Puteri Gunung Ledang

Went to see the musical, Puteri Gunung Ledang [PGL] yesterday with M and some friends. I've done quite a bit of watching musicals, not an expert, just a discerning theatre goer, and this production just did what it intend to do - preserve the mystique of the legend, the romance of its rich cultural and historical settings and last but not least showcase to the rest of the world what a world class theater production the Malaysians have in them.

As a theater goer I always have a high regard and the greatest respect for it and all who give their life and love to the betterment of theater... Eh... macam [like a] snob right?... Lol. But its true lar... I honestly went in the show underestimating it. But I changed my mind now.

If any parents out there intend to wean their child on musicals, lupakan sajalah [forget about] si Andrew Llyod Webber tu or The Phantom of the Opera or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Raincoat, or all that ad nauseum jazz... begin your child's theatre appreciation with PGL or The Lion King if you have the opportunity... lol.

Go, go immerse yourself in the tale of the two yearning lovers, torn between wanting to follow their hearts, and wanting to be loyal to king and country. This musical is indeed a collaboration of great minds and talents, with Dick Lee as the composer, Zahim Albakri as the director, Adlin Aman Ramlie as the scriptwriter and co-director, and Roslan Aziz as musical director, and of course, Tiara Jacquelina holding court in the titular leading role as well as the freaking Executive Producer for the project! Good job!

Stephen Rahman-Hughes is really good in this. Lots of naysayers croaked, "Bolehke this mat salleh celup nyani?" lol... Back off kamu semua Melayu dengkis & sceptics... He earned that samping and tanjak! All that West End pedigree in Stephen Rahman showed. But my favourite is Adlin Aman Ramlie as the Sultan of Melaka. Haha... I'm not sure if that's how he meant it... but there is a scene where he celebrates His "Kedaulataness" [Royalty] with so much panache. It was a break-out performance.

All in all it was a visually and orally sublimed production. But things they could improve or avoid; mic lapses, the music at times drowned the singing voices and even Hang Tuah played by Stephen Rahman finds himself competing with the sound. I find the ending a bit rushed, especially the part where the 7 demands of the Princess were made known. That storyline maybe lost on foreigners who don't know a thing about Hang Tuah let alone some Mount Ledang facts.

The whole PGL structure is a bit formulaic I have to admit, but that is a safe decision to go for mass appeal, which is a good thing these days. Some strings in the sound department should be explored as that can typically go well with the human voice. There was none. There was a flautist, nevertheless and that alone added some haunting qualities to the score but not enough. I remember a kerocong-like number, and that was good. And finally it doesn't take one to be a critic to know or to tell the good from the bad , the wannabes from the truly great. In short, I left the theater hall of the beautiful Esplanade with a good cathartic feeling, which is all that matters.

Take a bow, folks. Well done!

Pic courtesy of M.