My second visit to IB this year. This time I went to Bangsawan Mahsuri. Bangsawan Mahsuri refreshed back my memory lane. It was 13 years ago, I was in standard four. Chosen to play Mahsuri role for the “Persembahan Hari Kanak-kanak Sedunia 1996″. Mohd. Istikharah (Wan Darus), Tengku Muhd. Faris Helmi (Deramang), Zakiah Rashid (Wan Mahura) and few more others which I can’t recall.
I remember how my mother supported me in that play by sewing me a new Baju Kurung Kedah (since Mahsuri was a legend from Langkasuka -old name for Langkawi which is located in Kedah Darul Aman). It was my first time wearing sarong with Kurung Kedah, and I still remember how my sarong was almost terlucut on the stage. Luckily I managed to grab the very end of the sarong and hold it closely to my hips. If not, surely I will be the limelight for exposing my legs and panties on the stage (I didn’t wear any long pants underneath the sarong, not even putting a belt on).
That was my version of Mahsuri. I nearly missed out last night show because of two reasons;
- I was not well (still affected from the food poisoning but I still went to office. Had 3 slices of Gardenia Wholegrain Fibremeal bread for the whole day).
- Mr. K also not well, been taking few injections but still not recover from his illness.
I was putting no hope, considered not going. But THANKS to my other half. I know he knew I love theater very much, and of course he didn’t want me to put a long face for the whole week for not going to IB. He was forcing himself to take me to the theater, with a condition; we might be going home early if he didn’t feel well in the Panggung Sari. I agreed.
I reached IB around 8pm, rushed to the ladies. Inside the IB, theater lovers surrounded the lobby. My pace became wider, once I was in the ladies, the 3 slices of bread and a bottle of Tropicana Twister Orange with fresh pulp gone -vomit. My head was spinning, dang!
8.40pm, the show started. But 15 minutes later, the IB Officer asked the whole row of my sitting area to move down to the other floor, in the middle of the show. From the Upper Circle to the Grand Circle, which has better view. I heard some of the people from the back row whispering, “Ini tak adil. Kamipun nak juga..”. Too bad, we were the lucky one. In the Grand Circle, By and her boyfriend sat in the centre while my boyfriend and I sat at the side (easier for us to escape later).
taken from afar from the upper circle
How was Mahsuri? I am not an expert to give my commentary, but I’ve some idea on the basic theater/play rules. Let’s take a look on what I’ve spotted last night;
- Audio system wasn’t good. I can hear the mic interference during the play.
- Vocalization; sometimes I hardly can hear the lontaran vokal of the actors/actresses. On the chorus part, few of them didn’t even use the mic. And on some scenes, lontaran vokal of the actors/actresses cannot be heard because of the background singers or the background music was too loud. There was some parts when the actors/actresses mumbled and twisted their tongue.
- Wan Mahura- she has an English slang which I didn’t find appealing. Her back was facing the audience quite often. From what I’ve learn, an actor or actress on the stage shouldn’t face the audience with their back directly, but it suppose to be in 45 degrees.
- Scenes transitioning; to my surprise, they change it quite often. But from one scene to another, they took more than 5 seconds to change the props. I really don’t fancy this one though. For those who didn’t have any background in theater will find this boring and wasting time.
I am not being fair if I just write my negative point of view. The scene when Mahsuri was being murdered, was very touching. Vee played her role very well, but throughout the 90 minutes show, I couldn’t see where was she taking me to. And same thing goes to Wan Darus. This two roles were a bit overshadowed by Wan Mahura character.
Do not expect all the characters will use the northern slang! They were just using the normal Malay though. They didn’t even wear Baju Kedah for female characters (like my mom sewed for me).
Shall I compare Mahsuri to PGL? Definitely no. But to set PGL as the benchmark is relevant. I am not saying PGL was flawless but it has its own quality and prestige in its league. All in all, I enjoyed Mahsuri and it was worth it to be there in the Panggung Sari eventhough my condition getting worse this morning.
P/S: We managed to wait until the curtain call but we wait no longer once they bowed. Sorry Kak By & Inche Nazim, no photography session last night.
