The main idea of The Great Gatsby is that the past cannot be repeated, and everybody has to move forward in life.
The book author F Scott Fitzgerald, in the 1920s, used plot, style, figurative language, character and setting to develop the theme.
And jazz appeared to be the constant background music to evoke the period of time in the 1920s.
So while jazz music dominated the event as fitting for a party to run down the clock for 2023 and welcome the New Year, popular and contemporary music also gave the air a distinguished farewell mood.
In short, it was a time for celebration and look-ahead to 2024 with popular band Jive Talkin’ providing the carnival atmosphere for a lively crowd.
The dress code for the 155 Members and guests, obviously, was to wear anything that resembled the 1920s The Great Gatsby Glamour, the theme for the event.
And it was simply great to see the attendees come appropriately dressed for the lovely event at the Tampines Banquet Room on Sunday, Dec 31.
The guests arrived punctually at 6:30pm and were put in the mood with a pre-function Cocktail Special, the serving of Singapore Sling working up their appetites.
The 360º Video Booth activity enabled them to secure a memento, one for the album or keepsake.
After the emcee Mabir Singh’s welcome address, the “ice-breaker” game segment saw teams cheering aloud for the chance to win two bottles of wine, loudest laughter being the main criterion for selection.
The game of bingo and dance Labamba precluded the dinner segment during which diners were also focused on the Screen Game, Scavenger Hunt and Kungfu Fighting which also brought out the spontaneous “child” in the adults.
The screen game of “Spot the Movie Stars” gave a nostalgic feeling to the diners, and 10 of them won exciting prizes.
Club Treasurer Chan Kok Seong then conducted the first lucky draw for prizes 24th to 11th positions. Takashimaya vouchers and green fee vouchers were given out as prizes.
Appetites whetted considerably and moods wound up, the floor was open for ballroom dancing, and Jive Talkin’ did their job for 45 minutes.
To add spice to the pomp and pageantry, special guest appearance Nicolette Ong, performed three songs to wide applause from the audience.
Then followed an interesting Game Segment, topped up with Team dance Labamba, and the main item being a First Five Challenge calling for teams to send up five people in this order:
Persons with:
(a) the same height
(b) same birthday month
(c) same surname
(d) 5 pieces of Notes (money) ending with 5
(e) 5 best beer drinkers.
The Great Gatsby Music Montage (10x Individual prizes and 1 bottle
of wine to the winning table) and Team dance Labamba + mass dance challenge featured next with Jive Talkin back in their element.
Then Club President Ronald Ong conducted the Second Set Lucky Draw (10th to 1st prize), after which the emcee invited diners and the Committee Members on to the dance floor to prepare for the New Year’s Day countdown.
Among the Committee Members were: Mr Ng Kee Choe (Club Chairman), Mr Ronald Ong (Club President), Dr Goh Hoon Pur (Club Captain), Mr Chan Kok Seong (Treasurer), Mr Benny Tay (F&B Convenor) and Mr Ho Beng Huat (Honorary Senior Advisor).
Then it was countdown time: 10… 9… 8…7…. and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The popping of confetti amidst the merry making turned the dance floor into a kaleidoscope of colours and the band increased the tempo as the diners danced to La Bamba followed by loud rendition of Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” by the band and the diners.
It was great to see all diners – young, old and even the quiet personalities _ let their hair down in random for the magnetic pull of the celebratory mood drew them out in wild merry-making.
And as the stamina was sapped and the legs became weary, the diners settled down to Teochew supper as Jive Talking’ played an encore set for 10 minutes.
The event ended with laughter, banter and dialogue as the diners relaxed after a hectic night before heading home.
