It may sound oxymoronic, but traditions are evolving and preserving their essence in this fast-changing world by integrating themselves into modernity. There is no use lamenting over the good old times. Keep the memories, and find solutions to pass them on in ways meaningful to the new generations.
We went to the musical Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Wild Rice this Saturday, after hearing raving reviews about it. Tickets were nearly all sold out for the entire month that the show is running. We were tentative on how interesting it could be. Disney has been in the business of reviving the old fairytales since a long long time ago. Little did we expect a highly localized and politically-charged (in the name of art) version that made a delightful 3-hour-long entertainment. I especially liked the first segment featuring the beauty pageant. The voting locals would definitely appreciate every nuanced detail in the satire. The use and exaggeration of symbolic objects from the local life quotidian was also endearing and hilarious at the same time, including that gigantic cup of bubble tea (like the one we just had before the show) which made me snort a laughter.
Spoiler-alert! The Ever-Lasting Kingdom with its Queen of Diamonds who seems to never age (thanks to new aesthetic technology) is the emblem of preservation that is persisting despite being modernized. The marginalization of identities which are different, and therefore are deviants from norm, is the method of preserving the sanctity of its modern tradition.
Wild Rice, the production company of this musical and many popular others since 20 years, is a pride of the nation’s creativity in theatrical arts. It is well-loved for its originality and humorous honesty, and its endearing appeal to the locals (and foreigners alike).
Being a local for too long makes me too lazy to regularly check out the local acts and support them. On occasions like this, I am always pleasantly reminded of the quality of the local arts scene and how Singapore Culture, despite its relatively young age, is bubbling with its vibrant new traditions, is a force to be reckoned with.
The bar at the Wild Rice theatre serves a good spread of essentials, including good coffees and a champagne! It is not my standard expectation to have a glass of champagne at the intermission but it was hard to resist empty shining champagne glasses standing nearly in rows, like soldiers waiting for their mission. So I succumbed to the calling to have a glass of champagne in hand. At least one glass had its mission accomplished, even for a short while (you can’t bring the glasses in and have to switch to plastic).
Since we are on the topic of traditions, I might as well share my love for one of my favourite champagne houses, and the oldest, Maison Gosset. The house goes way back to 1584, and over 16 generations, built on its traditional style. Tradition carries with it its reputation and time-tested quality. My girlfriend, who is a connoisseur of wines, first recommended Gosset to me this summer while we were in Paris and we had a great afternoon enjoying a bottle while reading. We had their signature Grande Reserve Brut, golden and fruity with a balanced structure made with equal measures of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Check out my other post "In Equal Measures" talking about the grape blend amongst equality, evolution and other things. Recently over a lunch of fusion Japanese & Italian cuisine, I also had the pleasure of enjoying a Gosset Grand Millésime 2015, which is still fruity but more fresh, made with a higher proportion of Pinot Noir from the year which the grape has done well. More information on their bottles could be found on their website.
It is not easy for traditions to stay alive in the passage of time, and an even greater feat to thrive with renewed energy along with modernization. From politics, creative arts to champagnes, and generally speaking, life is ever-evolving, and adapting to change is a sure sign of a bubbling with life.
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