The Singapore Fringe Festival is coming soon and we thought it might be interesting to attend. After all, other Fringe festivals usually hold the promise that out of 600 or more performances, at least eight should be worth watching. Maybe three if you are in Seattle.
Apparently there are no rules on what makes a Fringe Festival fringey. This one is sponsored by M1 telecommunications, perhaps the equivalent of a Critical Mass bike ride in the United States being sponsored by Verizon.
The Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts is also involved with the festival, which may explain why some of the tv and radio ads seem to echo pro-family public policies. Singapore’s birth rate is quite low — only about 32,000 Singaporeans are born each year — and there are large financial incentives for families to have more children. The government also provides support to dating agencies.
What kind of performances are featured at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival? The “curators” of the festival, a group called Necessary Stage, have top billing and are presenting a production in partnership with the National Museum of Singapore.
I will let the festival program speak for itself since foreigners in Singapore are not allowed to interfere in domestic affairs, and that can include commentary on public policies such as those addressed in the performance.
”_____ Can Change”
Summary: Today we’re talking about change. Some people may think that change can be good or bad. We believe that we have it in us to change for the better.
We would like to distinguish between right and wrong behaviours. Basic values must be upheld and must stand as the cornerstone of any modern society we live in. For example, we need to create social stability, harmony and security. We need to value traditional families and the importance of marriage. Socially irresponsible behaviours such as racism, religious intolerance and alternative lifestyles threaten our nationhood – bringing adverse consequences to family and society at large.
We would like to present three plays about change: Singles Can Change, Homosexuals Can Change and Marxists Can Change.
______ Can Change is a presentation of three plays.
In ‘Singles Can Change’, a young career-driven woman is persuaded to contribute to society by getting married and having children. The laws of the government abet her journey from single hood to married mother. For example, government-supported dating agencies enable her to find a right match. Eventually, other laws such as assistance and grants act as incentives when the couple has children.
In ‘Homosexuals Can Change’, a young man begins a journey to irrevocably change from being a homosexual to being a heterosexual. Some may argue that such a change is tantamount to him going against the laws of nature, or his true self. However, through electro-therapy, church counseling and familial support – and perhaps by fighting his supposed natural inclinations – he is able to make that change.
Finally, ‘Marxists Can Change’ tells the true story of The Necessary Stage – from alleged to being Marxists according to a newspaper story in 1994, to being given a theatre space at a prominent Community Centre. Such a change involves many complex negotiations on the part of The Necessary Stage with the laws governing the arts in Singapore.
[On a side note, the title of each play includes "Can". Very Singaporean!]
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‘Homosexuals Can Change’ is a tad bit horrifying. ‘Electro-therapy’ Really?