Laki Bini #3: Growing Old Together

True to the 'warning' issued to fellow patrons on their FB Page, KreatiV OutBox opened their doors at 7.40pm and the show started promptly at 8pm. There were some baffled audience as they had expected the usual 'janji Melayu' traits of plays which usually almost never start on time.

The show had me laughing right from the beginning as Cik Zakaria, played by Norman Ishak was singing and dancing to the song 'Cek Mek Molek' by M Daud Kilau. With his awkward movements and out-of-tune singing, he was believable as an elderly man who loves to joke around with his equally elderly wife, Cik Rahimah played by Izyan Mellyna.

For someone who was a first-time performer for theatre, it was a job well done for Norman Ishak. There were just a few faltering moments when there was mild inconsistency in his characterisation. When he got too excited, he sometimes went back to being himself and not Cik Zakaria but this was just for a few fleeting seconds before he realised it and then he will start transforming back to Cik Zakaria again.

If not for Laki Bini #3, many would not have known that Izyan Mellyna has such an powerful and beautiful singing voice. Now that we know, I look forward to seeing her in a musical next! Her comic timing throughout the show was too perfect. If you ever need someone for an anti-climax moment, she should be your first choice!

Hafidz Rahman who is most commonly known for his online persona, Bonda Bedah, played multiple characters in the show. His primary character was Hasif, the adopted son of Zakaria and Rahimah. He plays his multiple roles very distinctly and it was especially heartwarming during the scene when Hasif was in a tense argument with his father but when his father suffered a heart attack, he immediately dropped everything and rushed to get a glass of plain water and medicine for him. The unconditional love of a son towards his father despite being in the tense situation reminds us to be respectful of our parents no matter the circumstances.

After downloading the programme booklet through scanning the QR code on their publicity flyer, I realised that Hafidz Rahman was also the playwright for the show. I love how issues such as dementia and Alzheimer's Disease are discussed in the play. The set includes having post-it-notes around the house to remind Rahimah on simple routine activities that she might forget, such as turning off the stove when she is done cooking. The climax was when Rahimah went missing one day and Zakaria frantically searches for his wife. It was then that he opened up to his son regarding his biggest fear. He prayed that if they were to leave this world, may they leave it together as he cannot bear going through life without her or wondering how she was going to go through life without him. There would be no one to accompany him for his weekly dialysis sessions if she were to leave this world before him. And if he were to die first, there will be no one to look after her well-being and bear with her forgetfulness.

The play presents the reality of life as an elderly couple who has to support one another while struggling with their health issues. It is a story of growing old together and the never-ending ups and downs of family life. It also touches lightly on sensitive issues like infertility, homosexuality, interracial dating and civil marriage.

The light design by M Fadlin M Saffri was also beautiful. The lights added dimension and feel to the show as the space transformed into a fantasy concert for Cik Rahimah and then back to their simple home. Another element that had me captivated throughout the show was the live music and sound effects by the live band stationed at the back centre stage. The sounds of Rahimah cooking in her kitchen or accidentally dropping her pots and pans were made live by Musicians of Orkestra Sri Temasek and brings the audience closer to the show as if we were right there in their home, witnessing the episodes in their lives.

Laki Bini #3 has a nice blend of laughter, tears and tension. I dare to say that this is the best one in the Laki Bini series. Thank you Izad Omar, Noor Rahim and the production team of Laki Bini #3 for producing theatre plays that appeal to the masses. It is no wonder that both shows were completely sold out! I look forward to the next production by KreatiV OutBox.

Zakaria comforting Rahimah as she gets upset about her infertility issues Photo Credits: KreatiV OutBoX

Post-it-notes to remind Rahimah Photo Credits: KreatiV OutBoX

Rahimah in her fantasy solo performance concert Photo Credits: KreatiV OutBoX

Bonda Bedah, Mak Temah and The Chamber of Polongs

*I had intended to post this review only after the official review is out on Berita Harian but due to mistiming, the review will not be published on the newspaper.

 

Bonda Bedah and Mak Temah are two characters that have gained immense popularity through their videos posted on YouTube. Their shows candidly explore social issues through parodies. For the first time ever, their comedic acts are brought from YouTube screens to stage by Kreativ Outbox. The show 'Bonda Bedah, Mak Temah and The Chamber of Polongs' which ran from 30th Apr to 3rd May was initially scheduled for three shows but due to the overwhelming ticket sales, two shows were later added. All shows were sold out.

I first heard mentions of ‘Bonda Bedah’ and ‘Mak Temah’ through family gatherings from my nephews and even my mother. As honest as I can be, I have never watched any one of their videos and had just assumed that they were just two males who create slapstick comedy and everything will seem funny due to their crossdressing. My curiosity about them was aroused when I discovered that a play was actually being staged with them as the central characters. Even more so when I heard that all shows were sold out. They must be really good to garner that kind of response.

Rated 'Advisory due to coarse language' by MDA, the show is lighthearted and highly entertaining with colourful characters. Temah had accidentally released all her Polongs to Bedah. Bedah, not knowing the fact that the Polongs are attached to her now, continues with her daily routine. The audience is brought to a journey of how Temah and Bedah resolve their differences on the Polong issues through bantering and disagreements. Bonda Bedah is played by Hafidz Rahman and Mak Temah is played by Zuhairi Idris. Supported by five colourful characters consisting of Orb, Ziana, Azizul, Zain and Awab played by Nur Afiqa, Sunita Chiu, Junaidi, Sultan and Luqmanul Hakim, the show is fun-paced and there is never a moment of boredom when watching.

I was surprised when Izad shared that the supporting characters were mostly newbies and selected from auditions where more than 100 hopefuls turned up. The most outstanding newbie was Nur Afiqah who played the character 'Orb'. She was like a seasoned actress as she pranced around the stage with great confidence and stage presence. Her fluid movements and strong voice character definitely had my attention. I would love to watch more plays with her around.

Afiqa as Oracle

The highlight of the show is when the characters periodically break into song-and dance movements with catchy tunes and lyrics. The play uses popular tunes from songs like ‘All About That Bass’ by Meghan Trainor and lyrics are customized to suit the show. One of the songs, ‘Bonda Bedah Best’, is still an earworm until today. I especially like the fact that there are no major distracting fanciful set changes. The set is simple using platforms of varying heights that optimizes space. I personally love the cocoon-like structures where the ‘polongs’ are kept. 

Orb and Polongs

Much laughter was heard throughout the play and the best thing is that audience need not be theatre-trained to understand and enjoy the show. This is in line with Kreativ Outbox's objective of encouraging family to watch theatre as a family activity. Playwright and producer, Izad Omar had shared that they would like to invite families to exit their comfort zone of watching programmes on television from their couch and to immerse themselves in theatre works as an alternative form of entertainment. Kreativ Outbox also aims to dispel the myth that watching plays are only for the elite and not for the common folks.

The aftermath of watching this show had me realizing that Hafidz Rahman (Bonda Bedah) and Zuhairi Idris (Mak Temah) are not simply slapstick comedians but two hardworking individuals who continuously seek to hone their craft. They have an intimate working relationship due to their strong friendship ties and therefore they are able to understand each other well. This translates to their ability to seek relevant materials on social issues together. For them to develop parodies and send their message out as simply and crudely as they could, they carefully dissect current social issues and present them in their ‘makcik’ (aunty) characters so that audience can relate to them more easily. Their candid and spontaneous nature has won the hearts of their fans. I hope for them to carry on concocting laughing potions while perhaps downplaying their coarse language so that their shows will be more family-friendly.