Theatre Performance Review: The Soldier & His Virtuous Wife

The Soldier & His Virtuous Wife《都是当兵惹的祸》

The Soldier & His Virtuous Wife is a musical comedy presented by The Theatre Practice. The show is written by Lou Pei-An (Leader of GreenRay Theatre Company, Taiwan), and led by The Theatre Practice’s Assistant Artistic Director & veteran theatre director Wong May Lan. Based on the traditional Yuan opera “Qui Hu Flirts with His Wife”, this musical showcases an interesting modern take on Chinese opera, which was beautifully complemented by a live orchestra, an extravagant set, elaborate costumes, well-executed choreography, stunning lighting design and incredible sound design.

The story follows a pair of newlyweds, Mei Ying and Qiu Hu, who were separated a day after their wedding as the husband (Qiu Hu) was called to serve the army. During this separation, we witness a rich merchant, Master Li, who went from rags to riches, make multiple efforts to bring his dream of marrying Mei Ying come true. Obviously, he fails miserably as Mei Ying threatens to "cut his balls" if he ever tries again. Ten years later, after Qiu Hu had completed his service, he chanced upon a stunning young lady (who he failed to recognise as his wife) by the mulberry tree at the entrance of his hometown and attempts to seduce her with the 100 taels of gold he received from the emperor. The relationship between the couple falls apart due to this incident, and Mei Ying loses respect for her husband. Qiu Hu fought to regain her love and trust, and the story ends on a happy note where Master Li get jailed for his sly actions. I especially loved the set design for this production. It had a good mix of presentational and representational set elements that complemented the storyline very well. The mulberry tree, which was featured right at the start, was almost like a character on its own. The platforms that were moved around the stage were abstract but effective in representing different locations. The scene changes were also perfectly timed and were witfully led by signs signalling “After a while”, held by one of the characters. I enjoyed how the musical progressed throughout the 1 hour and 40 minutes. I did not do any prior research beforehand, so I was under the initial impression that it was a traditional musical play. I was pleasantly surprised and definitely caught off guard by the comedic elements that were introduced after. Though he was a perverted and manipulative narcissist, Master Li was one of the biggest stars of the show. His songs, which included a cover of Money, Money, Money by ABBA, were extremely fun and entertaining. The flashy set design of his scenes was very effective in emphasizing his wealth, and I appreciated how immersive and interactive his scenes were. This production proves that there is a huge potential in Singapore Chinese theatre, and I can definitely foresee The Theatre Practice competing against big international names one day.