SINGAPORE : Just when international jazz sensation Laura Fygi declared that she will never act in a musical, she was made to eat her words the very next day when she received an email from Singapore director Loretta Chen, inviting her to star in Zebra Crossing Productions’ upcoming musical “Victor/Victoria”.

It was an offer she just could not refuse.

“This is my favourite musical ever, I love it. I’ve seen the movie, I’ve got the CD, I know almost every song already,” said the Dutch singer.

In “Victor/Victoria”, Fygi plays Victoria Grant, a struggling British singer looking to fulfill her dreams in 1930s Paris. She agrees to play a female impersonator - Count Victor Grazinski - in a swanky nightclub in order to get noticed and becomes the toast of the town. However, things get complicated when a gangster falls for “her” and Victoria has to choose between love and her passion.

Written by Blake Edwards, “Victor/Victoria” features an award-winning score by acclaimed composer Henry Mancini who wrote “Moon River”. The 1982 film starred Julie Andrews as Victoria, and she later reprised her role in the Broadway musical of the same name in 1995.

Playing a woman, pretending to be a man, pretending to be a woman, Fygi said "there's no musical that intrigues me as much as this one".

“It’s about a singer - I’m a singer so I can relate to that - in a beautiful era, a time where I would have loved to live. There’s beautiful music, great story, how could you think of a story like that, that was intriguing."

Three days was all it took for her to say yes. Fygi told channelnewsasia.com that her main concern was being away from her family for a long period of time. But they were very supportive of her taking up the role and so she agreed.

“Victor/Victoria” marks Fygi’s acting debut and many would think playing a man would be a challenge, but the 54-year-old said it all “comes naturally”.

“For me to play the character is easy because I have a low husky voice. I put on a male wig and a tuxedo and I start to feel like a man, very masculine.

“[The most challenging part is] the combination of singing, dancing and acting altogether, all at one time.”

Director Loretta Chen, a self-proclaimed Laura Fygi groupie, said staging “Victor/Victoria” and having the singer on board is a “miracle” but the feat is by no means a sheer game of chance.

“The idea to stage the musical was first proposed by executive producer Felina Khong and the company unanimously agreed that it was an apt choice as it hasn’t been revived in over a decade and has not been staged in Asia. Once we decided on staging it, the quest for ‘Victor/Victoria’ began.

“It is uncanny but it seemed as if the Universe wanted me to cast Laura.”

Chen said she was listening to her music one day and it hit her that Fygi would be great for the role of Victoria.

“There was something very soulful about her voice. Just listening to her voice, I can tell she’s acting when she’s singing, she’s acting with her voice. I can imagine her moving when she’s singing... she’s intuitively an actress.”

Chen who had also considered singers like Francis Yip and Olivia Newton-John for the part, decided to write Fygi an email after stumbling upon her email address when she googled the singer. "What’s the worst that could happen, at most she’d just delete my mail," she said.

Apart from Fygi, “Victor/Victoria” also features other international stars such as British actor Matt Grey, Jake Macapagal from the Philippines, Australian actress Nicole Stinton and Zebra Crossing artiste RJ Rosales. They are joined by Singapore’s Shane Marjuki and fashion icon Daniel Boey.

With its star-studded cast as well as elaborate sets and costumes, “Victor/Victoria” is Zebra Crossing’s biggest production to date. While staging such a large scale musical is a “challenge”, the director pushed ahead with plans because she felt this “musical about belief” is very apt during these difficult times.

“There’s a sunset population out there that needs a musical that speaks to them, and for me, ‘Victor/Victoria’ does that because it is about a woman in her fifties who has gone through life and is giving herself a second chance at life. And I think in a recession, that’s what we need. We need to have hope.

“A lot of people are retraining, people are taking up new jobs and I think this musical speaks to that lot of people who feel discouraged and feel that they suffering from a mid-life crisis. And ‘Victor/Victoria’ is about inspiring hope when there is none, to live your dreams at any age,” she said.

While Chen is known for giving a fresh spin to her productions, she plans to keep “Victor/Victoria” “as classic as possible”.

“I want to show people that even in Asia, we are capable of doing a Broadway-esque production on our own terms, with an Asian leading orchestra, with Asian directing, with an international team - Australian, Dutch, Filipino actors - that we have talent here,” she said.

"I guess the biggest surprise is getting Laura Fygi so no need to surprise anymore!”

Victor/Victoria runs from 10-29 November 2009 at the Esplanade Theatre. Tickets are available at all SISTIC outlets.

- CNA