Don't Call Him Mr. Mari Kita

written and performed by Julian Wong
featuring the music of Zubir Said
Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre, Singapore 

I missed the previous staging of this WILD RICE concert and was glad to finally catch it over the weekend. Written and performed by the extraordinarily talented Julian Wong and directed by Ivan Heng, it's a joyous and tender celebration of the music of Zubir Said, the man who famously composed Singapore's national anthem.

Wong and his wonderful team of vocalists and musicians take us on a trip down memory lane as we learn about Pak Zubir's life and decades-long contribution to the local music scene. We are treated to gentle tunes of nationalist fervour, romantic film duets from the golden age of Singapore cinema and the many songs he composed for students, only a few of which are sadly used in schools today. When an instrumental version of the national anthem is finally played, it sends reverential chills down one's spine.

Central to Don't Call Him Mr. Mari Kita is the idea of legacy. Wong was a student of the late Iskandar Ismail who encouraged him to pursue his dreams of studying music abroad. Iskandar was taught by Pak Zubir himself. And it is especially heartening to see Wong, now a celebrated music educator, share the stage with his own students. This is not just an ode to his teacher's teacher but a blessing passed from one generation to the next.

The show is (deservedly) sold out for the remainder of its run but a small number of standing tickets have just been made available. Please do not miss out on this glorious musical event.

The Crystalwords score: 4/5