Review of breaking and lagi lah

For the past week, RA has been talking about a few plays. 2 of which had its last show on Sunday afternoon. I caught Break-ing on Thursday with theatre analyst Niki. On Sunday, to Lagi Lah with Jennie, Nawar and Linda.

Yes. All these people have only names and you’ll find no pictures of them, or me, here. Only an idiot would make himself look bad in his own column.

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Three plays by three directors

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I’ve to admit I didn’t quite get Silence, Please, by Jo Kukathas. The storyline that is. I got the gist of it. Certain parts what the story evolved around, showed the maturity (I suppose that’s the word) of the writer. The sub-messages as well was brilliant. As a matter of taste, it was a little slow for me and it did make me feel lost watching this as I had to keep on trying to piece it together in my head.

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Directed by Loh Kok Man, Repot?[Mind+Mine] was a play that had 95% of the script in Mandarin (or was it Cantonese). With subtitles of course. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. There was defintely an almost equillibrium between the element of humour and message/theme. One of the things it seeked to determine and pose to the audience was, what is the national language, first language and mother tongue of a person. A conundrum namely with non-Malays who live in Malaysia.

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The last one, WIP did good but prolonged pauses turned me off a little. On top of the idea of promoting the freedom of thought, it also made close reference to the ISA which I’ve been researching about of late. This one was directed by Nam Ron and I was waiting for that X element from him in this one because of his previous work. Just as when I was beginning to feel disappointed, that element came in towards the end of the play. And it came well.

*Part 2 of the ISA series that I’m writing for RA will be out this coming Monday.

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I’ve always insisted on not saying things like, ‘for Malaysian standards, this was good.’ But that is indeed the case sometimes. That description is apt no matter how politically correct you wish to appear. Worse still if you grew up hearing and watching West End musicals and then you start watching local productions that is at most, considered to be post infant or perhaps pre adolescence.

What this one did was that, it would take a song from a famous musical or movie, alter the lyrics and theme to suit the Malaysian context. It did not help that my ears could not catch on as fast as Jennie’s in spotting the origins of half of the parodies they were doing.

But to break it down simply, at least 60% of the songs performed was brilliant. Definitely.

Some were off simply I believe because of two things. Some songs needed more,

• movement and/or people on stage. This was especially so with the somewhat barren stage they had. To compensate with more props and decor would be an alternative, but an expensive one indeed as the context (although all Malaysian), was a revolving one.
• singing by more people. Not just the one or three that they had on stage. But perhaps the whole cast if need be, for the sake of ‘delivering’ the song. Some just needed that grand effect with stronger melody.

That said, the parody of Tomorrow (from Annie The Musical) regarding how a Dato’ Hu must wait till ‘tomorrow’ for his cheque, perfomed solo by Mia Palencia was simply super.

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Lagi lah

It’s back!!! With the same fun filled song & dance numbers, all new cast, and an all new venue, The Actors Studio with the support of KLPAC brings you Broadway Parodies Lagi Lah! Since everyone had so much fun last year, we’re bringing it back just for you. This time round we’re taking

*All text & photos are from the Broadway Parodies Lah blog/site. Note that the photos below were not taken from Pentas 1, but from the foyer of KL Pac where they had the press conference. Click here to read the writeup on them from The Star.

*Besides what is already clearly on the poster, below are other information that might be of your interest. :)

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It’s back!!! With the same fun filled song & dance numbers, all new cast, and an all new venue, The Actors Studio with the support of KLPAC brings you Broadway Parodies Lagi Lah! Since everyone had so much fun last year, we’re bringing it back just for you. This time round we’re taking it on a nation wide tour as well! Ipoh, Penang, Melaka, JB, Kuching, KK…here we come!

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With sikit pinjam konsep from the Western “Forbidden Broadway” spoof show, The Actors Studio proudly presents “Broadway Parodies Lah!”, a rich rojak of slices of Malaysian life garnished with a big splash of humour and served up on a platter of great songs. A Malaysian feast of spoofs that is sure to fill your stomachs with laughter. Somenew songs oso got!

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Written & Facilitated by : Brian McIntyre
Choregraphed by : Farah Dato’ Sulaiman
Production Designer : Edna Tan
Artistic Director : Joe Hasham
Executive Producer : Dato’ Faridah Merican

Featuring :
Mia Palencia (songwriter with fabulous jazz feel – M The Opera)
Tria (the new Judy Garland of Malaysia! M The Opera, Audition reality TV)
Zeqhty Nattrah (dancer and stage performer – PGL, P Ramlee the Musical)
Tabitha Kong (Sparkling voice! Tunku, Drunk Before Dawn, Pygmalion the Musical)
Janet Lee (theatre veteran, classically trained – Magic Flute, Merry Widow, Tosca)
Sarah Low (new talent singer and dancer – Rose Rose I Love You)
Shahila Johan (terrific young talent – major in classical voice ASWARA, KL Young Singers)
Glamorique Arshad (veteran performer – Mikado, Stand and Deliver, Jalan Impian, Tunku)
Ho Soon Yoon (actor, singer in Broken Bridges, Tunku, conductor [In The Mood] )
Sham Sunder Binwani (veteran stage and comedy actor – Aladdin)
Keith Yew (dancer, singer – La Cinturita, Sing Sing Sing!)

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Emergency: A Multi-Arts Festival!

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Five Arts Centre is proud to present,

Emergency: A Multi-Arts Festival!

The Annexe Gallery, Central Market 11am-7pm
Thursday October 16 – Sunday, October 26
Jalan Hang Kasturi Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
60377254858 fivearts@tm.net.my
Its page on Facebook + Official Site

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Sebuah Darurat Dua Minggu is a multi-arts event. The project examines and re-presents ideas, narratives, and images from the first Malayan Emergency, from 1948 to 1960.

The festival follows the on-going and exciting emergence of documentary arts practices in Malaysia which is a curious blend of re-examination and re-presentation of historical data, events and ideology by contemporary artists.

Project participants include many of Malaysians’ dynamic creative talent such as Amir Muhammad, Azmyl Yunor, chi too, Chu Chu Yuan, Elaine Pedley, Fahmi Fadzil, Fahmi Reza, Grey Yeoh, Hardesh Singh, Hari Azizan, Jerome Kugan, Leow Puay Tin, Lim Chung Wei, Marion D’Cruz, Mark Teh, Mislina Mustaffa, Norman Teh, Wong Tay Sy, Yee I-Lann and many more.

The project will comprise theatre performances, film screenings, an exhibition, plus an exciting roll of different interactive presentations daily. All events are free except for the theatrical performances.

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EMERGENCY FESTIVAL!

Events schedule below. Subject to change.
Exact dates and times for specific events TBC.

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12 YEARS

Exhibition – Thu 16 to Sun 26 Oct 2008, 11am to 5pm
Curated by Wong Tay Sy, Norman Teh and Grey Yeoh

“[T]he victor writes the history while the loser fades away….” Is that always true? Challenging this notion along with new ways of presenting history without being preachy, one-sided and linear, curators Wong Tay Sy, Grey Yeoh and Norman Teh explore the Malayan Emergency. The exhibition focuses on contextualising visual materials from the Malayan Emergency within our contemporary framework and offers an alternative and interactive approach to presenting history. A key element of this exhibition is the demonstration of the effect of the “presentation” of history. This effect of documentation is viewed from the perspective of the contemporary project collaborators and the interpretation of historical materials from the Emergency era.

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Operasi Oktober

Thu 16 to Sun 19 Oct 2008, 8.30pm
Theatre Performance – Directed by Fahmi Fadzil

Fresh from winning “Best Group Performance” at the 6th Boh Cameronian Arts Awards, Fahmi Fadzil directs an improvised tale where “over a series of encounters, four people meet in anticipation of a revolution, but they don’t know that it has already begun.”

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New Village People

Thu 21 to Sun 26 Oct 2008, 8.30pm
Theatre Performance – Directed by Hari Azizan

Hari Azizan, director of the much publicised “Vagina Monologues” brings us a story where “the lives of two good friends change forever when they are forced to leave everything behind by the British army and start afresh in a New Village during the Malayan Emergency.”

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Revolusi ‘48

Mon 20 to Sun 26 Oct 2008, 8.30pm
Film Screening -Directed by Fahmi Reza

The sequel to Fahmi Reza’s highly successful “Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka”, “Revolusi ‘48″ follows the largely unknown armed revolution for national liberation launched against British colonial rule in Malaya 60 years ago. This documentary tells the untold story of those who struggled in the anti-colonial guerilla war of independence, during the Malayan Revolution of 1948.

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Presentations, performance & participatory events

Re: Search Re: Source

Thu 16 to Sun 26 Oct 2008, event time varies
Curated by Mark Teh

Mark Teh continues his dissection of historical events (“Baling (membaling)”; “Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari”) with an investigation and re-presentation of themes, issues and stories from the Malayan Emergency period. With participation from some of Malaysia’s foremost creative personalities, history is presented as an activity that can be creative and participatory.

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Please refer to the forthcoming festival guide for time and date of presentations. These presentations include:

• Filmmaker Imri Nasution will examines the parallel developments in studio-era Malay film industry and the Emergency.
• Writer-filmmaker Amir Muhammad will provide alternative interpretations of films made during the Emergency.
• Visual artist Chu Chu Yuan of 1948 Artspace will talk about the “Entry Points” art projects in the New Village community of Seri Kembangan, Serdang.
• Visual artist Yee I-Lann will provide a fascinating perspective on the geography and history of Sabah before, during and after the Emergency.
• Filmmaker-designer Fahmi Reza will present a 1-hour performance-lecture, every day throughout the Emergency Festival!
• Dancer-choreographers Marion D’Cruz & Elaine Pedley will create a lecture-demonstration of Communist propaganda dances.
• Playwright Leow Puay Tin will curate and perform a selection of texts about or from the year of Merdeka.
• Singer-songwriter Azmyl Yunor will rearrange songs from the Emergency era, as well as create new songs inspired by this time.
• Poet-singer-songwriter Jerome Kugan will DJ two nights of “Disko Darurat”!
• Composer-new media activist Hardesh Singh will create a sound installation using music, sounds & speeches collected from the Emergency era.

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Orwell’s farm at klpac

“They are idiots before the revolution; they are still idiots after the revolution” -Adapted from a novel by George Orwell and script written by Ian Wooldridge -

In Mandarin with English subtitles,

Animal Farm

Pentas 2, The KLPAC, Map
RM 37, RM 27 (Students, Disable & Senior Citizens)
9-18 October @ 8:30pm
12 October @ 3:00pm + 8:30pm
19 October @ 3:00pm only
No show on 13 October
(KLPac) 4047 9000 / (TAS@BSC) 2094 9400
012-266 1579 / 012- 277 8871 / info@pentasproject.com
Its page on Facebook + Pentas Project Website

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A political metaphoric performance presented by the most promisisng force of theatre in 2008.

George Orwell’s scathing destruction of the dictatorial governance of Communism, “Animal Farm” was written in 1945. Yet, what is its relevance today? In 2008, Pentas Project will boldly question the complications of power and greed, capita;ising upon the boiling discontentment of the people and the strange political and social phenomena which is real life for many.

This is a shattering story of totalitarianism, desire, grees and corruption – forcing you to face the actual collective consciousness of the worst of human weaknesses.

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They are idoits before the revolution; they are still idiots after the revolution.

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- Adapted from a novel by George Orwell and script written by Ian Wooldridge.

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Director : Loh Kok Man
Chinese Script : Tan Yan Tee
Cast : Gan Hui Yee + Ling Tang + Chen Huen Phuei + Chin Lee Ling + Lim Tiong Wooi + Moo Siew Keh

Production Manager : Au Sow Yee
Set Design : Caecer Chong
Music & Sound Design : Bernad Goh + Terrence Chong
Costume Design : Dominique Devorsine
Lighting Design : Loh Kok Man

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Iklim classic

Simile is a form of literary language. It can and is interpreted in many ways.

I was listening to Suci Dalam Debu the other day. It started of by going, engkau bagai air yang jernih, di dalam bekas yang berdebu. There’s a chance that one day, this simile would be interpreted as,

a transparent beautiful girl with horrible dusty makeup.

Break-ing ?? Ka Si Pe Cah

Supported by HSBC in the Arts / ASTRO / Colorganda, Co-presented by Pentas Project Theatre Production + The Instant Café Theatre Company + Aternative Stage:

Break-ing / ?? (Ji Po) / Ka Si Pe Cah

Pentas Theatre Collaboration Project
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Projek Kerjasama Pentas Teater

Pentas 2, KL Performing Arts Centre + Map Here
25th ~ 28th September + 8:30pm ( Wed – Sun) 3:00pm ( Sun)
RM 47 (Adults) + RM 27 (Students, Disable & Senior Citizens)
10% discount for Astro subscribers + On Facebook
Box Office (KLPac) 4047 9000 (TASB) 2094 0400/1400
info@pentasproject.com / info@instantcafetheatre.com
PREVIEW 24th September 2008 @ 8:30pm / RM 27 Only

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A triple-bill of plays –

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Silence, please

3 women deal with the death of their mother, two men create a work of art and someone has something to say about what is not being said…

These three pieces, as a whole, have challenged us not only in our thinking about language, but also in our thinking beyond language.

– Kakiseni.com

Repot?Mind+Mine?

This is a formal yet informal report. Repot[Mind+Mine] humorously explores the situations and irony in the Malaysian lingo.
If they could go back in time, if they walk into the world of P. Ramlee, if they tell you and me – Language is only a strange kind of blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…

Beautiful and elliptical… exuberant… …Dramatists across the Causeway explore issues of language, politics and identity with mostly beautiful and hilarious results.

- Adeline Chia, Singapore

WIP

In an unknown space, a blindfolded man tries desperately to connect with another man in a futile attempt to avoid death. He asks to share a cigarette, tries to find out his his gaoler’s name and then finds himself beginning to share his hopes and dreams…

…each director …. succeeds in delivering something resonant, relevant and powerful.,,, a remarkable evening, displaying the vibrant diversity of the KL theatre scene

- The Flying Inkpot, Singapore

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*All quotes are not in direct reference to individual plays, but with regards to all.

Directors : Jo Kukathas, Loh Kok Man & Nam Ron

Casts : Anitha Abdul Hamid, Anne James, Chen Huen Phuei, Gan Hui Yee, Kiea Kuan Nam, Lee Swee Keong, Ayam Fared, Moo Siew Keh, Thiagu, Tin Tan Chai Chen, Where, Sukania Venugopal,

Set Design : Caecar Chong & Teoh Shaw Gie
Music Composer and Sound Design : Ng Chor Guan
Lighting Design : Loh Kok Man
Multimedia : Au Sow Yee
Stage Manager : Jason Lai

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Pentas Theatre Collaboration Project is a platform of interaction within different cultures and realms which encourages diversity and possibilities in theatre arts and theatre language.

A collaboration based on the theme of LANGUAGE between three Malaysian theatre companies, Pentas Project, The Instant Café Theatre Company and Alternative Stage. Premiered in 2006 in Kuala Lumpur, it went on its international tour to Japan and Singapore in 2008, and is now back to KL.

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*Personal note, Nam Ron was also responsible for Alih PungGONG (a gamelan showcase), which I thought was one of the most amazing productions I’ve seen, in and out of Malaysia.

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The sonnets of willy shake

KLPac wraps up its Curious Residency Showcase with LOVE & BEAUTY : The Sonnets of William Shakespeare 18 – 20 Sept @ 8.30pm / 20 – 21 Sept @ 3pm

I spoke to Chris today about his latest project and within hours I received (what I assume) the press release from (what I assume) their publicist. Thanks Chris, Yue May for the info, and everyone else involved with The T4YP Ensemble and the Curious Residency Showcase.

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KLPac wraps up its Curious Residency Showcase with

LOVE & BEAUTY : The Sonnets of William Shakespeare

18 – 20 Sept @ 8.30pm / 20 – 21 Sept @ 3pm
Additional show due to overwhelming response – 21 Sept @ 8.30pm
Pentas 2, KLPac + Map RM25 / RM10 (students only)
KLPac 03-4047 9000 or The Actors Studio 03-2094 9400

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• its Facebook page
• The Star’s To love or not to love?
• KLue’s Arts Preview

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The Curious Residency Trailer

Directed by CHRIS LING
Production Design by SANDEE CHEW
Lighting Design by TEO KUANG HAN
Multimedia Design by GOH CHOON EAN, OLIVIA OON & SAW POH SIM
Original Music by NICK CHOO
Also Featuring Poetry by ALEX BROUN & HELENA FOO

Starring THE T4YP ENSEMBLE
Alfred Loh, Farah Rani, Gadiy Lim, Gowry Paary, Iedil Putra Alaudin, Ivan Chan, Johann Oh, Kimberly Mehta, Marvin Wong & Oliver Peters

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KLPac’s Curious Residency Showcase kicked off with Helena Foo’s After Our’s and continued with Mark Beau de Silva’s 8 Ways to Lighten the School Bag. Since the entire showcase is a product of talented young thespians, it only seems fitting to finish off with a production by KLPac’s Theatre for Young People (T4YP) Ensemble, led by its Director Chris Ling.

One man considers the merits of love and beauty in the course of one night. Sometimes whimsical and funny, at other times poignant and sad, Love & Beauty presents the timeless sonnets of William Shakespeare in a heady mix of musings, poetry, music and multimedia.

Experience Shakespeare as you have never experienced it before – in all manners and forms (even in a song!), both conventional and unconventional… This multi-sensory blitz is set to wrap up the showcase with a big bang!

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Shut up western comedy

Gamarjobat’s Western

Saturday 30th September – Sunday 19th October
Tuedays – Sundays 8:30pm + Sat & Sun 5pm
The Actors Studio @ Bangsar Shopping Centre.
Tickets RM53, RM64, RM75, RM86 + ticketing fees.
Box Office 2094 0400 /1400

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Brought to you by Gardner & Wife, this hilarious “shut up comedy” from Japan stars a highly-acclaimed physical comedy duo who will perform a silent comedy that absolutely transcends anything you think you know about clowning, magic and mime! Gamarjobat’s Western – NEW SHOW!

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gah-mar-joh-baht = HELLO in Georgian

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GAMARJOBAT are Hiropon and Ketch, two unlikely-looking Japanese mime artists who, with shaven heads, red and gold Mohawks, Doc Martens and stove-pipe suits, have taken their artform to the streets across Europe and Asia.

4 stars. This is a show to fall in love with. GAMARJOBAT is irresistibly, endearingly funny and, undoubtedly the most skilled and clever comedy in Edinburgh. It is unique, in that it will appeal to everyone who goes to see it. That aside, it has no boundaries – and it has no words … let them take your inner child out to play
– The Scotsman, 2004

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GAMARJOBAT are frequent performers at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where they won Best Comedy Duo in 2004.

utterly delightful… inventive, witty, silly… too good to miss… you’ll be grinning for days.
- Jit Murad

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