DOCSLIB.ORG

Lim Boon Keng : the Musical

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

This document is downloaded from DR‑NTU (https://dr.ntu.edu.sg) Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Lim Boon Keng : the musical Stella Kon @ Lim Sing Po 2017 Lim, S. P. (2017). Lim Boon Keng : the musical. Master's thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71941 https://doi.org/10.32657/10356/71941 Downloaded on 09 Oct 2021 08:45:51 SGT LIM BOON KENG - THE MUSICAL STELLA KON @ LIM SING PO SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 2016 LIM BOON KENG - THE MUSICAL STELLA KON @ LIM SING PO School of Humanities and Social Sciences A thesis submitted to the Nanyang Technological University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts 2016 ii CONTENTS page Title ii Contents iii Acknowledgements v I. Lim Boon Keng - The Musical 1. SYNOPSIS AND LIST OF SONGS 1 2. THE LIBRETTO 3 3. NOTES i. Yu Loo and her fictitious descendants 46 ii. Lead sheets for four songs 47 II. An Exegesis of “LIM BOON KENG – THE MUSICAL” 1. Introduction: Why I wrote a work about Lim Boon Keng 57 2. The Importance of Dr Lim Boon Keng in Singapore History 2.1. A Brief Summary of the Life of Doctor Lim Boon Keng 59 2.2. Recent Rehabilitation of LBK’s reputation 61 2.3. Why the work takes the format of a musical 63 3. Lim Boon Keng - the facts and the fiction 3.1. Available Historical record of Lim Boon Keng’s public life 65 3.2. Interpretation and extrapolation on the private life of LBK 3.2.1. The first and second wives – Margaret and Grace 66 3.2.2. Robert, the elephant in the room 67 3.2.3. LBK – not in touch with his emotions 68 3.2.4. LBK - Sense of humour – meh si boh ku 69 3.2.5. Song Ong Siang 71 4. Lim Boon Keng as a Tragic Hero 4.1. What kind of tragedy is Lim Boon Keng’s? 71 4.2. Did Lim have a great character flaw leading to tragedy? 73 5. Lim Boon Keng and Chinese education 5.1. LBK’s Bilingualism 75 5.2. Lim Boon Keng – the English-speaking Confucianist 76 5.3. Lim Boon Keng’s Idea of a University 77 5.4. The Lu Xun Controversy 78 5.5. Was Lim Boon Keng obsessed by Confucianism? 79 5.6. Lim Boon Keng – an Educator ahead of His Time 80 iii 5.7. The Li Sao 82 5.8. Using this material in the Musical 83 6. The complicated loyalties of Lim Boon Keng 84 7. Evolution of the Musical: stages in writing over two decades 7.1. Boon Keng, a Rock Musical for Four Voices 1994 86 7.2. Blue Willow House 2004 87 7.3. Blue Willow House 2006 88 7.4. Victorian Days (2006) 88 7.5. Rickshaw Boy 2008 88 7.6. Boon Keng 2008 88 7.7. Baba Boon Keng 2009 89 7.8. Lim Boon Keng – Warrior of the Mind 2015 88 7.9. Lim Boon Keng the Musical 2016 90 8. The Prosody of the Musical 91 a) Works Cited 94 b) Appendices A. List of Lim Boon Keng’s Activities and Affiliations 98 B. Scripts of Previous Versions of this Musical 1. Boon Keng, 1993 102 2. Blue Willow House 2004 134 3. Victorian Days (2006) 219 4. Rickshaw Boy 2008 259 5. Baba Boon Keng 2009 (Outline) 309 6. Lim Boon Keng – Warrior of the Mind 2015 320 7. Lim Boon Keng – Warrior of the Mind 2015 320 iv Acknowledgements I am most grateful to Nanyang Technological University for supporting me as a research student; my supervisor Mr Daniel Jernigan, for his generous help and advice; Mr Lee Yew Moon for invaluable suggestions; and Ms Siti Sarah binte Daud for assistance in preparing the manuscript. Professor Lee Guan Kin, Distinguished Senior Research Fellow of Nanyang Technological University’s Centre for Chinese Language & Culture, has carried out extensive research on Dr Lim Boon Keng. Between 1990 and 2005, she conducted what amounted to a one-woman campaign in the field of Chinese- language Nanyang studies to advocate his rehabilitation of Lim Boon Keng. On behalf of Dr Lim’s friends and descendants, I would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to Proessor Lee. v LIM BOON KENG The Musical Libretto by Stella Kon Music by Desmond Moey 4. SYNOPSIS AND LIST OF SONGS 5. THE LIBRETTO 6. NOTES iii. Yu Loo and her fictitious descendants iv. Lead sheets for four songs LIM BOON KENG - The Musical © Stella Kon 2017 1 LIM BOON KENG THE MUSICAL - SYNOPSIS AND LIST OF SONGS SYNOPSIS SONG SECTION CONTENT TITLE BY 1. Post-War Trial Boon Keng’s story opens with the 1 Traitor Lim Boon ensemble disgrace and humiliation of his trial for Keng Collaboration. JENNY narrates: she is a descendant of Boon Keng’s sister. She was shocked to learn he was once on trial 2. LBK’s Singapore 1895. The chorus of Straits 2 Dr Lim Boon Keng ensemble Controversial Chinese argues about “Dr Lim Boon Nomination Keng” – then BK is nominated to the Boon Keng and Legislative Council. He thanks everyone 3 “Laugh at Life,” ensemble s with his catch phrase Merci Beaucoup 3. Jenny Questions Jenny narrates: regrets that so little of 4 Tell Me Who You Jenny Boon Keng’s personal life is on record Are 4. Boon Keng’s Editor of Straits Budget: recaps BK's 5. Guns of War and Boon Keng Public Work Lifetime of great works and the award 6. Hear My Appeal of OBE 5. Reforming The Boon Keng and friends try to reform the 7. Reforming the Babas BK and Babas Straits Chinese on many issues. Ensemble 6. Marrying Boon Keng courts Margaret. They 8 Don’t Want To Marry A BK and Margaret pledge to a common vision of educating Baba Margaret the world. BK and 9 Promised my Life Margaret 7 Founding SCGS SONG ONG SIANG and Marg 10 School for Girls BK Margaret persuade the Babas to found the and SOS school for girls 8 China Concerns WONG NAI SIONG narrates his 11 Revolution or Reform. BK Sun Yat Sen activities with BK for China and ensemble Reform. BK opposes Sun Yat Sun. The Chinese Revolution succeeds. 9 SCGS Prize-giving day The little girls sing 12 Light a Little Candle Girls of SCGS Flourishing a song with candle dance 10. Margaret’s Margaret dies, leaving 4 children 13 Hold me in Your Heart Margaret death 11. Grace Yin Jenny relates Family recollections of 14 Grace’s Song Grace Grace. Grace talks about her home Kulangyu. 12. Business and Song Ong Siang narrates about BK's 15 Rubber Boom Boom ensemble Banking Business activities. Boom. 13. Boon Keng Straits Chinese say good bye to BK 16 Promised my Life- Boon Keng leaves for Amoy and sing song of their joie de vivre First Reprise LIM BOON KENG - The Musical © Stella Kon 2017 2 17 Sambal Blachan ensemble ACT TWO 14 Boon Keng in Jenny narrates: BOON KENG’s 18 Kulangyu Grace Amoy time in Amoy. Grace sings of Kulangyu. The dream didn’t work out. Boon Keng lost his money. 15 Return to Babas welcome BOON KENG back 19 Sambal Blachan Ensemble Singapore from Amoy. Judith’s husband reprise Tommy now part of the Chorus of Babas, talks about future self- 20 Sunlight On the Water Boon Keng government. With Song Ong (Preview) Siang, BOON KENG sings one elegiac verse about his retirement. 16 Japanese Chorus of Babas speaks about the 21 Dark Days Ensemble Occupation War, Mime: The Occupation begins; Boon Keng saves Tommy from Sook Ching, colludes with Shinozaki to set up Overseas Chinese Association to save more people. Shinozaki dismissed from Singapore. Watanabe demands OCA raise $50. Million. BOON KENG 22 Hold me in Your Heart Margaret and OCA have to get money from Reprise the population – resented and spit upon. Boon Keng presents cheque to Watanabe. Boon Keng feels miserable. Margaret’s spirit comes to comfort him. 17 Children of Next time Watanabe looks for 23 Children of Syonan Chorus of SCGS Syonan Boon Keng he is very drunk and (reprise Light a girls incapacitated. Candle) The Occupation continues – little girls of SCGS sing their same song in Japanese. 18 Tribunal Occupation ends, the British return. Scene reverts to the Tribunal of the opening scene. Shinozaki as witness tells his role in setting up OCA .BOON KENG cleared by tribunal, the Babas still despise him. 19 The Recluse Boon Keng is at home, feeling that 23 Sunlight on the Water BOON KENG life has no meaning. Margaret and Margarert appears, to comfort him and assure LIM BOON KENG - The Musical © Stella Kon 2017 3 him that his name will live with honour forever. Tommy and Judith visit him with their daughter. Tommy is working 24 Promised My Life - Boon Keng for self-government for Singapore. Second Reprise Mao Tse tung is going to eradicate Chinese culture. Boon Keng is fired to action and plans to found the China Society. 20 The China The China Society is founded with 25 Laugh at Life Reprise Ensemble Society celebration and toasting and a jolly song. 26 Tell Me Who You Are Jenny and Jenny sings an inspirational finale Reprise ensemble and all join in, LIM BOON KENG - The Musical © Stella Kon 2017 4 © Stella Kon, 7 September 2016 V5.3 LIM BOON KENG The Musical Libretto by Stella Kon Music by Desmond Moey CHARACTERS Main Parts LIM BOON KENG between ages of 26 and 81 MARGARET Boon Keng’s first wife SONG ONG SIANG Boon Keng’s best friend, one year younger than Boon Keng JENNY, aged 40+, Yu Loo’s descendant.
Recommended publications
  • List of Entries

    List of Entries

    List of Entries 1. Aik Htun 3 34. Chan Wai Chang, Rose 82 2. Aing Khun 5 35. Chao Tzee Cheng 83 3. Alim, Markus 7 36. Charoen Siriwatthanaphakdi 4. Amphon Bulaphakdi 9 85 5. Ang Kiukok 11 37. Châu Traàn Taïo 87 6. Ang Peng Siong 14 38. Châu Vaên Xöông 90 7. Ang, Samuel Dee 16 39. Cheah Fook Ling, Jeffrey 92 8. Ang-See, Teresita 18 40. Chee Soon Juan 95 9. Aquino, Corazon Cojuangco 21 41. Chee Swee Lee 97 10. Aung Twin 24 42. Chen Chong Swee 99 11. Aw Boon Haw 26 43. Chen, David 101 12. Bai Yao 28 44. Chen, Georgette 103 13. Bangayan, Teofilo Tan 30 45. Chen Huiming 105 14. Banharn Silpa-archa 33 46. Chen Lieh Fu 107 15. Benedicto, Francisco 35 47. Chen Su Lan 109 16. Botan 38 48. Chen Wen Hsi 111 17. Budianta, Melani 40 49. Cheng Ching Chuan, Johnny 18. Budiman, Arief 43 113 19. Bunchu Rotchanasathian 45 50. Cheng Heng Jem, William 116 20. Cabangon Chua, Antonio 49 51. Cheong Soo Pieng 119 21. Cao Hoàng Laõnh 51 52. Chia Boon Leong 121 22. Cao Trieàu Phát 54 53. Chiam See Tong 123 23. Cham Tao Soon 57 54. Chiang See Ngoh, Claire 126 24. Chamlong Srimuang 59 55. Chien Ho 128 25. Chan Ah Kow 62 56. Chiew Chee Phoong 130 26. Chan, Carlos 64 57. Chin Fung Kee 132 27. Chan Choy Siong 67 58. Chin Peng 135 28. Chan Heng Chee 69 59. Chin Poy Wu, Henry 138 29. Chan, Jose Mari 71 60.
  • I N T H E S P I R I T O F S E R V I

    I N T H E S P I R I T O F S E R V I

    The Old Frees’ AssOCIatION, SINGAPORE Registered 1962 Live Free IN THE SPIRIT OF SERVING Penang Free School 1816-2016 Penang Free School in August 2015. The Old Frees’ AssOCIatION, SINGAPORE Registered 1962 www.ofa.sg Live Free IN THE SPIRIT OF SERVING AUTHOR Tan Chung Lee PUBLISHER The Old Frees’ Association, Singapore PUBLISHER The Old Frees’ Association, Singapore 3 Mount Elizabeth #11-07, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre Singapore 228510 AUTHOR Tan Chung Lee OFAS COFFEE-TABLE BOOK ADJUDICATION PANEL John Lim Kok Min (co-chairman) Tan Yew Oo (co-chairman) Kok Weng On Lee Eng Hin Lee Seng Teik Malcolm Tan Ban Hoe OFAS COFFEE-TABLE BOOK WORKGROUP Alex KH Ooi Cheah Hock Leong The OFAS Management Committee would like to thank Gabriel Teh Choo Thok Editorial Consultant: Tan Chung Lee the family of the late Chan U Seek and OFA Life Members Graphic Design: ST Leng Production: Inkworks Media & Communications for their donations towards the publication of this book. Printer: The Phoenix Press Sdn Bhd 6, Lebuh Gereja, 10200 Penang, Malaysia The committee would also like to acknowledge all others who PHOTOGRAPH COPYRIGHT have contributed to and assisted in the production of this Penang Free School Archives Lee Huat Hin aka Haha Lee, Chapter 8 book; it apologises if it has inadvertently omitted anyone. Supreme Court of Singapore (Judiciary) Family of Dr Wu Lien-Teh, Chapter 7 Tan Chung Lee Copyright © 2016 The Old Frees’ Association, Singapore All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of The Old Frees’ Association, Singapore.
  • Participating Merchants

    Participating Merchants

    PARTICIPATING MERCHANTS PARTICIPATING POSTAL ADDRESS MERCHANTS CODE 460 ALEXANDRA ROAD, #01-17 AND #01-20 119963 53 ANG MO KIO AVENUE 3, #01-40 AMK HUB 569933 241/243 VICTORIA STREET, BUGIS VILLAGE 188030 BUKIT PANJANG PLAZA, #01-28 1 JELEBU ROAD 677743 175 BENCOOLEN STREET, #01-01 BURLINGTON SQUARE 189649 THE CENTRAL 6 EU TONG SEN STREET, #01-23 TO 26 059817 2 CHANGI BUSINESS PARK AVENUE 1, #01-05 486015 1 SENG KANG SQUARE, #B1-14/14A COMPASS ONE 545078 FAIRPRICE HUB 1 JOO KOON CIRCLE, #01-51 629117 FUCHUN COMMUNITY CLUB, #01-01 NO 1 WOODLANDS STREET 31 738581 11 BEDOK NORTH STREET 1, #01-33 469662 4 HILLVIEW RISE, #01-06 #01-07 HILLV2 667979 INCOME AT RAFFLES 16 COLLYER QUAY, #01-01/02 049318 2 JURONG EAST STREET 21, #01-51 609601 50 JURONG GATEWAY ROAD JEM, #B1-02 608549 78 AIRPORT BOULEVARD, #B2-235-236 JEWEL CHANGI AIRPORT 819666 63 JURONG WEST CENTRAL 3, #B1-54/55 JURONG POINT SHOPPING CENTRE 648331 KALLANG LEISURE PARK 5 STADIUM WALK, #01-43 397693 216 ANG MO KIO AVE 4, #01-01 569897 1 LOWER KENT RIDGE ROAD, #03-11 ONE KENT RIDGE 119082 BLK 809 FRENCH ROAD, #01-31 KITCHENER COMPLEX 200809 Burger King BLK 258 PASIR RIS STREET 21, #01-23 510258 8A MARINA BOULEVARD, #B2-03 MARINA BAY LINK MALL 018984 BLK 4 WOODLANDS STREET 12, #02-01 738623 23 SERANGOON CENTRAL NEX, #B1-30/31 556083 80 MARINE PARADE ROAD, #01-11 PARKWAY PARADE 449269 120 PASIR RIS CENTRAL, #01-11 PASIR RIS SPORTS CENTRE 519640 60 PAYA LEBAR ROAD, #01-40/41/42/43 409051 PLAZA SINGAPURA 68 ORCHARD ROAD, #B1-11 238839 33 SENGKANG WEST AVENUE, #01-09/10/11/12/13/14 THE
  • 175 Bus Time Schedule & Line Route

    175 Bus Time Schedule & Line Route

    175 bus time schedule & line map 175 Clementi Int View In Website Mode The 175 bus line (Clementi Int) has 2 routes. For regular weekdays, their operation hours are: (1) Clementi Int: 6:11 AM - 11:30 PM (2) Lor 1 Geylang Ter: 6:00 AM - 11:26 PM Use the Moovit App to ƒnd the closest 175 bus station near you and ƒnd out when is the next 175 bus arriving. Direction: Clementi Int 175 bus Time Schedule 62 stops Clementi Int Route Timetable: VIEW LINE SCHEDULE Sunday 6:00 AM - 11:30 PM Monday 6:11 AM - 11:30 PM Lor 1 Geylang - Lor 1 Geylang Ter (80009) Lorong 1 Geylang Terminal, Singapore Tuesday 6:11 AM - 11:30 PM Lor 1 Geylang - Opp Blk 2c (80101) Wednesday 6:11 AM - 11:30 PM Upp Boon Keng Rd - Geylang West Cc (80319) Thursday 6:11 AM - 11:30 PM Upper Boon Keng Road, Singapore Friday 6:11 AM - 11:30 PM Upp Boon Keng Rd - Aft Geylang West Cc (80309) Saturday 6:00 AM - 11:30 PM Upper Boon Keng Road, Singapore Geylang Bahru - Opp Blk 82 (80299) Kallang Bahru - Opp Blk 66 (60039) 175 bus Info Direction: Clementi Int Kallang Bahru - Blk 16 (60029) Stops: 62 16 Kallang Place, Singapore Trip Duration: 95 min Line Summary: Lor 1 Geylang - Lor 1 Geylang Ter Kallang Bahru - Bendemeer Stn Exit B (60019) (80009), Lor 1 Geylang - Opp Blk 2c (80101), Upp Boon Keng Rd - Geylang West Cc (80319), Upp Boon Lavender St - Aft Kallang Bahru (07369) Keng Rd - Aft Geylang West Cc (80309), Geylang 103 Lavender Street, Singapore Bahru - Opp Blk 82 (80299), Kallang Bahru - Opp Blk 66 (60039), Kallang Bahru - Blk 16 (60029), Kallang Lavender St - Aperia/Bef Kallang
  • Jurong East Information Kit

    Jurong East Information Kit

    Jurong East Information Kit Version 3.0 April 2015 1 Table of Content Table of Content Page A. General - Table of Content 2 - System map 3 B. Station Information - Station Contacts & Overview 4 - Taxi & General Contacts 5 - Station Layout 6-8 - Locality Map 9 - Bus Services (By Bus Stop) 10 - Places of Interest 11 - Train Service Disruption Leaflet 12-14 2 3 Station Overview Station Contact Points Contacts Duty SM Hand phone 9834 0567 Passenger Service Center 6899 5908 EXIT: Exit A: J Cube, CPF Jurong Building , SATA Medical Centre (Blk 135) Exit B: International Business Park, The JTC Summit Exit C: JEM Shopping Mall Exit D: Westgate Shopping Mall LIFT: Lift 1 : Exit A (Ground to Concourse Level) Lift 2/3/4 : Paid Area (Concourse to Platform Level) Lift 5 : Exit B (Ground to Concourse Level) PLATFORM Platform A – Southbound (towards Marina Bay / Marina South Pier) Platform B & C – Eastbound (towards Pasir Ris) Platform D & E – Northbound/Southbound (towards Marina Bay / Marina South Pier) Platform F – Westbound (towards Joo Koon) 4 Taxi & General Contacts Nearby Taxi Stand Road Via J Cube Jurong Gateway Rd Exit A Jurong East Station Jurong Gateway Rd Exit B JEM Jurong Gateway Rd Exit C Westgate Gateway Drive Exit D (Please refer to Locality map for more details) Taxi Services Booking number SMRT Taxis 6555 8888 Comfort & City Cab 6552 1111 Trans Cab 6555 3333 Premier Taxis 6363 6888 Hotline Contact SMRT Hotline 1800 336 8900 SMRT Press Contact 9822 0902 TransitLink Hotline 1800 225 5663 Transcom Hotline 1800 842 0000 SMRT Online Feedback:
  • Community Clubs/Centres

    Community Clubs/Centres

    Updated 18/08/2015 Free Legal Clinics Singapore The Law Society of Singapore Name Clinic Address How to Get There Contact Frequency & Mode of Registration Qualification Criteria Types of Legal Method of Remarks Number Schedule (e.g. walk-in; by (citizenship; Service Delivery of appointment) affiliations; means) Service Community Clubs/Centres 1 Bishan North C Blk 231 Bishan Street 23 #01- 88, 54, 13 from the bus stop 64515955 Every Tue; 8 - 9.30pm Walk-in at Blk 231 where Singaporeans and Oral advice Face to face Centre 21 Singapore 570233 opposite Bishan MRT. Alight at 64524107 MPS takes place and Permanent Residents Blk 233 (3rd stop); clinic take queue no. Call after conducted at Blk 231. 6.30 pm to confirm. 2 Bukit Batok Central Blk 148 Bukit Batok West From Bukit Batok MRT, 65614656 2nd & last Mon; 7 - Walk in for registration at Residents of Jurong Oral advice Face to face Ave 6 Singapore 650148 walk to Blk 190 and take 10pm 7 pm. Last registration at GRC who are bus 188. Alight at Blk 146. 9 pm. S'poreans and PRs 3 Choa Chu Kang 10 Teck Whye Avenue 190, 985, 975, 307 from 67691694 1st Wed Register for appointment No restrictions Oral advice Face to face Singapore 680010 Choa Chu Kang 9.00-10.30pm with $5 fee refundable Interchange after appointment 4 Cheng San 6 Ang Mo Kio Street 53, MRT to Ang Mo Kio, exit D 6458 8222 4th Thurs ; 8-10pm Call for appointment Singaporeans and Oral advice Face to face Community Centre 569205 Turn left, follow shelter level Permanent Residents 2 from elevator 5 Eunos 180 Bedok Reservoir Road 60, 228 from Bedok 62434552 1st Tues; Call for appointment / Residents of Eunos Oral advice Face to face Depends on availability Singapore 479220 Interchange.
  • JURONG Heritage Trail

    JURONG Heritage Trail

    T he Jurong Heritage Trail is part of the National Heritage Board’s ongoing efforts » DISCOVER OUR SHARED HERITAGE to document and present the history and social memories of places in Singapore. We hope this trail will bring back fond memories for those who have worked, lived or played in the area, and serve as a useful source of information for new residents JURONG and visitors. HERITAGE TRAIL » CONTENTS » AREA MAP OF Early History of Jurong p. 2 Historical extent of Jurong Jurong The Orang Laut and early trade routes Early accounts of Jurong The gambier pioneers: opening up the interior HERITAGE TRAIL Evolution of land use in Jurong Growth of Communities p. 18 MARKED HERITAGE SITES Villages and social life Navigating Jurong Beginnings of industry: brickworks and dragon kilns 1. “60 sTalls” (六十档) AT YUNG SHENG ROAD ANd “MARKET I” Early educational institutions: village schools, new town schools and Nanyang University 2. AROUND THE JURONG RIVER Tide of Change: World War II p. 30 101 Special Training School 3. FORMER JURONG DRIVE-IN CINEMA Kranji-Jurong Defence Line Backbone of the Nation: Jurong in the Singapore Story p. 35 4. SCIENCE CENTRE SINGAPORE Industrialisation, Jurong and the making of modern Singapore Goh’s folly? Housing and building a liveable Jurong 5. FORMER JURONG TOWN HALL Heritage Sites in Jurong p. 44 Hawker centres in Jurong 6. JURONG RAILWAY Hong Kah Village Chew Boon Lay and the Peng Kang area 7. PANDAN RESERVOIR SAFTI Former Jurong Town Hall 8. JURONG HILL Jurong Port Jurong Shipyard Jurong Fishery Port 9. JURONG PORT AND SHIPYARD The Jurong Railway Jurong and Singapore’s waste management 10.
  • The Sun in Her Eyes: Writing in English by Singapore Women

    The Sun in Her Eyes: Writing in English by Singapore Women

    Kunapipi Volume 16 Issue 1 Article 105 1994 The Sun in Her Eyes: Writing in English by Singapore Women Koh Tai Ann Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/kunapipi Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons Recommended Citation Ann, Koh Tai, The Sun in Her Eyes: Writing in English by Singapore Women, Kunapipi, 16(1), 1994. Available at:https://ro.uow.edu.au/kunapipi/vol16/iss1/105 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] The Sun in Her Eyes: Writing in English by Singapore Women Abstract Singapore writing in English goes back a mere forty-five years, and the work of the women writers is of even more recent provenance.1 From the forties to the mid-sixties, anglophone literary works were mostly by male authors as far fewer women than men in Singapore had formal education (let alone an education in English, the language of government and of professional advancement and when during the colonial and immediately post-colonial days primary education was not universal even for males). Furthermore, it was tertiary education which played a crucial, enabling role in literary production for it was not till after the post-war establishment of the University of Malaya in Singapore in 1948 and the appearance of undergraduate magazines that local literary work began to be published in earnest. It followed also that the first anthologies of these early poems and short stories were produced and sponsored, too, by
  • Cultural Policies to the Creation of Nation-States in the Former Colonies

    Cultural Policies to the Creation of Nation-States in the Former Colonies

    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ScholarBank@NUS THE POLITICS OF DRAMA: POST-1969 STATE POLICIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON THEATRE IN ENGLISH IN MALAYSIA FROM 1970 TO 1999. VELERIE KATHY ROWLAND (B.A. ENG.LIT. (HONS), UNIVERSITY MALAYA) A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Theatre practice is largely undocumented in Malaysia. Without the many practitioners who gave of their time, and their valuable theatre programme collections, my efforts to piece together a chronology of theatre productions would not have been possible. Those whose contribution greatly assisted in my research include Ivy Josiah, Chin San Sooi, Thor Kah Hoong, Datuk Noordin Hassan, Datuk Syed Alwi, Marion D’Cruz, Shanti Ryan, Mano Maniam, Mervyn Peters, Susan Menon, Noorsiah Sabri, Sabera Shaik, Faridah Merican, Huzir Sulaiman, Jit Murad, Kee Thuan Chye, Najib Nor, Normah Nordin, Rosmina Tahir, Zahim Albakri and Vijaya Samarawickram. I received tremendous support from Krishen Jit, whose probing intellectualism coupled with a historian’s insights into theatre practice, greatly benefited this work. The advice, feedback and friendship of Jo Kukathas, Wong Hoy Cheong, Dr. Sumit Mandal, Dr. Tim Harper, Jenny Daneels, Rahel Joseph, Adeline Tan and Eddin Khoo are also gratefully acknowledged. The three years spent researching this work would not have been possible without the research scholarship awarded by the National University of Singapore. For this I wish to thank Dr. Ruth Bereson, for her support and advice during the initial stages of application. I also wish to thank Prof.
  • Female Emancipation in a Colonial Context: the Chinese Community in Singapore 1900-1942 Qualification: Phd

    Female Emancipation in a Colonial Context: the Chinese Community in Singapore 1900-1942 Qualification: Phd

    Access to Electronic Thesis Author: Wei-an Yang Thesis title: Female Emancipation in a Colonial Context: the Chinese Community in Singapore 1900-1942 Qualification: PhD This electronic thesis is protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. No reproduction is permitted without consent of the author. It is also protected by the Creative Commons Licence allowing Attributions-Non-commercial-No derivatives. If this electronic thesis has been edited by the author it will be indicated as such on the title page and in the text. Female Emancipation in a Colonial Context: the Chinese Community in Singapore 1900-1942 By Wei-an Yang A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of History June 2014 Abstract The advent of female Chinese immigrants was an important factor in shaping the Chinese community from an immigrant society into a stabilized community in Singapore at the beginning of the 20th century. Using a combination of Chinese language press and Colonial Office records, my study explores those primary sources to assess the voices of Chinese women, and examine how Chinese women were constituted as a group in the Chinese community during the colonial era. Chinese newspapers were an effective tool for disseminating information concerning nationalism in China as well as stirring up a consciousness of national identity within the Chinese community. Those activities carried out by the Kuomintang pushed forward the development of Chinese female education, and offered them opportunities to participate in the National Salvation Movement in the 1930s. On the other hand, three archetypes of Chinese woman - prostitutes, mui- tsais (domestic servants) and educated women - are introduced so as to examine their role in the formation of the Singapore Chinese community.
  • Emily Takes on the Esplanade!

    Emily Takes on the Esplanade!

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EMILY TAKES ON THE ESPLANADE! 18 October 2010 – W!LD RICE will stage a brand new production of Stella Kon’s EMILY OF EMERALD HILL with Ivan Heng as the irrepressible matriarch, from 3 March to 13 March 2011 at the Esplanade Theatre. Heng first took on the title role of EMILY OF EMERALD HILL in W!LD RICE’s debut production in 1999. Over a span of 10 years, he has revisited the role no less than 7 times in 98 performances worldwide. Both critics and audiences have fallen under the spell of his tour-de-force. “I believe that Stella Kon has written a true classic that will stand the test of time. The idea was always for me to revisit the role every 10 years. I expect that my life experience and Singapore as we know it today will inform this new incarnation of Emily” - Ivan Heng As the play unfolds, Emily grows from an innocent young girl to a headstrong matriarch. Heng too hopes to continue playing Emily in years in come. Taking on the tradition of female impersonation in Wayang Peranakan, Heng himself a Peranakan, was and is still the only male actor who has played Emily in the play’s 28 year history. As a fitting finale to 10 W!LD YEARS, a season celebrating W!LD RICE’s 10th Anniversary, he will once again don the kebaya and take on the Singaporean classic at the grand Esplanade Theatre. THE DYNAMIC DUO’S MUCH-ANTICIPATED COLLABORATION “When Glen Goei and Ivan Heng come together in the name of Art, any play can be expected to deliver wit and sensitivity.” - 8DAYS, Singapore Glen Goei and Ivan have been mates, rivals, best friends and collaborators for more than 35 years.
  • Contemporary Literature from Singapore

    Contemporary Literature from Singapore

    Contemporary Literature from Singapore Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature Contemporary Literature from Singapore Weihsin Gui Subject: English Language Literatures (Other Than American and British), Literary Studies (20th Century Onward), Postcolonial Literature and Studies Online Publication Date: Nov 2017 DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190201098.013.189 Summary and Keywords Page 1 of 42 PRINTED FROM the OXFORD RESEARCH ENCYCLOPEDIA, LITERATURE (literature.oxfordre.com). (c) Oxford University Press USA, 2016. All Rights Reserved. Personal use only; commercial use is strictly prohibited. Please see applicable Privacy Policy and Legal Notice (for details see Privacy Policy). date: 09 January 2018 Contemporary Literature from Singapore Literature in Singapore is written in the country’s four official languages: Chinese, English, Malay, and Tamil. The various literatures flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the rise of print culture in the British colony, but after independence in 1965, English became emphasized in both the education system and society at large as part of the new government’s attempts to modernize the country. Chinese, Malay, and Tamil were seen as mother tongue languages to provide Singaporeans with cultural ballast while English was regarded as a language for administration, business, and scientific and technological development. Correspondingly, literatures in other languages than English reached a plateau in terms of writerly output and readership during the 1970s and 1980s. However, since 1999, with the state’s implementation of the Renaissance City Plan to revitalize arts and culture in Singapore, there have been various initiatives to increase the visibility of contemporary Singaporean writing both within the country itself and on an international scale.