Latest news with #Broadway-inspired
Business Times
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Times
Miss GE2025? Sketch show revives election's funniest moments
[SINGAPORE] Whether the 2025 General Election left you inspired, disappointed or doomscrolling into the early hours, the latest edition of Fat Kids Are Harder to Kidnap is here to put it all into satire and song. The long-running parody series – a kind of Singapore version of Saturday Night Live – weaves together Broadway-inspired show tunes and uniquely Singaporean quirks into one gloriously chaotic sketch show. Everything that became the stuff of memes in April and May has been repackaged into patter, puns and punchlines. These include Workers' Party candidate Alexis Dang and the public fixation with her distractingly good looks, and Singapore Democratic Party's Gigene Wong, whose jaw-dropping racial slur ended her political career and possibly that of her running mates. Alexis Dang's distractingly good looks are made fun of in 'Fat Kids Are Harder to Kidnap: The Musical'. PHOTO: BT FILE Of course, the People's Action Party isn't spared, either. David Neo's confusing 'the sun didn't rise just because I woke up' speech, Ong Ye Kung's over-extended 'co-driver' analogy, Ng Chee Meng's request not be appointed to the Cabinet, and Gan Kim Yong's much-memed 'Task Force Man' moniker are affectionately turned into parody and pratfalls. Even the prime ministerial succession saga – when no one was quite sure which fourth-generation leader would clinch the role – has been reimagined as a game of musical chairs, set to the dramatic strains of Game of Thrones. Perhaps it's no surprise that the script comes from seasoned journalist Jeremy Au Yong and his ex-journalist wife, Melissa Sim. Together, they know the political beat and how to toe the line with a wink. With decades in the newsroom between them, they're well-versed in where the out-of-bounds markers lie – and how to twirl just shy of them. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up The saga over who would succeed Lee Hsien Loong (left) as prime minister, which involved Lawrence Wong and other fourth-generation leaders, is affectionately reimagined as a game of musical chairs. PHOTO: BT FILE Sim, who left journalism to head theatre company How Drama, directs the show starring Ross Nasir, Teoh Jun Vinh, Jo Tan, Jon Cancio and Tiara Yap – with music direction by Eugene Yip and choreography by Vernon Huang. Fat Kids, however, tackles more than just politics. It also taps into the neurotic quirks of Singaporean life. In one skit, overprivileged tai-tais take a crash course on how to spend their Community Development Council vouchers. In another, a group of Singaporeans undergo therapy to unpack the frustration of being allotted just one parking space or being forced to shower before their morning commute. Talk about First World problems. Then there's the delightfully absurd 'toy craze' segment, where Labubu, Mofusand, Hello Kitty and friends spiral into kawaii chaos and identity crises, thanks to toy makers constantly cross-marketing and 'cross-dressing' them. The cast of 'Fat Kids Are Harder to Kidnap: The Musical' comprises (from left) Jo Tan, Teoh Jun Vinh, Tiara Yap, Jon Cancio and Ross Nasir. PHOTO: JON CANCIO At its heart, Fat Kids isn't just about roasting public figures or poking fun at national quirks. It's about holding up a mirror – funhouse-style – to our foibles. It's about reminding us that laughter might just be Singapore's most underrated coping mechanism. Fat Kids Are Harder to Kidnap: The Musical runs from Aug 1 to 3 at Wild Rice @ Funan. Tickets from
The Citizen
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Jonathan Roxmouth's going Broadway
Jonathan Roxmouth is a performer amongst performers, and his new Broadway-inspired show promises to get audiences of all ages going. He's a performer amongst performers. Jonathan Roxmouth can tickle ivories like few musicians can draw from their instruments. And he's back at the stage where it all began for him almost two decades ago at the Teatro stage at Montecasino, this time with a full orchestra at his command and a show designed to time-travel audiences into comfort and familiarity. Roxmouth has described My Favourite Broadway as more than just another concert. He called it a love letter to the golden age of musicals. 'The whole show is about nostalgia,' Roxmouth said. 'Musical theatre tends to carry a lot of memories for people. They saw that show with their sweetheart, or their kid, or their grandfather took them to see it. It's personal.' But he noted, audiences must not expect just another trip down memory lane. He has upped the ante. 'It's Broadway like they've never heard or seen it before,' he said and added that with a full 32-piece Egoli Symphonic Orchestra on stage, it's going to be a blast. 'Orchestral shows aren't as common here as they should be,' he said. 'To hear the music is one thing. To see it performed by 32 people right in front of you. That's a completely different experience.' Catchy showbiz tunes The connection people have with Broadway music, Roxmouth shared, goes far beyond catchy tunes. 'We all grew up having stories read to us. Musical theatre is just storytelling with music,' he said. 'Songs like Bring Him Home, now who doesn't have a child or a partner they wish they could see again? And Music of the Night, for everyone's wanted to say 'I love you' but didn't know how. These songs become our stories. It's therapy, with amazing music.' And in a world teetering on the edge of chaos, Roxmouth believes theatre is more important than ever. 'I don't like using the word escapism, but right now, it's better than travelling to get away from daily life,' he said. 'Go out. Get your heart warmed instead of just sitting at home in front of a heater. We're lucky in Johannesburg, we've got places like Montecasino, with safe parking, great restaurants, and a show on top of that. It's important to get out and not let the news weigh you down.' ALSO READ: It's lekker, messy creativity and art Theatre is magical. He likened the thrill of live theatre to watching a tightrope walker. 'They could fall. Things could go wrong. That makes it even more exciting when everything goes right,' he said. 'There's no 'pause for a bathroom break' like Netflix. This is happening, live, in front of you.' And for naysayers that doom-preach theatre's inevitable death, well, Roxmouth doesn't buy it. 'Audiences are changing, yes, but the magic of seeing a live human being do something extraordinary right in front of you and that's never going to change.' Extraordinary homecoming This show is a homecoming for Roxmouth, marking his first musical theatre appearance in South Africa since 2017. 'It's been eight years since I performed a musical at home,' he said. 'I've been all over the world, but this is special. I get to come back to the very theatre where it all began for me.' With new glitzy costumes, production surprises, and a setlist that includes both beloved classics and unexpected gems, Roxmouth is pulling out all the stops. 'There are songs audiences will expect and a few they'll never expect from me, but they'll love them anyway,' he said. 'There's a moment at the start of Act Two involving a piano that I've been dreaming about for years. I'm finally doing it.' Despite his extensive globetrotting, from Asia to Europe and then some, Roxmouth said nothing compares to a South African audience. 'South Africans have a lack of restraint when they love something. They let you know, loudly and immediately,' he said. 'That energy, that honesty, it's like nowhere else in the world.' My Favourite Broadway runs for eight shows only at Montecasino's Teatro from 25 July to 3 August 2025. Tickets at Webtickets. NOW READ: Dire Warnings of TV's Handmaid's Tale
Tom's Guide
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis are totally unhinged in this campy '90s comedy — stream it free on YouTube
'Death Becomes Her' fooled me the first time I saw it. I saw the weird effects and the hole in Goldie Hawn's stomach, and wrote it off as a glossy, over-the-top comedy. But after rewatching it years later, it's clear this movie knew exactly what it was doing. "Death Becomes Her" is actually a razor-sharp satire disguised as a campy farce, and it's way more ruthless — and relevant — than it gets credit for. There's actually a lot of substance here. It serves up some brutal commentary on aging, beauty standards, and how women are punished for daring to lose their youth. Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn go all in, and Bruce Willis gives one of the weirdest, most satisfying performances of his career as a nervous, aging plastic surgeon stuck between two immortal narcissists. People remember 'Death Becomes Her' for its outrageous visuals (or they're reminded now thanks to its popular Broadway-inspired TikTok memes), but what's aged best is the writing. The jokes are mean. The characters are absurd. The message still lands. It predicted the influencer era, Botox addiction and toxic body culture with almost uncomfortable accuracy. And it's free to watch right now on YouTube. "Death Becomes Her" is a dark comedy about two women who are obsessed with youth, beauty and destroying each other. One of them is Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep), a former stage star who thrives on attention and can't stand the idea of aging. Her longtime rival, Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn), is quieter at first but just as driven by jealousy and resentment. The two have been locked in a petty and extremely toxic competition for years, mostly centered around one man. That man is Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis), a plastic surgeon who was originally Helen's fiancé, but Madeline stole him away just to prove she could. By the time the main story begins, the marriage has fallen apart. Ernest is bitter and drunk, Helen has vanished, and Madeline is starting to panic about her fading looks and stalled career. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Then Helen shows up again, looking younger than ever. That's when things spiral into madness. Madeline discovers a secret potion that grants eternal youth, sold by a mysterious woman named Lisle (Isabella Rossellini). Of course, there's a catch, and soon both women have taken the potion. Instead of solving their problems, it turns them into indestructible corpses who keep fighting, literally tearing each other apart in a war of insults, injuries, and perfect outfits. "Death Becomes Her" is a sharp, strange comedy that doesn't really feel like anything else from the early '90s. The cast is great, for one thing. Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis all play against type, and it works. Streep and Hawn are two aging rivals fighting to stay young, and Willis is stuck in the middle as their unhappy, slightly terrified plastic surgeon. And you won't find anything as crazy as Streep's performance here. If you're a fan of her work, it's a must-watch. You don't have to be into dark comedies or '90s movies to enjoy this. If you've ever watched a movie about people going too far to hold onto their youth or image, this one goes all in. The effects are intentionally over-the-top, and it might even turn a few stomachs. But it's nothing so creepy that it veers off into horror. It's still catty, lighthearted fun that only Streep and Hawn could provide. The movie also holds up better than you might expect. It moves quickly, the jokes still land, and the themes haven't aged at all. Watching it now, it's easy to see why it became a cult favorite, especially with how it balances comedy with something a little darker underneath. And I'm so glad that it's come back to please TikTokers with its Broadway adaptation. Watch "Death Becomes Her" free on YouTube
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Shazahn Padamsee- Ashish Kanakia wedding: Bride-to-be to host a Broadway-inspired evening during pre-wedding festivities
Actor Shazahn Padamsee is all set to tie the knot with businessman Ashish Kanakia on June 5, and while their pre-wedding festivities are going to have traditional rituals like the haldi and sangeet, a source close to the couple reveals that they are planning a Broadway-inspired evening for one of their pre-wedding celebration. 'This celebration draws inspiration from Shazahn's father, the late Padma Shri Alyque Padamsee, and her family's legacy in Indian theatre. The event will be not just be a party, but a live musical celebration, paying a homage to theatre, and featuring retro performances in full Broadway-style,' the source shares, adding that the evening is being curated by Shazahn herself, in collaboration with her sister, producer Raell Padamsee, theatre director Quasar, and her mother. The source further informs that their extended theatre family, some close friends and veteran artists from the stage, will be performing at the night. After tying the knot on June 5, Shazahn and Ashish will also host a grand wedding reception in Mumbai for their industry friends and family. Shazahn and Ashish's love story began through a mutual friend who introduced them. While it took its sweet time, the couple began dating soon and got engaged in November 2024. Now they are set to get married on June 5. The actor is known for her roles in films like Rocket Singh: Salesman of The Year, Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji and Housefull 2. She was recently seen in Neil Nitin Mukesh and Jacqueline Fernadez-starrer web series Hai Junoon. As for Ashish, he is the CEO of MovieMax Cinemas and Director at Kanakia Group.
