Welsh singer Shirley Bassey’s James Bond theme song Goldfinger. Taiwanese singer-songwriter Tsai Chen-nan’s Hokkien classic Silver Wrapped In Gold. Gen Z TikTok sensation JVKE’s earworm Golden Hour.– can pull together such a clashing or chapalang set of references and turn them into comedic and melodic gold?
It is a marvel how Broadway Beng has captured the language, sounds and aesthetics of a specific generation who grew up like him – caught in between East and West, Hokkien and English, a child of both highbrow and popular culture.A quick straw poll confirms that Tan’s audience members are mostly in their 50s and above, so Tan jokes if the smattering of younger audiences present have mistaken this for Hong Kong superstar Jacky Cheung’s show .
A medley composed of old Television Corporation of Singapore’s drama theme songs is wistful for many. The theme song of popular Japanese Occupation-era historical drama The Price Of Peace was in fact originally sung by Tan himself.The former West End performer can belt out tunes from Miss Saigon and Little Shop Of Horrors, do a Michael Jackson impression, then swiftly dole out Hong Kong Canto-rock band Beyond’s Boundless Oceans Vast Skies.
Director Selena Tan has effectively structured the show around Tan’s experience of middle age, a simple yet rich trope that makes the story of Broadway Beng resonate.