Bolero Opera

In the 1930s “Bachtiar Effendi… started, and acted himself, in the Malay Bolero opera which scored an instant hit. All the plays staged had ancient Malay and Javanese backgrounds…” [Singapore Free Press, March 9, 1948, p. 2]. Initially active in Java and Sumatra, the Bolero Opera soon began touring the wider region and first came to Singapore in 1938.

JAVA OPERA COMING TO THE NEW WORLD – Patrons of the New World Amusement Park will have an opportunity of hearing the rich lilting melodies of Javanese music which has a charm and verve all its own, when the opera from Java known as Bolero opens a short season at the Sunlight Theatre commencing from next Saturday. At considerable expense the management has brought down this first-class opera from Java which has a world-wide reputation. The troupe consists of sixty artistes, including twenty charming Bali dancers, who will provide the latest song hits. It has visited Hong Kong, Canton, Rangoon, Calcutta, Delhi and Bombay. [Malaya Tribune, November 16, 1938, p. 7]

Bolero returned to Singapore in 1939, followed by a tour of Malaya. The troupe was in Telok [Pinang Gazette, September 20, 1939, p. 5].

It seems that the 1939 tour initiated a period where Bolero was effectively based in Singapore, from where it periodically toured through Malaya and nearby countries. By early the next year the troupe had returned from its previous tour and appeared in Singapore at the Sunlight Hall (New World) from 3–19 February 1940 and then at the Garrick Theatre, Geylang from 26 February 1940 to 8 April 1940, after which the troupe toured again. It appeared in Segamat on 11 July 1940. Bolero was probably touring again in late 1940, but no details are known. The troupe appeared in Penang in early 1941, which suggests they were previously in India since touring groups typically arrived there from Calcutta when heading towards Singapore.

JAVANESE SHOW IN PENANG – “Bolero” Artistes At The New World. Bolero Opera, which was so popular when they opened their Malayan tour at the Theatre Royal (now the Odeon) about two years ago, have returned to this town after touring neighbouring countries. They opened their short season last night at the Penang Hall, New World Amusement Park and their reputation was certainly justified in their opening performance. The production of the Bolero differs from those of the more glorified Malay bangsawan, in that there is no singing in the actual operatic turns and is conducted on the same system as that of the famous Dardanella. Music, singing and dancing, however, form part of the extra turns and those enchanting love serenades known as kronchong are a speciality in this opera. There is an abundance of Javanese girls, all good-looking, attractive in face and figure. Besides the show-girls, the company has very good actors and actresses, comedians, chorines, tap-dancers and men and women who are real singers. For stage spectacles, the Bolero has set a high and expensive standard for entertainment of its kind. The show goes on all the time at high speed, one sumptuous episode succeeding another with astounding rapidity. There is no wasting of time by unnecessary singing and fooling about on stage. [Pinang Gazette, February 22, 1941, p. 7]

Bolero was apparently still in Singapore when the Japanese invaded in late 1941 and early 1942. By August the troupe was appearing at the newly renamed Nanyo Gekizyo (formerly the Queen’s Theatre) [Syonan Shimbun, August 6–15, 1942, p. 2]. Rather bizarrely, the listings for Bolero’s shows at the Nanyo Gekizyo in the Japanese-controlled Syonan Shimbun (formerly The Straits Times) still gave the former name of Queen’s Theatre as well as the Japanese name!

Apart from regular performances at a theatre, Bolero also undertook work under the direction of the Japanese Military Government.

“Vivid memories of their beloved homeland and those most dear to their hearts will be brought home to the majority of those aboard the two repatriation vessels, the Asama Maru and the Conte Verde, as the two ships sail into Syonan harbour today… Meanwhile, the finishing touches are being put locally to the programme mapped out for the visitors. Malayans will be pleased to hear that the Bolero Opera Company, comprising many talented artistes and kronchong singers, will perform on the boat for the benefit of the visitors… Newsreels will also be screened aboard… for the benefit of the passengers. The reels will include many thrilling moments of actual battle scenes, and tense bombing shots over the many towns and cities which have now fallen to our Imperial forces. It is understood that the range of films will cover the entire campaign of the Greater East Asia War, commencing with the first outbreak of hostilities to the recent occupation of the Aleutian Islands.” [Syonan Shimbun, August 9, 1942, p. 1]

The troupe’s shows at the Nanyo Gekizyo (Queen’s Theatre) continued until October 1942. In late October 1942, Bachtiar Effendi attempted to continue the troupe’s previous practice of touring periodically out of Singapore by taking Bolero to Bintan (Bintan-to) in the Riau Archipelago (now part of Indonesia).

MALAYS SHOULD BESTIR THEMSELVES SAYS BOLERO CHIEF – A clarion call to all Malays to step out of their easy-going life and come forward and show their ability to tackle big jobs, was made by Mr. Bachtiar Effendi, well-known actor and proprietor of Suhara’s Bolero, yesterday, prior to his departure to Bintan-to. Mr. Effendi’s Bolero Opera at the Nanyo Gekizyo has just completed an eleven-week run. He has portrayed the spirit of New Asia on the stage and been responsible in educating thousands of theatre-goers of the part they have to play in the New Order… Mr. Effendi and his troupe of 64 artists leave for Bintan-to today. He expects to be away about two months and will return to Syonan. [Syonan Shimbun, October 21, 1942, p. 4]

However, due to wartime conditions the tour does not seem to have been successful, and there is no further information on the activities of the Bolero Opera.

SUHARA’S BOLERO – The repeat performance of Raja Mutiara by Suhara’s Bolero was well appreciated by the audience who turned up at the Royal on Wednesday night. The principal parts were played by Suhara Effendi and Hasan, while directing the stage show was Bachtiar Effendi. The cast consisted of many talented players, including a bevy of beautiful girls. The opera staged Miss X last night. The principal roles were played by Suhara Effendi and the opera’s prima donna, who is one of the greatest tragediennes of the East. The extra and comic turns provided splendid interludes to the evening’s entertainment. The opera will be staging their farewell performance on Friday night, the drama being Fatima. [Pinang Gazette, August 11, 1939, p. 9]