Set during the height of the Qing Dynasty, Crab Flower Cub is about five sisters (one in-law and one cousin) of a noble household gathering in their family home to celebrate the 60th birthday of the patriarch. Led by the eldest sister, they take up the task of preparing the lavish feast for the celebration, and secretly, to set up a poetry club. The five sisters tell of their desires, delusions and aspirations through the festivities, the prose of the poetry club and the impending decline of the family fortune; reflecting on the role of the traditional Chinese female and the hollowness of the Qing society at large through their voices. The active set was minimal, almost barebone, consisting of just a long table with some stools in the foreground. In contrast, two big elaborate Chinese shelves, stood in the background, filled with an assortment of porcelein ware, suggesting the abundant wealth of the household but also suggesting the inherent fragility of the condition. In a similar vein, the costumes expressed the same kind of empty wealth. The characters donned voluminous bell shaped confections of luscious fabrics in exuberant colours which were, however, hollow inside. Based on the Chinese masterpiece 红楼梦 （Dream of the Red Chamber), the story is crafted through the sharp writing of playwright, Goh Boon Teck, and commendable performance of the five actresses. It is, however, disappointing that in this second run of the production, the live calligraphy segment by local artist, Hong Sek Chern, was left out.
Crab Flower Club
20-29 Aug 2009
Drama Centre Theatre
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