Preschool musical

Meet the New Hi-5

May Seah, may@mediacorp.com.sg

Shiny, happy people: (From left) Laureen, Casey, Fely, Tim, Stevie. Don Wong

SINGING, dancing kiddie sensation Hi-5 is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the Hi-5 Surprise! Live Tour 2009, which will premiere in Asia with a tour of the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore.

Performing in the show will be the new generation Hi-5: Stevie Nicholson and newcomers Lauren Brant, Casey Burgess, Fely Irvine and Tim Maddren. Organised by MediaCorp VizPro, the Hi-5 Surprise! show depicts how the team each prepares a special surprise to help get ready for their friend Chats' surprise birthday party.

What we really wanted to know, though, was: What you have to be high on to do what they do?

"Life!" the Hi-fivers chorused in unison. Said Tim: "We feed off the energy of the kids."

Added Lauren: "It's hard not to be having fun all the time when we're singing such fabulous songs and always dressed up in such crazy costumes,"

"Once, we were all dressed up as potatoes. Couch potatoes," Casey chimed in.

Guffawing, Tim added: "You go home to your family and they're like, 'What did you do?' 'I was a couch potato.' It's weird!"

That's starchy-keen, but does it feel weird, as adults — the girls are 20 and the guys are 25 — to be doing a kiddie show?

"No," they chorused again.

"Truth is, we really are still kids, all of us," said Lauren.

Added Stevie: "We're just big brothers, big sisters having fun, being silly, and inviting the kids to come and play and have fun with us. Being role models to the children is something that we're really proud of.

"Also, we spend so much time with each other. We're all buddies, we're all mates."

So, who has a crush on whom? "They all have a crush on me!" cried Tim as the group shouted with laughter.

"It'd be weird, 'cos we're like brothers and sisters!" said a smiling Lauren.

Added Fely: "Yeah, that's probably the first time we've ever had that thought!"

Well, that might be something to ponder while they prepare for Chats' party. As Stevie put it: "I think everyone loves a party, whether you're an adult or a child."

Hi-5 Surprise! Live Tour 2009 runs from Sept 8 to 13 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets available from June 22 from Sistic. Hi-5 Series 11 premieres on next Monday and will air on weekdays at 12.30pm on MediaCorp TV okto.

From TODAY, Plus – Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009