Cover ‘Por Por's Big Fat Surprise Wedding’ is Singapore Repertory Theatre’s newest production (Photo: Singapore Repertory Theatre)
‘Por Por's Big Fat Surprise Wedding’ is Singapore Repertory Theatre’s newest production (Photo: Singapore Repertory Theatre)
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The new play, directed by Dick Lee and written by Jo Tan, is an entertaining and convivial exercise in interactive dinner theatre
The wedding bash of the year is here, and it has everything: colourful costumes, food and drink, a family that definitely doesn’t have unresolved issues, and a beautiful matriarch only known as Por Por who’s ready for her next chapter of happily ever after. And she may or may not be the victim of a love scam.
Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding is Singapore Repertory Theatre’s (SRT) latest dinner theatre production, a form of interactive theatre mostly unheard of in Singapore, which brings audiences into the world of the play with through an interactive dining experience. It is a direct descendent of director Dick Lee’s Ah Kong’s Birthday Party, last staged in 1998 at the Orchard Parade Hotel (now known as the Orchard Rendezvous Hotel). This time, it is a Chinese wedding banquet held in a pop-up Indian restaurant at One Farrer Hotel, replete with a four-course fusion menu curated by chef Manjunath Mural, who earned one Michelin star in 2016 for Song of India. Everything seems perfect except for one tiny detail—Por Por has no groom.
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Above Uncle Adam (Ric Liu), Por Por (Koh Chieng Mun), and Ajeet (Chacko Vadeketh) in ‘Por Por's Big Fat Surprise Wedding’
Uncle Adam (Ric Liu), Por Por (Koh Chieng Mun), and Ajeet (Chacko Vadeketh) in ‘Por Por's Big Fat Surprise Wedding’
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Just like a true-blue wedding, you’ll be seated at a round table full of strangers as guests and friends of Por Por. (You’ll be grouped according to her different circles, including a “K-Drama Discussion Group”, the “Candy Crush National Team”, and the unfortunately-named “Miscellaneous” table.)
Caught in the middle of this hilarious family drama is Francis, played by a lovably detestable Edward Choy, Por Por’s uptight son who seems caught in a constant state of consternation. His public servant wife Rainy, masterfully played by Jo Tan who also wrote this play, has had too much to drink and has too much to handle. There’s their Gen Z daughter, Prudentia, who dreams of being an influencer; the Indian restaurateur, Ajeet, who is just happy to host his first Chinese wedding; Por Por’s loyal maid Flordeliza who is bedecked with university degrees; and Uncle Adam, a KTV chanteur who is definitely not out of his prime.
At the centre of it all is Por Por, played by the inimitable Koh Chieng Mun, who just seems happy to have all her family and friends in one place.
Above Uncle Adam (Ric Liu) and Ajeet (Chacko Vadeketh) engaging a table in ‘Por Por's Big Fat Surprise Wedding’
Uncle Adam (Ric Liu) and Ajeet (Chacko Vadeketh) engaging a table in ‘Por Por's Big Fat Surprise Wedding’
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It is certainly novel to watch the wedding, not as spectators but as participants (and sometimes reluctant singers with Uncle Adam onstage). But where the play really shines are the moments when the main action pauses and the audience tucks into the meal. Each character comes up to your table and divulges slivers of gossip. A server turns out to be Ajeet’s disgruntled nephew, complaining about unpaid labour, while Francis confronts Rainy for her drinking habits. (At my table, she quickly sets down her half-empty glass of wine in front of a gentleman’s plate and claims he requested it. When Francis leaves, she says with classic Singaporean brusqueness, “Sir, I take back ah?”—a masterclass in comedic timing.)
Each conspiratorial whisper reveals character, subtext, and the pulsing currents of tension undergirding their family dynamic, laying the groundwork for the play’s explosive climax.
Above A tense family moment between Prudentia (Tiara Yap), Francis (Edward Choy) and Rainy (Jo Tan)
A tense family moment between Prudentia (Tiara Yap), Francis (Edward Choy) and Rainy (Jo Tan)
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Of course, there’s not a lot of time to develop character, but playwright Jo Tan manages to weave in depth amidst the hilarity. Tiara Yap, who plays Prudentia, has little to work with within the one-dimensional Gen Z archetype she is given, but still manages to snag her moment of vulnerability. Francis becomes the poster child for the insecure man with wounded pride hungry to reassert control, while Rainy chafes against his neurosis and drinks to calm her nerves. And even if the play is named after her, everyone speaks around Por Por in this family drama rather than to her, leaving her silent until she is forced to reveal her hand.
All in all, the theatre-goer looking for something fresh and exciting with meaningful comedy will have a ball at Por Por. Gourmands, however, will be found wanting, for the four-course menu falls short of expectations. The first course, a mustard tandoor chicken kebab and crispy fish with prawn bharta, is too dry, while the lentil broccoli almond soup that follows, is suspect with a lingering taste of corn starch. Dessert redeems the menu with a lychee and longan kulfi, but even that is too sweet.
I’d venture, though, that the novelty of a shared experience, made possible only by the magic of the theatre, is what has got audiences flocking to Por Por—so much so that SRT has extended its run till December 3. There is no greater achievement than getting Singaporeans to talk to strangers, or pulling a usually-tepid audience off their feet to do a Bollywood dance, and the show somehow manages to do both. This year has been a good year for Singaporean theatre, and Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding will be remembered as a beloved romp full of fun and charm.
About
Ethan is a dining writer with Tatler Singapore. Trained in literary arts and filmmaking, their work has previously been published in Esquire Singapore, Men's Folio, and with the Asian Film Archive and the Singapore International and Film Festival, across a wide range of interests from gastronomy to fashion and arts criticism.
Work
Ethan writes about exciting news in the F&B industry, specialising in fine dining, exclusive spirits launches, and new restaurants. They are always looking for riveting voices to bring something fresh to an already-dynamic industry.
Follow them on Instagram at @faustiangourmand.
