No holds barred.

With all his years in comedy, Kumar has always seemed like someone who boldly moves forward, never one to be slowed down by regret. A force of nature taking human form, Kumar is the kind of performer who never holds back, forever unabashedly, unapologetically frank with his remarks and jokes, and always keeping it real and genuinely himself onstage.

Which is precisely why in his latest show, Kumar urges us to live life in a similar way, with Kumar Guilty at the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands. As its title suggests, Kumar Guilty is all about facing life and forgoing the guilt that comes from doing things people chide you for, so long as it’s something you want to do, authentically and unashamedly being your best self.

Kumar shows off a medley of new material, where no topic is too taboo to broach. As an equal opportunities comedian, no one is spared. From antics with Grab, to commenting on the hottest topics in the news, Kumar still manages to keep things fresh, and delivers punchlines with confidence, showing how he stays abreast with local sagas, thanks to daily updates from CNA.

Even during the times he does broach dangerously ‘sensitive’ areas, whether it’s the discomfort of religion or even pronouns and how the LGBTQIA+ community keeps adding letters to the acronym, there is never any malice intended, coming from a genuine want for simplicity and never taking life too seriously that makes these jokes more than palatable, and certainly evoking his fair share of laughs throughout the set. Kumar clearly does his research, and throughout this segment, his jokes touch on topics that appeal to audience members of every generation, from the ‘boomers’ to ‘zoomers’, and even offstage, using TikTok and Instagram to find that genuine connection with everyone.

Where Kumar really shines is when he enters a more improvisational segment, and does what he does best: mingling and interacting with the audience to deliver spot-on anecdotes and garner laughs from his observations. Playing a tongue-in-cheek game with the audience, where he gets us to respond if we’re guilty or not guilty of certain taboo acts, Kumar always seems to find the perfect person to pass a witty comment about, whether out of surprise for how innocent they look, or being impressed by the sheer number of things they’ve done.

But in addition to the roasting of latecomers and those who dare sit in the first few rows, Kumar’s also allows for moments of vulnerability that take the show to completely different level. For the first time in the show, we see Kumar filled with precisely the guilt he warned us of, as he tells us of the traumatic process of how his dog passed away. Going beyond comedy, Kumar Guilty uses all the goodwill and connection built up with the audience to deliver an emotional blow, as he segues into an emotional lipsync. Kumar ultimately ends this segment by reminding us to cherish every moment we have with our loved ones, and that we must move on with life amidst the pain. It is pure, it is sincere, and it is heartfelt, leaving us moved and convinced of the need to live life to the fullest.

In between acts, Kumar is also joined by his fellow drag queens (Vyla Virus, Lisa Lya Dolmat, Szli Wan, and Helda Hydayat) and troupe of skilled dancers (Gino Babagay, Winny Yap, Esther Loh, Sheree Lim, Xavier Teo, Akeem Elianto, Phiz Nasrudin, Kim Eusope and Kevin Tristan). Choreography-wise, the team has done a fantastic job of showcasing a range of styles and performances, from a sizzling, Fosse-inspired lip sync to ‘Cell Block Tango’ from the musical Chicago, to a more comedic take on Bananarama’s ‘Love In The First Degree’, both of which show off the dancers’ flexibility and agility, while also giving the queens moves that show them at their best, whether it’s performing stunts or emoting with their face.

A particularly raunchy, sexually-charged version of Britney Spears’ ‘Oops I Did It Again’ sees veteran queen Helda play the role of a teacher as she spanks her naughty students for untucked uniforms, a raucous, provocative performance done in a well-paced sequence. Costumes are done in quick-change fashion, and enough rehearsals have gone into the preparation to ensure these go off without a hitch, impressing us with how smooth the entire process is. The choreographers have outdone themselves here, with fun, entertaining numbers that hype up the audience and get us revved up between Kumar’s segments, playing to both the dancers’ and drag queens’ strengths.

In a powerful closer, the queens take turns to lip sync to titans of the music industry, from recreations of Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, to an animalistic interpretation of Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’, to Beyonce’s iconic ‘Single Ladies’ choreography. But this is still a Kumar show after all, and if it’s one thing Kumar is known for, it’s working hard and pushing himself to the limit, always doing more to perform to the fullest and bring out the best in himself to ensure a good show. Arriving last in a glorious, ethereal golden gown, Kumar closes the medley on a fierce note with Madonna’s ‘Vogue’, clearly the queen of queens.

By its end, Kumar makes one thing clear – life is too short to feel guilty about things, and rather than regret what we don’t have or things we did, we have to accept it and enjoy every step of the wonderful crazy journey of life. After all, happiness is a direction, not a place, and as Kumar bids us goodnight, we are convinced and reassured that anything can be overcome, so long as you take a step back and have a laugh.

Kumar Guilty plays from 6th to 23rd July 2023 at the Sands Theatre. Tickets available here