Magic Mirror, The Musical

27 November 2008, 8pm

Genting International Showroom

By Lim Sue Ying

The title of the musical, Magic Mirror, triggered my curiosity; and I wondered, in this time and age, how magical can a mirror be? So, without a second thought, my colleague and I went all the way up to Genting Highland to satisfy our curiosity.

Magic Mirror, The Musical was presented and organized by Yayasan Guan Yin. Yayasan Guan Yin took root when a group of dedicated volunteers led by Datin Tan Swee Lai arranged and organized the Chinese theatrical stage production titled “Qian Shou Qian Yan” (Thousands Arms Thousands Eyes) in 1999.

The story began in the western pure land of Great Bliss. The embodiment of all Buddha’s compassion, Guan Yin, is being entertained by goddesses who sing and dance beautifully like butterflies encircling her. The overall representation of such bliss was so accurate and believable. However, amidst such bliss, Guan Yin’s heart is perturbed from worry of the welfare of those on earth.

 

Guan Yin is being entertained by goddesses who sing and dance encircling her

Down on earth, a group of youngsters were singing happily.  It was a picture of a simple village with idyllic and peaceful lifestyles. In the song that they were singing, they encouraged each other to be brave, to walk with dignity and to take a firm step forward. At the village also, there was a Wise Old Man who taught them forgiveness and compassion. I love this part of the musical very much because the lyrics of the song were meaningful and inspiring. I felt that this way of teaching help people to learn retain good values.

Suddenly the color of the stage changed and there was no more peace. From a bright colored stage, the scene is now dull, dim and chaotic.

Everywhere, people declare wars and they fight among each other.  In the small village that used to be peaceful, a cruel general and his men who were out casted as bandits and thieves now subject the villagers to robbery and abuse.  The villagers live in fear and anxiety.  One of the villagers vented out his frustration in a song when the evil men stole the savings that he wanted to use to help his beloved sick sister.

Some of the villagers succumbed to their depression and resorted to alcohol. The situation gets worse when those villagers join the disposed cruel general in his vices.

  

The dull, dim and chaotic scene symbolized that war was on its way

 

Guan Yin decides to help the save the village by teaching both the villagers and bandits about love, compassion, patience, and tolerance. Thus, she manifested herself as a lady dressed in white clothes and appears in the market place trying to sell a small copper mirror for a very high price. Everyone was really surprised at such an expensive tiny little copper mirror and they gathered around to her trying to get a glimpse of it. She emphasized to the villagers that the mirror is a magic mirror and it was worth for its price.  When there was no one came forward to buy the mirror, she offered to let the people to look into the mirror for a small fee.

Curiosity got the better of the villagers, including the evil men.  The cruel general demanded to look into the magic mirror. His reaction surprised everyone. He saw an evil spirit as a reflection of himself. He was shocked and screamed. He turned away from the magic mirror and urged others to look into it.  Slowly the people began to understand that this magic mirror allows individuals to see their past karma and their future. Those who had performed good deeds will see a beautiful future and those who did not will see the horror that will inevitably befall; and those who have done both good and bad will see a mixed future.  Eventually, the villagers realized that the lady in white was none other than Guan Yin, appearing through her great compassion in order to help and heal the people of the village. The villagers finally learnt that to have a good future, they mustn’t do anything evil but performing good deeds.

Guan Yin was played by Xu Zi Ying, a lady from China while the lady in white-roped (when Guan Yin manifested herself in the Earth) was played by Regine Tai Li Jin, our local singer. The two of them have done a really great job.

According to the producer, Datin Tan Swee Lai, this musical has pool together the talents from China and Malaysia.  Altogether there are 60 performers: 40 from Malaysia and 20 from China.

There were altogether 60 performers from both Malaysia and China

“Our costumes and stage designs were done in China as well. The most worth of praise is that all the backdrops and props for the musical were painted by hand”, she added.  

At the end of the performance, my curiosity on this musical was satisfied.  More of such musicals should be performed in Malaysia as it not only educates but motivates people to perform good deeds.