Text & Photos: Joanna Goh
Video: Teng Siew Eng

For someone who started her acting career with strong roots in theatre (she did theatre studies in VJC and studied theatre in Bates College), “Happy Ever Laughter” could jolly well be considered Michelle Chong’s “formal” return to stage and theatre productions – apart from corporate gigs and stand-up shows she’s done in-between since her theatre show “Theory of Everything” which took place more than a decade ago.

Excited to be working with comedians such as Kumar and Gurmit [Singh] whom she “grew up watching”, Michelle promises there’ll be plenty of laughs from their joint efforts and quipped, “It’s a very good opportunity to see so many comedians in one show. There are at least 10 comedians – 10 comedians for the price of one, it’s very worth it right? (Laughs)”

Looking spritely in a refreshing short bob, Michelle shared that going on stage will be “a nice change” from being in front of the camera, which she finds tiring these days. “Because I’m trying to wean myself off performing [on TV] and when I do this, maybe I gradually transit to behind-the-scenes production full-time.”

For someone who left MediaCorp less than two months ago, life’s been “more than hectic” and the comedian barely has time for herself. “That’s one thing that hasn’t changed before and after I left MediaCorp.”

With a strong desire to concentration on her foray into production, Michelle assures she’s not striking acting from her to-do list yet and admits that it wouldn’t be a “total no” for her to reappear on the gogglebox.

“I think we’d have to see (laughs) both sides — Mediacorp and then how the negotiations or talks will go. I’m open to the idea but they might not be,” quipped Michelle with a self-deprecating chuckle.