Read this:
Those eager to see Kit Chan as the young Empress Cixi in Forbidden City as last Wednesday's matinee performance were disappointed.
Signs at the Esplanade Theatre informed patrons that Chan, billed as the home-grown musical's star, was not performing that day. A pre-show announcement was also made that the role would be taken on by Chan's understudy, Celine Rosa Tan.
But the change irked audience member Irvin Lim enough for him to write to The Straits Times to complain.
The 23-year-old undergraduate said that customers should have been told that Chan would not be performing when they were buying the tickets.
While the matinee tickets were sold at half-price to students, he said he would rather have bought a full-priced ticket to see Chan.
He told Life!: "Expectations were raised because of the advertising that Kit Chan was singing. I'm not a fan, but I like her voice."
SRT's artistic director Gaurav Kripalani said that he made the decision for Chan to rest her voice last Wednesday as there were still 2.5 weeks left in the show's run and it was a demanding role.
He also explained that it is standard industry practice around the world to put up signs at the venue if and when a show's star is not performing.
He added: "Celine Rosa Tan was selected for the role because she is a spectacular performer. We took great efforts to ensure that the quality of the show was not compromised in any way".
Tan played a prostitute in Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble's Cabaret, and a doting sister in Theatre Practice's Lao Jiu, to good reviews from critics. She performed again at a matinee yesterday.
Six patrons who approached SRT staff and said they were there specifically to watch Chan in action were immediately offered a full refund or tickets for another night. All but one chose the second option.
Mr Kripalani offered Mr Li the same alternatives. Told of this, he said, "I will definitely accept a new ticket."
Daphne and I bought the matinee tickets for this play. Why not? We are students and we are available to catch the play at an earlier time and why should we pay more to watch the play at a similar seating? Yeah...
And so....
We didn't get to catch Kit Chan in action..
Refer to here --> http://users.livejournal.com/tiramisu_/76980.html for more details.
Man, we were so so disappointed. But we were like the only ones complaining in the theatre! Cos everyone else knew of the replacement except us! Why? Cos someone wanted to eat her LJS and thus we were late and didnt know that there was an replacement. Haha..
I still can remember Dap asking me whether Celine Rosa Tan was Kit Chan:
Dap: Hey, that one isnt Kit Chan right?
Me: No la...not out yet..
*Pause*
Me: Kit Chan havent appear. Maybe she's some concubine going to be Empress..
That was when Celine Rosa Tan has become the Empress already. Hahaha..how kuku we were man...
After the show, Dap emailed SRT. I didnt cos I was preoccupied with other things. SRT didnt get back to her. So she called. And we were, as stated in the article above, given a choice of either a refund or complimentary tickets!
So really got to thanks Dap for being soo persistent about it!
So, yeah, watching the play for a second time proves to be something different. We were given Cat 1 nonetheless..:) OMG Kit Chan's voice's really good.
I love SRT! :D
