CHEF: Bibimbap vs Chilli Crab – review

It’s a hot and spicy cook-off! Read our quick review of CHEF: Bibimbap vs Chilli Crab, a live theatrical show at RWS Theatre.

What is CHEF: Bibimbap vs Chilli Crab?

This is Singapore’s first adaptation of the CHEF live shows from South Korea, a non-verbal physical comedy ‘food musical’.

Stranger things have happened.

What is this show about?

A cooking tournament where the burning rivalry between two chefs, Green and Red, comes to a boil. They are assisted by an amusing ensemble of ‘lesser’ chefs. Through a few rounds of ‘orders’ from the audience, each side takes turn to outwit and upstage the other.

Chilli Crab or Bibimbap?

What’s special about it?

In this 80-minute show, the chefs quickly embroil the audience into a barrel of laughs, especially with surprisingly local jabs delivered by the foreign cast (except the Cutie Chefs who are authentically Singaporean). The non-conventional servings of action-comedy has a surprising layer of raw sound effects, conjured by the beatboxing duo, flawlessly in sync with the cast’s performance.

You could have a date in front of an entire theatre…

The show is also quite interactive. Lucky audience members will ‘pick’ their chef in each round of the cook-off, and might end up on stage for a surprise. The audience could also have some sway in the show’s ending. The resort spares no opportunity to plug its own attractions and restaurants – it is unapologetically hilarious.

Although the production is seasoned with random bits of Singlish and Chinese, it doesn’t detract from the performance which is mostly physical. The show keeps a brisk pace throughout until after the final round; fans of beatboxing and breakdancing will appreciate the bonus segment (which I felt was extraneous).

Why watch it?

You get to taste the famous CHEF theatrical experience in Singapore. This is also one of the more affordable shows staged at RWS. There are a lot of on-going promotions, with tickets going for as low as half price for RWS Invites Members and PAssion Cardholders when purchased as a bundle on select dates. Check out all the discounts here.

CHEF: Bibimbap vs Chilli Crab is now showing at the RWS Theatre on select nights (8pm, Thursdays to Saturdays) with matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays. The show will run till 22 July, and tickets go from $38 to $118 before discounts. For more details, show schedules and ticketing information, visit RWSentosa’s CHEF website.

Special Thanks to RWS for the invitation to the CHEF Gala Premiere.