comeback is complete. After announcing a hiatus from the Mandopop scene in 2004, fans started seeing more of her last year with a lead role in the musical, December Rains. Last month, she released her new album Re-interpreting Kit Chan.

But what fans wanted most of all was to see her perform live once more as a singer, and so tickets to her two gigs at the Huayi Chinese Festival of Arts were quickly snapped up.

They were not disappointed. She was in fine form and her rich, warm tones, particularly in the lower register, kept the audience captivated on her familiar hits such as Heartache and Tug Of War.

As a not-quite-musical and not-quite-concert however, My Musical Journey was not quite satisfying.

There was a chronological narrative arc, delivered by former deejay Danny Yeo onstage, to give some structure to the programme. But it merely felt like an overlong gushy testimonial from a friend and fan.

The time would have been better spent having Chan do her thing, considering that the show was a relatively short 90 minutes.

Nor did the segments provide much of an insight into her musical journey. And even if there had been any interesting anecdotes or poignant reminiscences, one would rather have heard it from Chan herself.

The decision to have her perform with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and the Meridian Junior College Choir worked better. It was certainly a novelty hearing pop songs presented in this unusual fashion and the plaintive erhu solo of Worry was a lovely interlude.

For the most part though, the orchestra and choir played a supporting role as the unmistakable star of the evening was Chan.

She was delicate and vulnerable on the Cantonese ballad Waiting, beguiling on the late Leslie Cheung’s Chase and she shone on the show-stopping Dazzling. She even took the hoary old chestnut that was The Moon Represents My Heart and made the hackneyed sentiments sound heartfelt.

The inclusion of several covers was not surprising given that her new album consists wholly of them, but it does point to a certain conundrum.

Despite releasing more than 10 albums, she has relatively few big, well-known hits. It would be interesting to see how she handles the line-up when she gets round to doing her solo pop concert.

For the encore, she gave fans a mash-up of Michael Buble’s Home and her signature song, Home. While she was relaxed and comfortable on stage throughout, it would have been nice to see more of this playful side of her.

The gig proper ended with the Mandarin version of the Dick Lee-penned Home. As she held court with this National Day song in her white blouse and full red skirt, the message was clear: A national icon was back where she belonged – on stage and in the spotlight. She was home.

Straits Times . 15-Feb-2011

By boon chan, media correspondent
bchan@sph.com.sg

戴戒指“定”婚期，陈洁仪亲下厨烹调意大利面给爱人吃！

国产唱将陈洁仪，昨日与两名香港新锐导演曾国祥与尹志文，因都会爱情新片《恋人絮语》亮相宣传。

陈洁仪在《恋人絮语》中饰演曾志伟的老婆，18岁少年陈家乐的母亲，38岁的她，却被一名情窦初开的少年陈伟霆暗恋……

有一场戏，陈洁仪在目击丈夫曾志伟偷吃时，难过抽搐，陈伟霆不忍见心目中的女神伤心，情不自禁去亲吻她……

那场痛哭戏肉，陈洁仪诠释得很到位，她笑说，只拍了3个Take就OK，难顶的却是拍摄地点–那间钟点酒店环境又脏又臭，一踏进去就浑身不自在。

恋情一向被陈洁仪视为秘密花园，外人走不进去，但冲着“恋人”主题总得说说。据悉，她有个金融主管男友，相恋已长达7年，看来风打不掉，什么时候结婚啊？记者单刀直入。

陈洁仪昨日与两名香港新锐导演曾国祥与尹志文，为新片《恋人絮语》亮相宣传。
“我不会公布，但也不会隐瞒，你看到我无名指上有戴结婚戒指时就是啦……”她亮出双手，放眼“空荡荡”，看来还未当上某某太太。

陈洁仪谈情不爱高调，不爱男生张扬，一开始就决意不与圈内人发展恋情，即使拥有一刹那火花也会理智叫停。

能维持多年感情，一来已达熟龄，二来因为她在为事业冲刺时，也愿意为爱放慢脚步，平时啊，为男友制造小情小趣，下下厨，煮煮意大利面，沙律，喂饱男人的胃，也牢牢俘虏他的心。

倾诉失恋悲情　‘变态’好友狂笑

失恋时找“变态”好友疗伤！

陈洁仪坦承感情丰富，在情路上不怕挫折，说是“不经一事、不长一智”，但记者好奇，外表看来如此“冷静”的陈洁仪，若如片中遭遇情伤，如何自处？

“很不开心时，会把一些刻骨铭心感受写成诗，好好收藏起来，也会找死党出来倾诉，我有个好友很‘变态’，听人失恋就会大笑，我讲得越惨，她笑得越大声。”

《联合晚报》
（编辑：陈俐妃）

source: WanBao

[2010-09-23] 8days - Survival Kit (595)
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SINGAPORE: Toy Factory recently restaged the 1996 theatre production “December Rains” as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations.

Now, it is no easy task to restage a 1996 production that portray events which happened in the 50s and 60s in 2010, but Toy Factory manages to pull it off.

Directed by Goh Boon Teck and written by acclaimed local writer Liang Wen Fook, “December Rains” tells the story of a pair of star-crossed lovers, rich girl Li Qing (Kit Chan) and revolutionary guy Ying Xiong (George Chan), who separate when their mutual friend Ming Li (Jeffrey Low) fails to deliver a crucial letter from Li Qing.

Their pain and suffering is passed on to their next generation when Li Qing’s daughter Meng Yu (Judee Tan) falls in love with Ying Xiong’s adopted son Yang Guang (Zachary Goh) but is forbidden to see him due to her mother’s conflict with Ying Xiong.

The storyline reminds me a lot of the Taiwan Qiong Yao melodramas in the early 90s that feature tragic heroines and feels a little cliched, but the show was enjoyable on the whole.

It also wouldn’t hurt to spend a tad more time exploring how Li Qing and Ying Xiong fell in love, instead of having Li Qing become instantly attracted to Ying Xiong at school purely based on what her classmates tell her about him.

The stage design is very inventive, with layers of nylon ropes that serve to simulate the rain as well as act as a translucent ‘curtain’ in other scenes of the show.

Used in that way, the device manages to draw the audience’s attention to the characters in front of the rope ‘curtain’, while still allowing them to see the dancers who perform behind it and add visual interest to the scene.

While international thespian George Chan, who had done big productions like “Miss Saigon” and singer-actress Kit Chan, who had starred in hit musicals like “Snow Wolf Lake”, headline this production, it is Low who steals the show.

He manages to convey the emotional conflicts that confront Ming Li very well through his body language and facial expressions, which also fleshed out his character and made it believable.

Still, it is undeniable that the biggest draw of the show is probably Kit Chan, whose appearance in “December Rains” marks her return to showbiz after a 19-month stint with a PR company.

Her beguiling voice brings each verse of the songs she performed in the musical to life and elicited thunderous applause every time she sang. The only problem is that she is perhaps a little too good.

Whenever she sings with the rest of the cast, such as her character’s duet with her daughter Meng Yu (Tan), her prowess as a singer shines through, ‘spoiling the market’ for the other cast members who are also no slouches in the singing department.

But all in all, the good outweighs the bad in “December Rains”, with audiences treated to two and a half hours of good acting, great singing from Kit Chan and her fellow cast members as well as some hauntingly beautiful music from Liang Wern Fook and singer-songwriter Jimmy Ye.

When I met Toy Factory’s head and “December Rains” director Goh Boon Teck just before the show, he told me that he felt lucky to have been able to keep working on theatre, his passion, and hoped that Toy Factory will see another 20 years.

If the genuinely entertaining “December Rains” is anything to go by, it should be a simple task for the theatre company to keep going till it turns 40.

“December Rains” runs from August 6-15 at the Esplanade Theatre. Tickets are available via SISTIC.

Source: CNA

Staging its first performance at the Esplanade Theatre on Friday night, December Rains proved to its audience that its plot transcends all language and cultural barriers.

Attending the gala night was my Indian colleague, who for the first time, was watching a Chinese play. Thank goodness for English subtitles.

Almost moved to tears at the end of the musical, she quipped: “I actually enjoyed it.”

December Rains, directed by Toy Factory’s Goh Boon Teck, tells of a love story which is set in Singapore’s turbulent 1950s and 80s.

The protagonist, Li Qing, who is played by Singapore’s veteran singer Kit Chan, falls in love with politically-conscious student Ying Xiong, played by veteran performer George Chan.

The love story is delivered clearly throughout the two and a half hours – the pain of losing someone, of unrequited love, the dilemma between chasing one’s dream and one’s love – is delivered strongly by the various ballads, penned by the talented lyricist and composer Liang Wern Fook.

Set against a beautiful backdrop with clever usage of lighting to deliver the mood, Goh’s display of creative talent and minimalistic approach is evident.

After a six-year hiatus, Kit’s acting is moderate but her fantastic vocals make up for it and definitely wowed the audience, while George took to the stage with Broadway finesse and musical-like singing.

The ballads and score are also probably one of strongest aspects of the entire production – Liang and Jimmy Ye’s combined work in this musical dubbed as “Singapore’s first home-grown musical” is not to be underestimated.

But what really left an impression on us both was Jeffery Low’s performance, who plays Ming Li, a third party who waits in vain for Li Qing.

He managed to deliver an impressing performance, evident in his role as the aged Ming Li in the second half of the performance after the 20-minute interval.

As for the rest of the cast, it was a tad bit of a hit and miss, with awkward pauses spotted twice throughout the production, leaving the audience wandering what was amiss.

December Rain’s plot also falls a bit flat – if you’re looking for unexpected twists and surprises, this musical is definitely not it – in fact, its love story is predictable and very much like the mainstream Chinese, Korean and even Indian (that’s what my colleague said) love stories.

However, the restaging of December Rains and the way it has been modernised with new songs and score is once again proof that a local production should not be undermined.

Catering to the mainstream audience and encompassing many facets of a successful musical – from memorable ballads to a touching storyline, December Rains will be remembered by many as the play that left them reminiscing about the “what ifs” and “what-could-have-beens” of life. ]]> http://www.kitchan.com/2010/08/09/december-rains-a-musical-with-memorable-ballads/feed/ 2 http://www.kitchan.com/2010/07/30/ourvoicebox-exclusive-dec-rains-interview/ http://www.kitchan.com/2010/07/30/ourvoicebox-exclusive-dec-rains-interview/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:07:26 +0000 admin http://www.kitchan.com/?p=336 [There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

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[2010-03-10] MyPaper (663) (pdf)

source: MyPaper

本地华语音乐剧《雨季》阔别14年，今年8月将再度上演。这次的主角和导演都是全新阵容，但编剧仍是梁文福，大部分歌曲也保留了梁文福和叶良俊的创作。

TOY肥料厂（Toy Factory）为庆祝成立20周年，8月将再次上演本地第一部原创华语音乐剧《雨季》，并邀来陈洁仪担任女主角。

上周五的记者会，TOY肥料厂艺术总监，也是这次《雨季》导演吴文德，形容和陈洁仪的关系是“a long courtship”，因为他这些年来多次邀请陈洁仪演出舞台剧，对方的时间却一直无法配合。

终于有机会合作，陈洁仪开心地跟吴文德说：“Let’s have a hot date!”

这次的演出对陈洁仪也有重大的意义：“我在台湾和香港都演过华语音乐剧，讽刺的是，在新加坡却从来没有，It’s time。”

陈洁仪大方送吻

《雨季》说的是一个横跨50年代至80年代的爱情故事，一对恋人在时代的交替和社会的动乱中，恋情备受考验。

陈洁仪在剧中的情人是田伟鸿，这是两人继“Forbidden City：Portrait of an Empress”之后再次合作。

两人在记者会上默契不错，田伟鸿要陈洁仪告诉大家她在剧中有多爱他，她立刻大方地在他脸颊亲了一下。

陈洁仪与另一个男主角刘俊葳是第一次合作，但她看过他在舞台剧《李大傻》的演出，对他印象深刻，大赞“He’s so good”。

市场期待很大

选择再次演出《雨季》，吴文德表示，这10多年一直有人在问他要不要重演这部剧，所以他相信市场对《雨季》的期待很大。

梁文福也表示，与全新的组合合作，对他是一个重新学习的经验，他也相信这将是“新加坡华语音乐剧的一个里程碑”。

TOY肥料厂庆祝成立20周年，8月还有以下活动：

¤ Hailstones：放映TOY肥料厂过去6部经典作品。

¤ White Soliloquy：谢燊杰呈献的独角戏，向本地资深艺人白言致敬。

雨季》演出详情日期：8月6日－15日

地点：滨海艺术中心剧院

票价：$69, $89, $109, $129

售票：www.sistic.com.sg

热线：63485555

source: OMY

Straits Times Life!
by Adeline Chia

Pressed up against the wall, singer Kit Chan smoulders at the camera. A haughty ice-queen glare for a second-click; sexily parting her lips-click; elegantly popping the collar of her cream dress-click.

Big in the 1990s for her moving Mandarin and Cantonese ballads, she has been out of the news in recent years.

But she still works the camera like a pro and is clearly in her element. So it may come as no surprise that the 37-year-old is announcing a return to show business after being out of action for about six years.

She has plenty on her plate now. She has just completed filming her feature film debut in a Hong Kong movie, Love’s Discourse, a portmanteau film with five stories. It is the directorial debut of Derek Tsang, son of Hong Kong veteran actor Eric Tsang.

Next, she will headline December Rain, the Mandarin musical directed by Toy Factory Productions’ artistic director Goh Boon Teck, in August. She plays the female lead, Li Qing, a student in Singapore’s tumultuous 1950s, during the time of the Hock Lee bus riots.

And in the meantime, she is planning a new album and concert. She is coy about whether the album will include covers or new songs.

Her comeback is a little belated, considering that she had quit her job in public relations in April last year. She says she had been resting and travelling to recuperate from the corporate lifestyle.

She meets Life! at a salon in Orchard Road, where she gets her hair and make-up done. The glacial diva during the photo shoot melts into a girlish and chatty interview subject.

She says she lasted 19 months at her PR job. ‘Nineteen months,’ she says, savouring the idea. ‘That was a huge achievement for me. When I started, people were taking bets on when I’d quit. One month, three months or six months.’

She eventually left Hill & Knowlton because she had ‘learnt enough about the corporate world’.

She calls that job ‘an adventure’, adding: ‘I never said that I was going to retire from performing anyway.’

During her time in the firm, she picked up general knowledge of different sectors because of the variety of her clients, which ranged from the civil service and car companies to healthcare companies.

She also found pleasure in the little routines of office life, which opened up a whole new world to her.

‘There was the lunch hour, the office pantry, the stationery drawer, watercooler talk. All that was new to me.’

Her computer skills had also improved beyond knowing how to e-mail. Now she can put together a Powerpoint presentation in a short time. ‘With animation,’ she adds with a laugh.

These details may seem mundane compared to her high-profile first job of ‘regional star’.

Signed on by Singapore label Ocean Butterflies when she was 19, she became an overnight success here and in Taiwan and Hong Kong for hit songs such as Liking You and Heartache.

She released more than 20 albums and ventured into theatre, acting in the critically acclaimed Cantonese musical Snow.Wolf.Lake with Jacky Cheung, and local musical Forbidden City: Portrait of An Empress, where she played the young Empress Dowager Cixi.

She also sang the National Day theme songs Home and There’s No Place I’d Rather Be.

In 2004, she announced an indefinite break from her singing career. After chilling out for a few years and pursuing her own interests, she joined Hill & Knowlton in 2007 to stretch herself.

She says the relatively static corporate lifestyle caused her to put on about 5kg. She says, still judging herself by the strict standards of the entertainment industry: ‘I was so busy, I felt that I could eat whatever I could find. I really let myself go.’

She lost it all by jogging once a week and doing Pilates. She says: ‘I’m 37 and I have never been fitter in my life.’

Now that the office chapter of her life has come to a close, she seems eager to embrace a performer’s life again – but on her own terms.

She says she will not sign with any record labels (‘Record labels own you’) and she will work at a pace she feels comfortable with.

Embracing life as it comes seems to be her philosophy. She says: ‘I am a bohemian, it’s very hard to pin me down. Maybe that’s why I am not married.’

She adds though that she is still dating her long-time banker boyfriend, who is in his 40s.

‘I’m not trying to run away from marriage, I’m just busy chasing all my other to-do lists. We’re happy and comfortable. I believe I will get married one day – but I don’t need to plan it.’

Source: http://www.divaasia.com/article/7891