If the title doesn't give you an indication of its tongue-in-cheek humour, the opening number, also titled "Yellow Fever", certainly does. It also showcases Lim Harris's impressive vocal skills as she moves between styles and genres, including pop-rock, ballads and opera. Her opera performance is particularly captivating, and I'd have loved to hear more, given her evident passion for the style.
There's plenty of comedy in what Lim Harris unpacks, despite the racist and sexist undertones of the situations she describes. As she reminds us, it's OK to laugh, even if we're white. But being told by casting agents that you're only there because you're Asian, being advised by a teacher to ignore the racial slurs hurled at you by children, and having a boyfriend ask you to put on an accent during sex are experiences that are anything but funny.
While Lim Harris delivers these stories with wit, it's clear they've affected her life and career. The fact that she's unpacking them on stage suggests they continue to matter. Interspersed throughout are brief references to other serious events. She doesn't always dwell on these, sometimes moving on almost as quickly as she introduces them. Yet that brevity can be affecting in itself. It leaves you wondering, "did she just say that?", and if hearing something like that prompts that reaction, imagine what it must be like to have lived through it.
The show moves between various periods of Lim Harris' life, from the story of how her parents met, which is so very sweet, to her schooling and career. These transitions are well handled, allowing her to navigate her past without leaving the audience with chronological whiplash.
The set is simple but effective, bringing East Asian influences to the stage through a stand of pink, yellow and orange paper lanterns and parasols. Combined with Lim Harris' red satin robe over a black sequined outfit, these visual elements evoke a vintage Shanghai cabaret feel that complements the production's musical style.
Lim Harris is a brilliant storyteller and an exceptional performer. As someone who isn't a woman of colour, I can still empathise with the frustration, anger and exhaustion she conveys having felt over the years. She finds humour in these experiences without diminishing their impact. By sharing them so openly, Lim Harris makes it harder to dismiss them as isolated incidents or harmless comments. Yellow Fever is a cabaret that makes you laugh and then reminds you why these stories need to be told.
Read our interview with Kelly Lim Harris here.
Yellow Fever: An Original Musical Cabaret was performed at Trades Hall between 7 - 18 October.
Image credit: Ven Tithing
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