The one-night-only 3 Hard Tenors concert-cum-talk show at The Max Pavilion had the audience doubling over with laughter.
Contributed By Delvina Su
Sep. 25 saw adults and children, young and old, couples and families strolling towards The Max Pavilion Hall at the Singapore Expo, in anticipation for the 3 Hard Tenors concert, held for one night only. Unfolding as a concert-cum-talk show, the concert was a spoof of the original 3 Tenors (comprising Spanish singers Plácido Domingo and Jose Carréras and the Italian singer Luciano Pavarotti who sang in concert during the 1990s and early 2000s), albeit in typical Taiwanese variety-show humor.
Featuring an all-Taiwanese lineup, the show was helmed by Jacky Wu, one of Taiwan’s top comedian-host, his number one disciple, Kang Kang, as well as up-and-coming comedian-host Xiao Zhong. Notable personalities in the audience included local film director Jack Neo and his wife, as well as one of Singapore’s top comedians, Mark Lee.
The night kicked off with the trio trying to reach high-octave pitches, drawing immense laughter from the crowd. Not everything was tongue-in-cheek, as seen in the individual performances by the three comedians respectively. Kang Kang, for example, delivered a touching song item, complete with a video chronicling his journey as a comedian-host playing in the background, depicting the sacrifices, hard work and perseverance he had put into his career. Relegating himself to being the butt of all jokes has obviously paid off, given the fame and popularity he enjoys today across Asia.
With a guitar on hand, Xiao Zhong did a spoof of a Jay Chou performance. Displaying slapstick humor, he gamely told the audience that besides creating humor, comedians have many hidden talents—such as composing music. With that, he proceeded to strum on the guitar, only to start off on the wrong key, sending the crowd in stitches. He also tried his hand at magic, which only led to more guffaws from the crowd.
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| PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLYER ENTERTAINMENT |
Jacky Wu’s high-spirited antics got the crowd bopping their heads and swaying to the beat. An energetic dance number performed by the trio also had the audience letting their hair down as they waved along enthusiastically with light sticks.
One of the night’s highlights was undoubtedly the special guest appearances by Taiwanese singer Zhang Ke Fan, decked out in a flamboyant peacock costume, and Singapore’s popular cross-dressing character from the variety show Paris & Milan, Auntie Lucy. The guest appearances by the duo brought the evening’s atmosphere to a whole new level. Their bantering and self-deprecating humor rendered the whole crowd in stitches. Their chemistry and humor displayed on the stage that evening greatly entertained the audiences and made the night a memorably rib-tickling one.
