It’s a big night for Mandy, the opening of her beloved karaoke bar. To celebrate, she’s hosting an ‘Opening Night : Seventh Night of Christmas New Year aka Human Day Extravaganza’. With her boyfriend Xavier they are waiting for customers to arrive. Their anxiety escalates as no-one shows up. That is until the ghost of her mother and grandmothers turns up and Mandy’s focus moves to more personal matters.
Merlynn Tong’s semi-autobiographical piece is a fast paced, satirical family dramedy with a sharp contemporary feel. The play is constantly shifting our focus; between the real and fantasy, between earth and hell.
Director Courtney Stewart and her design team create this non naturalistic stage world. Gabriel Chan’s rapid fire lighting design together with Guy Webster’s loud, reverberating soundscape create an edgy world, emblematic of Mandy’s rattled psyche. The cast played well within well James Lew’s garish karaoke set. The show’s dramaturg was Jules Orcullo.
There’s a cast of four who each inhabit their characters well.
Merlynn Tong plays Mandy. Her character came across well. An intelligent, quirky, sensitive young woman, good natured, with a good sense of humour, sorting through her family’s dark past.
Seong Hui Xuan plays her mum, a mum who is sadly out of touch with her emotions. She is unable to express love for her daughter, nor any emotionless self care for herself.
Kimie Tsukakoshi plays the loud, judgmental, petulant, materialistic grandmother who rules the family with little regard for the consequences.
Zac Boulton is Mandy’s soft natured, go with the flow partner, who tries to be a calming influence for Mandy. He is forever telling Mandy corny jokes which do bring smiles to her face.
This is certainly not your average ghost story but it is creepy enough.
An international co-production with La Boîte Theatre and Singapore Repertory Theatre which has seen the play first performed at Brisbane’s La Boîte theatre, then had a season at the Singapore Rep theatre and now its concluding season at the STC, Melvynn Tong’s CONGRATULATIONS! GET RICH!, is playing Wharf 1 Sydney Theatre Company until the 14th December 2025.
Tags :
Congratulations! Get rich! Melvynn Tong, Courtney Stewart, Sydney Theatre Company, La Boîte Theatre, Singapore Repertory Theatre, Chinese New Year, karaoke bars, Zac Bolton, Kimie Tsukakoshi, Seong Hui Xuan,
