Peranakan Play in Singapore
Every year (usually in October), the Gunong Sayang Association from Singapore will produce a Peranakan play/ production. It usually lasts for 2-3 days and is a must-watch for the Peranakan community in Singapore and even the other Peranakans elsewhere. The plays are usually in the Peranakan patois, and have English translation. It is opened to the public.
The list of productions by Gunong Sayang:
1985 Buang Keroh Pungot Jernih (Let Bygones Be Bygones)
1986 Lepas Jembatan Buang Tongkat (The Ingrate)
1986 Menyesal (Regrates)
1987 Zaman Sekarang (Times Have Changed)
1989 Biji Mata Mak (Apple Of His Mother’s Eyes)
1990 Tak Sangkah (Unexpected)
1990 Sudah Di Janji (Fated)
1991 Salah Sangkah (Wrongly Accused)
1992 Nasib (Fate)
1995 Manis Manis Pahit (Bitter Sweet Memories)
1996 Kalu Jodoh Tak Mana Lari (Destiny Of Love)
1997 Bulan Pernama (An Auspicious Full Moon)
1999 Janji Perot (Pre-birth Pact)
2000 Chueh It Chap Goh (Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining)
2001 Hujan Balek Ka Langgit (The Impossible)
2002 Anak Udang Anak Tenggiri (Blood Is Thicker Than Water)
2003 Kipas Cendana (The Sandalwood Fan)
2004 Buang Keroh Pungot Jernih (a revamped version)
2005 Belom Mati Belom Tau (The Unpredictable)
2006 Mama Rosa (Grandma Rosa)
2008 Mak Chim (The stepmother)
Main Wayang, a private Peranakan company from Singapore, has also produces plays relating to the Baba Nyonya community, with the aim of introducing the Peranakan culture to the youth. Their maiden show is the Bibiks In Parliament (2005).
More Peranakan Plays
2009 saw the surge in Peranakan plays which could be contributed to the hit series, The Little Nyonya. The Peranakan Association produced Bedrooms/Bilek Roda Hidop, while MediaCorp VizPro produced the big scale Peranakan Ball.
The Peranakan Ball musical is based on the story of Cinderella and while it stars Jeanette Aw as Bee Tin, a Nyonya servant in a wealthy Peranakan household – much like her role in The Little Nyonya, however, the musical has nothing to do with drama series. But that didn’t t stop the crowd from coming.
While the former had good reviews, however the Peranakan Ball had mixed reviews.
Peranakan Plays in Malaysia
The scene seems to be much quieter in Malaysia. However, if one is lucky, one can get to catch Kenny Chan playing the role of the matriach in fuctions & dinner shows. Kenny is usually accompanied by his wife who plays the character of the Chinese kay poh chee, Ah Chim.