Lee takes a back seat

The last time Singaporean musician Dick Lee's name was associated with a stage musical in Hong Kong it was for Nagraland.

The multi-million-dollar 'Oriental pop operetta' created waves throughout Asia in 1992, not only because it was the first Asian-made stage production to transcend three countries - homebase Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan - but also because of its flamboyant and innovative creator.

News of 'Dick Lee's Nagraland ' filtered through the grapevine long before the production landed on Hong Kong shores and the media fell over themselves flying to Singapore and Japan to preview the shows of the 'mad Chinaman', as Lee was often referred to.

Since then, Singapore's biggest star has come up with several musicals in his homeland and Japan - among them Fried Rice Paradise 1991, Sing To The Dawn and Hong Kong Rhapsody - with the spotlight firmly centred on him as the producer, writer, composer, and star.

Things are a little different this time round.

He has been ensconced in a Tsim Sha Tsui hotel suite for the past month working furiously on another musical extravaganza - only this time top billing is going to Canto-pop superstar Jacky Cheung Hok-yau, Sandy Lam Yik-lin and Kit Chan Kit-yee.

The musical is Cheung's multi-million dollar all-original stage production Snow.Wolf.Lake which will open at the Hong Kong Coliseum tonight and Lee will be playing 'second fiddle' as its musical director-cum-consultant.