National Day Charade

by Thomas Lim
WILD RICE
Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre, Singapore

National Day is around the corner and it's a time when we are implored to show our love for the country in big ways. We dutifully display flags outside our homes and wear red and white outfits while upbeat National Day songs play on repeat over the speakers. And then there's the biggest spectacle of them all: the National Day Parade (NDP), that multimillion dollar military operation that takes a year to plan and is meant to represent all Singaporeans. But does it? 

National Day Charade, written and directed by Thomas Lim and presented by WILD RICE, offers a cheeky yet sobering take on this landmark event, seeking to spotlight stories that don't quite make it into the grand, nation-building narrative that we get fed every year.  

Featuring a mix of comedy, drama and interactive elements, we are brought on a whistle stop tour of all things NDP-related. We are welcomed by bubbly emcees who tick off the country's four main racial groups (Chinese, Malay, Indian and Others). We attend a meeting of the military organising committee who are keen to ensure that everything is smooth sailing. We explore the evolution of NDP songs over the decades, from rousing to introspective. A key strand involves giving Singapore, portrayed as a hapless, comically oversized little red dot, a "self-care day" to reflect on the country's relationships, attitudes and approach to life. Does Singapore need a bit of therapy? 

It's all very clever and entertaining and there are great performances by the ensemble cast of Shane Mardjuki, Andrew Marko, Krish Natarajan, Nurulhuda Hassan and Deonn Yang. Marko, in particular, is a delight as he gamely asks the audience for stimuli and then proceeds to write and perform an entire NDP song on the guitar (ours featured otters, chicken rice and Mustafa Centre and was a complete hoot). 

Photo Credit: Wild Rice

However, the vignette-heavy format and formulaic direction quickly loses steam. A character memorably remarks that every outstanding NDP needs an "emo moment" and that seems to be exactly what Lim strives for here. Each scene ends on a suitably momentous punchline followed by a blackout. We are almost nudged into applauding before the next scene starts up. I missed the emotional heft and smooth narrative arcs of Lim's Grandmother Tongue, Supervision and Straight Acting, plays which quietly teased out heartfelt local stories about language, surveillance and housing. 

Where National Day Charade ultimately shines is in its celebration of diverse voices. A montage of NDP songs interspersed with stories of everyday Singaporeans trying to navigate life in this country strikes a chord. A series of videos spotlight exactly the kind of Singaporean stories we want to celebrate on the nation's birthday: the queer community, the activists, the independent media. How refreshing would it be if there was a parade that held space for these individuals alongside shiny military contingents and sparkly fireworks? All we really want is a country that loves us in small ways. A place that truly allows us to feel at home. Hopefully we find it.

The Crystalwords score: 3/5