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SINGAPORE : Arriving at MediaCorp for the ceremony to mark the start of filming of upcoming Channel 8 blockbuster drama "Together", I couldn’t help but feel for a second that I had been transported back in time or was at some flashy ge tai performance.
Hair was slicked and parted to the side and bell bottoms were aplenty for the guys, while the girls sported high beehive dos, reminiscent of ladies from the 1960s.
It was not until last year's "The Little Nyonya" that has a period drama of Singapore been shot or created so much buzz for a relatively long time.
Understandably, the same production crew, scriptwriter and lead actress (Jeanette Aw) are back one year later, with what is hoped to be yet another blast from the past blockbuster drama, eager to bring audiences ‘together’ yet again.
The drama which is set to air in November chronicles the struggles of six youngsters in Singapore’s post-independence era, from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Interestingly enough, the leads in the series, Aw, Dai Yangtian, Elvin Ng, Zhang Zhen Huan, newcomer Kola Zhou and Eelyn Kok, are too young to barely even have any impression of that era.
What’s more three of these six - Dai, Zhang and Zhou - are from China and didn’t grow up learning Singapore’s history in school.
Still that’s not going to stop any of them from imbibing the spirit of the times.
“I visited the museum at Outram Park, well I actually had been to the museum before when I first came to Singapore,” revealed Zhang, who’s acting in what’s considered to be his second major role.
Despite acting in a drama which was set in olden Singapore just a year ago, lead actress Aw also revealed she had to do her fair share of homework.
“I asked a lot of people born in that time and they told me that they [used to] sleep at 12am and wake up at 3am to do housework… I think it’s a lifestyle that’s changed and it’s quite amazing to be women of those times,” said Aw who takes on the role as a daughter of a gambler and alcoholic (Wang Yu Qing), forced to make a living as a dance hostess.
With the show spanning a period of 30 years, audiences can expect more styling changes and a wide variety of outfits.
You may even see Ng in a spandex leotard-like wrestling outfit as he takes on what he claims to be his “most challenging role” yet - a self-professed “naïve, simple, cute and likeable” character named Tarzan whom he “fell in love with”.
When Channelnewsasia.com caught up with Ng last week, the actor revealed that he had so far tried on one wrestling outfit which was quickly vetoed as it had “dolphin pictures” on it.
“I prefer the simpler look actually,” admitted Ng, referring to his 1960s getup of singlet and loose-fitting shorts, “Though we have to squat down a lot [and] sometimes you can see through.”
And stylists wanted to reveal even more of Ng. We were this close to seeing a bald Elvin Ng who was supposed to shave his head to suit his role as a wrestler, but those plans didn’t materialise.
Potential wardrobe malfunctions aside, even though much of the limelight is on the up and coming young stars, not to be forgotten is the show’s extremely experienced supporting cast made up of veterans such as Zheng Geping, wife Hong Huifang, Aileen Tan and Constance Song.
“We are not the main cast, but we are in a supporting [role],” said Tan who plays Zhou’s mother, Liu Mao Mao, an ex-Butterfly gang member, “I always believe in team work whether you’re in a main or supporting role, I’ll make sure I’ll give life to Liu Mao Mao, I hope you all enjoy it!”
So put on those ah go go dancing shoes and catch “Together”, which is set to air end November on Channel 8.
- CNA
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