Sydney Theatre Company closes its 2025 season with Congratulations, Get Rich! (恭喜发财, 人日快乐), a new musical by Merlynn Tong.
The musical attempts to weave Singaporean Chinese culture, superstition and the supernatural with challenging familial relationships. It is co-produced with La Boite Theatre and Singapore Repertory Theatre and directed by Courtney Stewart.
Merlynn Tong, Kimie Tsukakoshi and Seong Hui Xuan in Sydney Theatre Company’s Congratulations, Get Rich! (恭喜发财, 人日快乐) 2025. Photo: Prudence Upton ©
Congratulations, Get Rich! tells the story of Mandy (Merlynn Tong) who turns 38 at the opening of her karaoke business. 38 is also the age at which both her mother (Seong Hui Xuan) and grandmother (Kimie Tsukakoshi) took their lives. This, along with the significance of 38 or sānbā (三八) as a pejorative slang for an older woman in Mandarin, build on the superstitious energy and cultural dialogue of the show.
Despite the promising premise, thematically, the production hardly delves into grief and complicated cultural and family dynamics. The story lacks a more incisive and coherent exploration of the heavy topics, ultimately landing in a mediocre position. A ballad as the first number leads audiences to expect a heartfelt story with depth, however the production concludes without satisfying expectations. The pacing moves scenes along quickly, keeping audiences entertained. Yet without a compelling emotional or narrative throughline, the show feels hollow.
The production’s greatest triumph is undoubtedly James Lew‘s set design coupled with Gabriel Chan’s lighting design and the masterful staging that brings it to life. The TV screen becomes an especially iconic element, with its mirror illusion creating genuinely unsettling moments that fusing the traditional Chinese supernatural imagery with contemporary stagecraft. Scene transitions are executed with seamless professionalism, demonstrating the technical excellence expected from Sydney Theatre Company. The quirky choreography adds playful energy, which often elicits chuckles from the audience. Visually and technically, the production is stellar, and exactly what one would expect from Sydney Theatre Company.
The performers deliver strong vocal performances, with all three women showcasing impressive vocals. The cast’s facial expressions and commitment to the quirky tone are commendable, bringing genuine personality to their roles. While certainly fun, the musical numbers lack memorable hooks, with lyrics difficult to parse at times. The production admirably explains niche concepts like Rénrì (人日) through song and sprinkles in Singaporean slang (like jialat) and Mandarin. These elements integrate cultural richness to the production and is particularly appreciated by audiences familiar with the Singapore references. However, some of the dialogue also feels uncharacteristic and rushed, as it attempts to deliver a fuzzy narrative. It feels as though the show attempts to speak to multiple audiences – Singaporean diaspora, broader Asian Australian communities, general theatregoers – but in trying to appeal to everyone, without stronger delivery on the themes, it doesn’t fully resonate with any audience.
Congratulations, Get Rich! is an exciting milestone as an original Singaporean Chinese Australian musical, and there is undeniable value in seeing this perspective on a major Australian stage. However, ambition alone cannot carry a production when the narrative lacks focus and depth. While the technical elements shine and the performers give it their all, the muddled themes and unmemorable score prevent the work from achieving its full potential. For audiences seeking representation and cultural celebration, the show offers moments of recognition and sporadic laughter. The production shows exceptional technical polish and striking visual design, yet struggles to find coherence and emotional resonance in its thematic ambitions, leaving audiences entertained but ultimately unsatisfied.
