Monday, August 24, 2020

Dying Trade Culture Shock

Chinese Opera was part of my life growing up in those early years where we will tag along my late mother to visit street wayang show during any Taoist temple celebration and also the 7th-month Hungry Ghost Festival. Lau Sai Tho Guan is one of the leading Teochew Opera beside, Sin Yong Hua and Lau Chit Ki Hiang the later was based in my neighbour Joo Chiat. There are also the Hokkien Opera such as Sin Sai Hong, Sin Kee Ling which are the well-known opera troupe. Before the Hokkien Opera start, they will have a segment of Getai show about for half an hour, I think this is where our modern getai show got it started. Next on my list is the underdog favourite the puppet show together with the strings puppet. They required a smaller stage compared to the wayang stage nowadays we rarely see one of these.