Review: 'Detention Katong' is a great intro to theatre for teenagers
Duration: About 145 minutes with a 15-minute intermission
Dates: 17 Feb – 5 Mar 2017
Showtimes: Tue – Fri: 8pm, Sat & Sun: 3pm & 8pm
“Detention Katong” is a comedy musical set in an all-girls secondary school with a distinctive green uniform.
The story revolves around the upsetting of the social order when a model student falls in with the bad girls. However, there’s far more at stake here than just bad grades.
“Detention Katong” is directed by Selena Tan and George Tan, and is also written by Selena Tan, with contributing writing credits to Joel Tan. It stars Sebastian Tan (Mr Saw), Neo Swee Lin (Ms Ng), Suhaimi Yusof (Mr Ghazali), Darius Tan (Mr Cruz), Serene Chen (Linda Chin), Valerie Choo (Amanda Chin), Inch Chua (Serene), Munah Bagharib (Sharifah), Kimberly Chan (Sandra), Natalie Yeap (Chu Chu), Melissa Gan (Edwina), Sharon Sum (Melissa), Alyssa Lie (Kyra), Terence Tay (Luke). It is rated Advisory.
If you’ve ever gone to school in the east side of Singapore, you’re sure to notice the similarities between the fictional Geylang Girls Secondary School in “Detention Katong” and another girls’ school in Katong, which sets the mood for this irreverent (but appropriately so for students) musical.
While the play’s “High School Musical” vibes means that it’s perfectly safe for all ages (with only one mild cuss by the lead), it does poke fun at current affairs and the banality of some aspects of the education system in a tongue-in-cheek manner. That’s probably the most valuable aspect of the comedy — the safe but edgy fun serves as a gateway into more serious and more politically charged theatre productions for those interested.
Highlights
Sebastian Tan and Neo Swee Lin’s swath of performances
Beyond playing the school counsellor (Sebastian Tan) and discipline master (Neo Swee Lin), the two veteran actors also star as the parents of the other students in the production. In a scene which feature the families of the students, the duo switch roles and costumes in rapid succession to play the different couples. It’s an amazing showcase of their acting prowess that also doubles as humorous exposition. “Detention Katong” might feature many fresh faces, but it’s firmly anchored by the performances of these two seasoned thespians.
A charismatic performance by Valerie Choo
Amanda (Valerie Choo) is an engaging character, despite the fact that she plays the model student, an archetype that tends to lend itself to more bland portrayals. Choo strikes a fine balance between being cutesy and angsty, giving us a rounded depiction of the character that will strike a chord amongst students and ex-students alike. After all, who hasn’t had to live up to academic expectations while struggling with inner turmoil in their teenage years?
A highly energetic cast
Beyond the age differences of the cast members who play the student and teacher characters, the actors who play the Geylang Girls’ Secondary School students also impart a restlessness to their roles. Replicating the fidgety demeanour of teenagers adds a touch of authenticity to their roles as students, compared to the more measured, controlled behaviour of the teacher characters. It also adds a “high five” kind of enthusiasm to the production, while still allowing the more mature characters to add gravitas to the story.
Letdowns
Unclear audio for ensemble songs
The solo songs are easily understandable, even if they’re sung in exaggerated accents. However, the lyrics for the ensemble songs are often unclear, and these are often pivotal scenes that take the story in a different direction. Even though the melody is still recognisable, this takes away from the comedy and content of the songs.
Action dips after the intermission
Before the intermission, “Detention Katong” strikes a good balance between comedy and drama, and the story bounces along at a good pace. It feels like a different musical after the intermission, as the musical hastily wraps up storylines in a neat bow, with fewer comedic elements. Without as many jokes, some of the scenes contrast wildly with the first half, being rather intense and dramatic.
If you want to start children on theatre, “Detention Katong” is a great offering. For adults, it’s a nostalgic trip to our carefree schooldays.
Should you watch this? Yes. In fact, it’s especially suitable for students.
Tickets for “Detention Katong” are available on SISTIC.
Marcus Goh is a Singapore television scriptwriter, having written for Police & Thief, Incredible Tales, Crimewatch, and Point of Entry. He’s also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find him on social media as Optimarcus and on his site. The views expressed are his own.
