Staying safe from COVID-19 means we have to adapt to the ‘new normal’, which isn’t so much a buzzword as it is a way of life for the time being. Social distancing should be practised for the sake of hopefully expediting the passing of the virus. With that in mind, we had to bid temporary farewell to some of our favourite activities, including attending entertainment venues for theatre, concerts or comedy shows. Events originally scheduled in mid-March 2020 onwards have been indefinitely postponed.
All is not lost however as the following familiar KL names have taken to the internet to bring you shows on your screen, for free! It’s a noble way to keep the local stage performance scene alive in these rocky times, and you can show your support for the talents who make it all possible.
klpac Show Stream
This year, the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre’s (klpac) turns 15 and – like many others in the entertainment arena – have shut their doors on the threat of the pandemic. May being klpac’s birthday month, founders Dato’ Dr Faridah Merican and Joe Hasham OAM have rerouted their audiences to klpac’s social media accounts, offering some interesting content for viewers.
Kandang
Now, they have decided to release the Centre’s popular shows to be streamed on klpac’s YouTube channel, with the intention of releasing one show recording every fortnight in the coming months. The first of these is Kandang, a show that premiered in 2017 to roaring success.
Kandang
Directed by Omar Ali, it netted four awards at the 2018 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards, including Best of 2017 and Best Director. It will be available on the channel until midnight 24 May, so catch it before then and keep a lookout for more shows after it!
#klpacShowStream
YouTube (klpac show stream)
Facebook (updates and other uploads)
MPO At Home
Usually found in Dewan Filharmonik Petronas at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) and the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO) are renowned for their prowess in handling classical instruments. They have no trouble impressing any crowd with their renditions of musical works ranging from historical creations to modern hits.
A screen grab from Tanah Pusaka by the MPO
Dewan Filharmonik Petronas may have fallen silent since the lockdown, but the men and women of the MPO and MPYO have not exactly put the shiny tools of their trade down. They have instead, in their homes, filmed themselves playing some earworms for the #MPoAtHome series! The uploads are made regularly on the MPO Facebook page, and with the individual feeds stitched together to form seamless footage, it’s a veritable orchestra right on your screen. A screen grab from Star Wars Suite by the MPYO
Among the standout performances they have posted are Tanah Pusaka by the MPO, which is meant to motivate a Malaysia on the mend after COVID-19, and Star Wars Suite by the MPYO, dedicated to local front-liners warding off the virus.
Facebook (MPO At Home playlist)
Facebook (updates and other uploads)
LOL Asia Online Open-Mic Nights
Comedy shows have been gaining traction over the years in KL, and one of the more notable companies at the forefront of the action is LOL Asia. They have made numerous shows in their run, and now, with the CMCO halting live performances within typical settings, they have migrated to virtual confines to showcase live open-mic nights hosted by LOL Asia founder Rizal Kamal.
A screen grab from an Open Crack x LOL show
On the LOL Asia Facebook page one can find hilarious live-streams, presently taking place two days a week. Happening every Wednesday at 9pm is Open Crack x LOL, which features newbies, veterans and international guests of the comedy world as they unleash their funny material and engage in rib-tickling banter with one another! On Thursdays at 9pm, a similar sort of amusing ingredients can be found within the BaHaHaSa! presentation, except the medium is in Bahasa Melayu instead of English. 
A screen grab from a BaHaHaSa! show
With an episode uploaded every two weeks, Backstage: Secret and Stories from BTS of Show Business is another LOL Asia production, a talk show hosted by Rizal who peeks behind the curtains of showbiz alongside artistes from across the globe.
Facebook (Live video playlist)
Facebook (updates and other uploads)