Asia Dance Channel

Play Spirits

4 September 2009

Light Box Theatre, PJ Live Arts (PJLA) @ Jaya One

By Hon Jia Xuan

The original “Play Spirits” premiered in Singapore and was performed by eight graduates from the Theatre Training & Research Programme (TTRP) in Singapore. Originally a response to Kuo Pao Kun’s “Spirit Play,” it had been reworked from solos to a full-length piece in order to be staged in Malaysia with only half the cast left - Zachary Ho (Singapore), Hung Pei Ching (Taiwan), Seng Soo Ming (Malaysia) and Felix Hung Chit Wah (Hong Kong).

“The creative process was challenging because we are on an equal level – all of us are directors and actors – and there was a constant sense of imbalance,” revealed the artists during the post-performance discussion. In my opinion, they did a great job after all because this 55-minute performance was so tightly-knit that it had my full attention throughout.

What started off as a light-hearted story, ended with enormous sadness and much disarrayed thoughts - the artists each told a story, or in fact, social issues of the past and the present, of their home, and an interrogation of how these stories were re-told.

The scenes changed from a lonely wasteland to second life (virtual world), a history class setting and finally a possibly real portrayal of a scene from the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989. Terms such as “freedom” and “democracy” were mentioned only a few times but the theme flowed, and the play became a collection of shattered dreams.

Conversations and monologues were carried out in three languages - English, Mandarin and Cantonese. The correct intonation, effective body language and the use of props, understanding the play proved not to be a major problem for audiences who did not understand all languages; and these included students from ASWARA and two Australian theatre practitioners.

The artists (who did not have a collective identity but said that they could also be known as “Traditions and Editions Theatre Circus,” which is the alumni company of TTRP) revealed that they are planning to tour the piece internationally. And to be honest, I do look forward to watching the performance again!