Swan song

SINGAPORE - All good things must come to an end.

And for this iconic Sentosa attraction, May 4th will be its deadline. Songs of the Sea will be replaced by another multimedia showcase, set to open in June.

Songs of the Sea is a multimedia show located at Siloso Beach.

Designed by acclaimed multimedia display designer Yves Pepin, it has pyrotechnics, water jets, a laser show, flame bursts and a live seven-person cast to act out a story of a princess under the spell of an enchanted village.

Since March 2007, the show has been performed twice nightly to entertain millions (8.3 million people, over 5,000 shows, to be exact).

Cast member Yazid Hussein, 28, said: “I’ve heard from people that’s it’s a must to visit Songs of the Sea if you’re in Sentosa.”

The 20-minute show was almost sold out when I went to see it for the first time last Thursday.

A mixture of locals and tourists filled up the open air theatre. The audience clapped and sang along to some of the traditional Singapore songs like Oh Singapura.

But the spectacular pyrotechnics was the most exciting part.

Mr Yazid has been with the show since the beginning.

“I’m one of the lucky seven out of the 50 people who went for the casting. That’s where I met Danny,” said Mr Yazid, pointing to his colleague who was busy coordinating the cast.

Mr Danny Ramlan, 28, is now in charge of the cast and dons the costumes only when a performer cannot do a show.

It takes 25 cast and crew members, most of them part-timers, to produce the show.

Through the years, they have achieved some level of fame.

“Once, I was dining in a restaurant when the manager came up and asked me if I was one of the actors,” Mr Danny said bashfully. He is a freelance drama teacher.

Songs of the Sea is only a part-time job for Mr Yazid, who is on a nursing internship.

But he has been recognised even when he is in his scrubs.

“A nurse asked me if I’m Li (the lead character). She told me her kids loved the show.”

For these two buddies, the show’s end means going back to their day jobs.

“That’s it, lah. No more friends,” Mr Yazid said jokingly.

This article was published on April 20 in The New Paper.

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