The life of Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew isn’t exactly kept on the down-low. We’ve learnt all about what the founding Father of our nation did for us – his contributions made apparent through countless history books and iconic speeches. But little is known about Mrs Kuan Yew, his wife: Madame Kwa Geok Choo.
In a new play by Toy Factory Productions, a monologue that brings actress Tan Rui Shan to the forefront, we learn more about Madam Kwa’s illuminating life. No doubt, she’s an accomplished woman. Beyond being LKY’s wife, she’s our country’s very first female lawyer and a revolutionary leader of women’s rights back in the day. All the while, though, juggling her family duties and caring for her children. That was the one thing we could applaud Madam Kwa Geok Choo on, is that they thoughtfully portrayed the challenging balance of being a mother, wife, and career woman all at once.
But for a play written by award-winning playwright Ovidia Yu and directed by Toy Factory Productions’ Artistic Director Goh Boon Teck, we may have had higher expectations. Tan Rui Shan was a convincing enough actress in her role of Madam Kwa, but the script at times blurred the unwanted line between preachiness and melodrama. That was the main setback: while still a well-made theatre production, certain parts felt almost overly theatrical.
Give it a chance though – you can catch it from now to July 31 at Victoria Theatre, with ticket prices starting from $58. There are both English and Mandarin subtitles too.
