Kumar feels different this time.
No, I don’t mean that I went to physically feel him up (although I’d love to be able to have coffee with Kumar one day).
I meant that his jokes, his demeanour, his performance felt different. Yes, he felt uncut – in the sense that his performance gave me the vibe that he was happier, revelling in the amusing state of the world, and making his jokes all in the name of good fun. Don’t get me wrong – his jokes are still as cutting as ever (what would you expect from a show called Kumar Uncut?) But there’s a certain joy in his performance now, that’s more evident now than ever.
Synopsis
Kumar Uncut is a stand-up comedy show with several song-and-dance elements. It is rated M-18.
Running time: 110 minutes (with 20 mins intermission)
Cast:
- Kumarason Chinnadurai (Kumar)
- Helda Hydayat
- Lisa Lya Dolmat
- Sherry
- Vyla Virus
- Mizz Koko
- Ada Heart
All cultures mocked
One of Kumar’s strengths (if you want to call it that) is that he comes from a minority culture in Singapore – which enables him to mock all cultures. That’s what makes his material so hilarious, because he pokes fun at the stereotypes of every culture that we all think but are unable to say for politically correct reasons. And that includes his own culture, regardless of what demographic you’re looking at him from. I’m glad that he gets to be uncensored on stage, because no Kumar article is complete with a mention of The Ra Ra Show, which saw an ignoble end thanks to bored keyboard warrior spouses and censorship, amongst other factors.
Audience interaction
So if you buy top tier tickets, you’ll be treated to audience interaction. Given that Marina Bay Sands Theatre is such a huge auditorium, it was fun to see Kumar interacting with audiences in the front rows. I feel obliged to slightly plug the perks of front row seats, given the number of jokes Kumar made about the different levels of affordability of the tickets (and how this reflects on the people who buy them). But audience feedback is the lifeblood of a performer, even more so for live shows – so this elevated the atmosphere of the show.
Strategically inserted song and dance routines
Insertion jokes aside, the song and dance routines felt better placed, and actually entertaining. I’m not a fan of concerts in general, and I appreciated the breaks and actual quality of the performances on stage. Maybe also because I’m old (I mentioned The Ra Ra Show, after all) so I also recognised the songs that were performed.
More fun, while still being incisive
Previous Kumar shows I’ve watched had a slight sense of bitterness about the injustice of society and the way things are in the world – which is normal, given that Mark Twain supposedly said comedy is tragedy plus time. But this time, it was different. This time, Kumar felt like he was having fun. This time, it felt like Kumar was laughing with the world at the state of its affairs – rather than laughing at the world.
It may sound like a mere difference of prepositions, but it made all the difference in the show. This time, Kumar felt like a comedian. This time, the jokes landed with a touch of fun. This time, the jokes felt sweeter. I like this iteration of Kumar, and I hope he stays.
Sweet moments
The end of the show brought some sweet moments and a very humanising moment for Kumar, who can seem unflappable with his incisive comments on society. It felt relatable, it felt like a connection was made, and it showed us Kumar’s vulnerability – which is a scary thing for any performer, stand-up comedian or not. Given the more light-hearted, less bitter tone of the show, it was a great way to end, and a good reminder of the new Kumar that we’re seeing.
Intermission wasn’t needed
With a 110 minute runtime, an intermission wasn’t actually needed. I’d have preferred to have the show run continuously rather than stop for a bathroom break, since it’s not really all that long. Nevertheless, I understand the logistical (and perhaps strategic) reasons for having an intermission – but then I’d have wanted a longer show to warrant that. It’s a minor quibble, but to paraphrase Kumar’s words, being a Chinese Singaporean means I must complain about something.
Should you watch it?
If you’ve ever watched Kumar’s material and you like it, this is more of the same. He hasn’t toned it down (I mean, why would you want him to?!) but it feels like it comes from a place of delight and fun now, more so than it has felt in the last 10 years. Kumar’s humanity is much more on display now, and that makes for a richer, and ultimately, more entertaining performance. It’s uncut after all – in every sense of the word.
Kumar Uncut runs from 10 to 28 July at Marina Bay Sands.
This is an original article on marcusgohmarcusgoh.com.
For more Kumar, you might also want to read:
- [Theatre] Does Kumar50’s shades of humour tickle you all over, or just in certain places?
- [Theatre Review] ‘CRAZY CHRISTMAS – A groundNUTCRACKER’ is a fun mix of different acts
- Theatre Review – “Happy Ever Laughter”
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