Tuesday, November 29, 2011

[2011] 星州之夜 A Song to Remember

In the 1930s and 1940s, troupes from Shanghai, Southern China as well as local cabaret groups thronged the scene and enlivened the night. Reveling in song and dance drowned out anxieties of the impending war and blues of the real world. Set in this backdrop, this drama serial relives the glittering Singapore nightlife of old.

Flames of war ignite in the 1940s. Swaying in the midst of a raging turmoil, Yuhong (portrayed by Joanne Peh) and Song Qiao-er (portrayed by Eelyn Kok), rivaling doyennes of Shanghai Li Ming Troupe, fight it out on stage. Qiao-er vows to remove the thorn in her flesh, and Yuhong retaliates.

A young musician from Shanghai, Mo Liguang (portrayed by Qi Yuwu), arrives on the eve of the outbreak of World War II in Singapore. A bookish "cultural youth", he indulges in fantasy and music. His insensitivity to mundane affairs often lands him in comic situations! He develops feelings for Yuhong after meeting her on-board the ship to Singapore.

Liguang's aunt is a vicious landlady who puts him in charge of collecting rents from the difficult tenants of an old building. Taunted by a motley bunch of characters, he is helped by Liu Jiumei (portrayed by Julie Tan) from being driven back to Shanghai by his aunt.

Jiumei is mistreated by her adopted mother to sing for a living, and ends up being bullied as the "soda girl" at New World Nightclub. An optimistic girl by nature, she daydreams about making a debut on stage. She falls for Li Guang after a series of tribulations but suppresses her love for him because his heart is with Yu Hong.

The captivating Indian, Malay, Peranakan and Western dances inspire Liguang to compose songs for Jiumei. Both are the quintessential composer and singer duo.

The rivalry between Yuhong and Qiao-er intensifies when they come to Singapore. Qiao-er works her charms on tycoon Xu Kun (portrayed by Chen Hanwei) in the hope of eliminating Yu Hong, but the latter counter-attacks by sexual seduction to rise as the doyenne of the troupe and a star in Singapore.

Yuhong ropes in Liguang to the troupe and redeems Jiumei from the brothel. Jiumei is filled with gratitude for her savior but Yu Hong realizes that Jiumei's talent for singing and dancing poses a threat to her. She tries to stunt her popularity but the latter makes tremendous progress under Qiao-er's mentorship. To safeguard her position, Yu Hong seeks to destroy Jiumei, just like how she was previously victimized by Qiao-er.

To raise funds for the medical costs of a neighbour's infant, Jiumei and Liguang call on everyone to participate in a spectacular street show - "Night of the Stars". Jiumei becomes an overnight sensation and banking on her fame, Jiumei's adopted mother sells her to a rogue businessman to be his minor wife. How will Liguang save Jiumei from the devil's clutches? Will he choose to love Yuhong or Jiumei eventually? In the chaotic period leading to a world war, what is the fate of everyone?


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