As a theatre venue, the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (or klpac for short) is a reliable hub of plays, musicals and their stage-based kin. It is business as usual this July as the centre puts out a number of attention-grabbing showcases, including these.
Don’t Let Usman Awang Know
The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat & Muka Space have come together to present this short play collection, which is part of the Don’t Let Him Know series that consists of Don’t Let Shakespeare Know (2016), Don’t Let Children Know (2017) and Don’t Let Writer Know (2018).
Famous for his poetry and writing, the late Malaysian National Laureate Dato’ Dr Usman Awang is the inspiration behind the shorts. In all, the seven plays, carried out in a mix of languages with English surtitles, pay tribute to the legend in honour of what would have been his 90th birthday.
The Working Dead
Just like the popular TV series whose title has been cheekily parodied here, zombie action is the crux of this musical’s plot. When industrious employee Edwin unfortunately kicks the bucket at work, his boss, Chan, decides to do the unthinkable – enlist a bomoh (shaman) to raise him again.
Photo credit: RaffleThazzle Photography
Chan’s only interested in the zombie Edwin’s ability to fill coffers, but Edwin’s loving wife Sarah is determined to stop that from happening with the help of his friends. Presented by Kult Productions, this Terence Toh story features music and lyrics by Lydia Tong and Kelvin Loh.
Thunderstorm
Drama is the percolating agent in this Tsao Yu creation that, after a successful run in 2017 where it was performed in English, is now being staged in Hokkien and Cantonese with English surtitles. The Actors Studio comes in this time with a fresh cast, while klpac co-founder Dato’ Dr Faridah Merican assumes the director’s position.
With all the goods a wealthy family saga should have, underlined by the need to keep up appearances even as a storm threatens to shatter the faux veneer, this version of the oft-adapted Chinese play takes place in Ipoh.
Don’t Let Usman Awang Know
WHEN 8.30pm (11-13 July), 3pm (13 & 14 July)
ADMISSION RM60, RM50 (concession)
The Working Dead
WHEN 8.30pm (18-20, 23-27, 30 & 31 July), 3pm (21 & 28 July)
ADMISSION RM88, RM68 (concession)
Thunderstorm
WHEN 8.30pm (25-27 July), 3pm (28 July)
ADMISSION RM60-RM100, RM40 (concession)
WHERE Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, Kuala Lumpur
TEL 03 4047 9000
klpac.org