Kopi Shop Rock
reviewed by Kenneth Lyen

Words: Leon Foo
Music: Melissa Liew and Jordan Tan
Directors: Megan Chia, Leon Foo
Producers: Ong Boon Lerk, Emmanuel Duncan Chua
Music Director: Melissa Liew
Cast: Eunice Ng, Francis Cheah, Teo Jin Kuang, Qin Zhiqian, Julia Kan, Susie Ann Smith, Shawn Chan, Evelyn Ong, Kelvin Kek, Chan Kin Yew.

There is a certain element of risk when watching a student production. In most instances one needs to be mentally prepared to try to overlook potential shortcomings. Fortunately, in the case of Kopi Shop Rock, one's trepidations were rapidly dissipated with the very first scene which established the furtive love between the protagonists.

Set in the 1970s, the musical revolves around two rival kopi shops, and three love triangles. Initially it seems that it is going to be a Romeo and Juliet story with the children of the opposing kopi shops falling in love. But the introduction of an external hostile force, namely the Jade Dragon Clan, immediately dismantles the Shakespearean structure.

Joshua (Francis Cheah), the son of kopi shop owner, Mr. Kwan (Qin Zhiqian), is in love with Eliza, (Eunice Ng), the daughter of opposing kopi shop owner, Rose Chan (Julia Kan). However, Eliza’s sister, Melody (Susie Ann Smith), is jealous of their relationship, and she tries to lure Joshua away.

Then there are Mr. Kwan and Rose Chan, owners of these antagonistic kopi shops, who compete with each other for customers. They have known each other several years earlier, and might have married, were it not for Rose's decision to pursue her dream of becoming a cabaret singer. They betray a residual attraction to one another, but to complicate matters, one of Rose's admirers, Towkay Teo (Chan Kin Yew) continues to woo her, and she seems to reciprocate.

The third love triangle is between Rose's niece, Sally (Evelyn Ong), and two young workers for Mr. Kwan, Seng (Shawn Chan), and Allen (Kelvin Kek).

Teo Jin Huang plays Ah Long, the leader the Jade Dragon Clan, and he goes round extorting "protection" money from the two kopi shops. He steals the show with his energetic performance. Melody, Rose Chan's daughter, seduces him, and buys time for the kopi shops to raise money to pay him. After performing a strident rap, he declares "I have no tune, but I have Melody", to hilarious applause.

The general standard of singing and acting was excellent for a student cast. The direction was superb, and the comic timing impeccable.

The script was consistently intelligent, subtle, and witty. The dialogue sparkled, and the lyrics were refreshing, like "not kopi shop inclined" rhyming with "mind". Often the unfinished sentences, the unanswered questions, the pregnant pauses, were so cleverly designed, that it tore right through the usual Asian audiences' reserve, and induced uncontrollable guffaws.

The songs were well-written, with beautiful melodic lines. The band was commendable, but investment in a higher quality keyboard might help enhance the quality of the accompaniment. My only gripe is that there were not enough songs, and I would have liked to alter the ratio of dialogue to song in favor of the latter.

One could quibble about small issues, like the excessive symmetry of the love triangles, whose resolutions were perhaps a little bit too facile. The choreography was good. The sets, though simple, were ingenious.

I thoroughly enjoyed this most memorable musical. With a little bit of reworking, I think it can make it to the commercial stage. The Law IV team must be congratulated for such a brilliant production. Not only have they have upheld the long tradition of fine original musicals, but they have raised the bar (pun intended).

Kopi Shop really rocks!
http://kopishoprock.blogspot.com/

21 September 2007