If you love talented thespians, satirical songs, and confronting racial stereotypes, you’re in luck. After a sold-out premiere in 2016, Dream Academy’s hit show Meenah and Cheenah is back for a second run this Feb 21-Mar 10, starring beloved local actresses Siti Khalijah and Judee Tan in the respective former and latter roles.
You already know these household names—Khalijah for her long list of local theatre credits and two Life! Theatre Awards for Best Actress; and Tan for her now-iconic Kim Bong Cha character in The Noose. And it wouldn’t be a Meenah and Cheenah show without them; the characters were pretty much written specifically for the two.
Directed by Selena Tan and featuring a witty script by Alfian Sa’at, the play consists of multiple sketches with Khalijah and Tan as different characters each time. See them go from primary school best friends on Racial Harmony Day to co-workers at a food court during Hari Raya Puasa, to Ming Dynasty princess Hang Li Po and her handmaiden in medieval Malacca.
But it’s not all just mindless laughs. Each sketch takes its liberties with Singaporean stereotypes and assumptions, turning them on their head to make important points about racial etiquette and the unspoken prejudices in our society. You can also expect some brand new material added this year, including that GoJek incident, of course. If you find yourself doubling up with laughter inside the theatre—yes, it’s probably because you’re Chinese.
Meenah and Cheenah runs from Feb 21-Mar 10 at Capitol Theatre. Tickets start from $60 here.
