Ah, the
course of true love never did run smooth according to William Shakespeare. This
timeless basis forms the crux of Nyonya Memoirs – a revolutionary interactive theatre
performance being staged in Melaka until 19 July 2015.
Presented
by The Hatten Group, this RM8million production is conceptualised to highlight
and promote a deeper appreciation of Melaka’s Peranakan culture and heritage.
Premiered in May this year, the star-studded show tells the fateful story of
Bao Zhu (played by Dorothy Foo), a young Nyonya maiden whose relationship with Zhang
Min (reprised by Evan Siau), a poor Baba was opposed by her prominent, well-heeled
family.
An
extravaganza of music, songs and satirical dialogue, this is one performance
that literally keeps you on your toes. Right from the get-go as the audience
trooped beyond the heavy curtains after the entrance, our attention was drawn
to the life-like nostalgic setting.
Of
course, cameras were whipped out for instant snapshots (NO flash photography
was allowed) as everyone ‘ooh-ed’ and ‘aah-ed’ over the artfully created ornate
props: from a local tea stall and shop front to old-fashioned kitchen and family
dining table found in a Nyonya home.
When the
member of the cast resplendent in her Nyonya get-up jumped up to exhort her
lines, everyone was caught off-guard but it was part and parcel of the
performance’s uniqueness.
Instead
of a restricted raised stage, we found ourselves walking right into the theatre
set. Everyone just wandered around the replica of a town square, complete with old-school
shops, a few street carts and mobile hawkers. It was slightly unnerving at
first as we didn’t know what to expect, which direction to head for or where
the play will be performed. Suffice to say, most of us were like a flock of
lost sheep looking for the shepherd.
Once the
initial song and dance began around the ‘lawn’ area, we somehow managed to
assemble in a semi-circle around the performers. Luckier members of the
audience had stools to sit on but for the majority, it was standing room only.
Anyway,
love ultimately conquers all and the touching tale wraps up with an elaborate
wedding procession which takes place outside the event hall. The dialogue is a
mixture of Mandarin, Malay and Chinese Hokkien dialect with English subtitles
shown on various TV screen mounted around the theatre setting area.
Catch NYONYA
MEMOIRS every Friday to Sunday at 4pm and 8pm at Dataran Pahlawan Melaka
Megamall. Tickets are priced at RM52 per adult for MyKad holders and RM26 - per
child 7-15 years old (MyKad holder) and senior citizen (60 years old above).
Non MyKad holders pay RM66 and RM33 respectively. For ticketing enquiries, call
tel: +6 018 663 9696 or visit www.nyonyamemoirs.com
