Despite a few bright spots, the revue format is hard on the cast and some sketches sag

Tragedy is easy, comedy is hard. That old theatre truism certainly applied to the Dim Sum Dollies' latest outing, whose three-part title captured in its awkward clunkiness the appeal and pitfalls of Singapore's most successful mainstream theatre franchise.

- Ong Sor Fern

The Dollies' brand, built over 22 years, takes top billing. The history of Singapore is a serious topic. But Sixty Sexy Years promises audiences the irreverent comedy they have come to expect from the Dollies, comprising original Dollies Selena Tan and Pam Oei, and relative Dolly newcomer Jo Tan.

The 110-minute show delivers in fits and starts, extremely zingy when it succeeds, but noticeably flat when some jokes misfire or outstay their welcome.

It opens promisingly enough, with the Dollies in mermaid costumes recapping the familiar milestones of Singapore's history, from its founding to independence.

This opening number benefited from hardworking Hossan Leong's multiple costume and character changes to portray historical figures, as he morphed from Sang Nila Utama to Sir Stamford Raffles to Lee Kuan Yew.

A series of musical skits ensues, loosely organised according to the decades from the 1960s through to the 2000s.