Star Gazing

Greetings and salutations, fellow stargazers! This is May Seah, your Showbiz Sista, telling you what’s cooking. It’s Ann Kok in a Channel U Feature Film, Cooking Without Clothes.

Ooh, what a suggestive title. The film, directed by Growing Up’s scriptwriter, is about Jeff (played by Taiwanese actor Joseph Chang Hsiao Chuan), who quits his job as an engineer in pursuit of his dream to be a professional chef in the face of his father’s violent objection. He’s discovered by a TV producer (here’s where Ann comes in), who turns him into an up-and-coming celebrity chef. They hate each other at first, but then the requisite sparks fly. Steamy.

How do you know that this is going to be a top-notch film? Said Ann about her attitude to the project, “I thought it was something that might take me to other countries and international film fests. So I think this is a very good opportunity.”

Yes, chefs are all the rage at the moment—and naked chefs are even better, as Jamie Oliver has shown us. “I think men who cook have charm,” said Ann. Are you listening, Dai Yang Tian? You’d better watch out, because Joseph, Ann’s co-star, does cook. “I help my mother with the cooking,” he said humbly. And a filial son, too! “He’s like an overgrown boy,” said Joseph of his character, “Quite similar to me.”

So, does Ann herself cook? “I can cook simple dishes. I can do ABC soup and braised meat,” she said with a smile, also revealing that she’s cooked for a boyfriend. All right, but has she ever cooked without clothes on? “No! I think it’s an offense if somebody in the block opposite sees you!”

What a law-abiding citizen Ann is. What cooking advice can she give us, then? “You can’t just follow the recipe step by step,” she said. “You have to put a little love into whatever you do.” Again, Dai Yang Tian, look sharp!

Catch Cooking Without Clothes on Sunday (Jan 3) at 9pm on MediaCorp TV Channel U.

Tags: Ann Kok, Channel U, Cooking Without Clothes, Dai Yang Tian, Joseph Chang, Showbiz Sista

Greetings and salutations, fellow stargazers! May Seah, your Showbiz Sista, is busy getting even more tangled up in the Peranakan spirit. This weekend’s staging of the musical extravaganza, The Peranakan Ball, promises to overwhelm your senses with all of your favourite Nyonya hijinks.

Inspired by the popularity of The Little Nyonya, MediaCorp VizPro presents The Peranakan Ball, a musical play that recreates the emotional highlights of the drama serial as it follows the exploits of a downtrodden Nyonya servant girl in a wealthy Peranakan household who finds the man of her dreams.

Directed by Goh Boon Teck (Titoudau), the musical is headlined by Jeanette Aw and Dai Yang Tian, together with a host of veteran MediaCorp artistes including Xiang Yun, Ann Kok, and Rayson Tan, as well as Project Superstar’s Chen Diya and Carrie Yeo. Guest star Olivia Ong will perform the Little Nyonya theme song Ru Yan.

“It’s a Peranakan-inspired musical,” Jeanette Aw told Showbiz Sista. She plays main character Bee Tin, who’s something of a kebaya-wearing Cinderella. In case you’re wondering, “It doesn’t pick up on any of the storyline in the drama. It’s a newly created story. The only character that has been preserved is Yue Niang, who is played by Xiang Yun. They preserved her name, but her role is quite different — it’s not going to be how she looked like on TV.”

Jeanette’s last singing experience was when she was part of her primary school choir — but she’s gamely taking on the challenge. “I think it’s really nice to be able to do stage again. I was in Theatre Studies when I was in uni. I’m looking forward to it because I still love stage, but at the same time I’m quite nervous about it because it’s been such a long time. I’ve been away from stage performances for like eight years. Dancing is quite all right, because I’ve got my foundation in dance. To add in singing — it’s going to be more challenge added to it.”

Xiang Yun, who reprises her role as a mature Yue Niang, chirpily enthused: “I’ve got lots of scenes and singing. It’s a very happy Nyonya show. It’s very cute! I organise a party, at which my friend the Chor Chor will choose a daughter in law. Jeanette plays my goddaughter.”

It’s been many years since she exercised her vocal chords in Liang Wen Fu’s musical play December Rain. “I can sing in the bathroom. But on the stage there’s a lot of pressure!” she laughed. “I’m really anxious so I keep listening to the songs. The songs have been translated from Malay. They’re very interesting and really nice to listen to and they make you really happy.” Oh, and “Chor Chor is played by a guy!”

That’s right. Theatre actor Darius Tan (Beauty World) plays the great-grandmother of Dai Yang Tian, who’s in need of a wife. “When Boon Teck (director Goh Boon Teck) called me up and said ‘We’re going to do this musical called The Peranakan Ball,’ I was like, ‘Ha ha ha! The Little Nyonya – The Musical?’ Then there was a silence. It was true!” Darius laughed.

Showbiz Sista, signing out. Live long and pop corn!

The Peranakan Ball, May 16 at 8pm at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets at $58 to $118 from Sistic.

Tags: Dai Yang Tian, Jeanette Aw, Little Nonya, May Seah, Showbiz Sista, Stargazing, Xiang Yun. Peranakan Ball