Why we love Pangdemonium

One of the reasons I dreaded leaving New York for Singapore was because of  Broadway. I love musicals and theatre, and had many wonderful experiences being blown away by the incredible sets, stellar acting and thoughtful productions that provided endless fodder for discussion between my friends and I. Coming back home to a spew of local productions that thrived on the idea of generating laughter through slapstick humor was not something that I was particularly looking forward to. The truth was that our local scene lacked that punch that defined the magic that was Broadway and the West End – plays that delve into issues that actually matter.

Well, thank god for Pangdemonium.

Founded by local thespian Adrian Pang & his talented wife, Tracie Pang, the aptly-named Pangdemonium has a mission to provide “ass-kicking adventures in theatre”, and it has certainly been creating the best kind of chaos in the local theatre scene. Since we’ve started going to their productions in 2011, we’ve been treated to show after show of impeccable quality. They have an amazing gift of choosing and producing plays that are thought-provoking, that force you to contemplate the complexities of human impulse and morality, make you squirm in your seat because you are either somewhat like the antagonist or know people like that, and yet somehow also include side-splitting humour. I’ve left every single one of their plays feeling like I’ve been brought through an emotional journey, and it ensures that ET and I have something to talk about for the rest of the day.

After watching their rendition of Rabbit Hole (which made me and 90% of the other women in the theatre bawl like little girls) and Next to Normal (which is one of my favourite musicals  on Broadway), I was convinced that we had to buy their 2014 Season Ticket. Apart from our wedding, it was probably the best investment & commitment we made this year. All 3 shows (Fat Pig, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, and Frozen) were consistently phenomenal and engaging from the moment we were instructed by Adrian Pang to switch our phones to silent mode to the time the actors took their bow. One of our friends was so transfixed by Mina Kaye in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice that we saw him transform into a starstruck fanboy (“She’s so owning…”) as he queued to get her autograph.

The 2015 season looks set to be one filled with laughter, as Pangdemonium tackles three comedies: Circle Mirror Transformation, Tribes, and Chinglish. All three plays have been widely-acclaimed and have a whole host of positive superlatives attributed to them. What’s awesome about the season ticket is that we got first pick on our dates of choice and always secured the best seats in the house. We didn’t have to worry about missing any of the shows and even got invites to VIP parties with the cast! Even the most commitment-phobic among our group of friends has put his money down in hopes of meeting Mina Kaye again.

Pangdemonium has made me a convert, and it’s time we support local theatre. So if you love plays and musicals like me or generally enjoy being entertained, go get the season ticket. You won’t regret it. Don’t say we never share.

This post was not sponsored by Pangdemonium. We’re just huge fans.