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It was an outing for the gang. After mulling it over the week, we finally decided to meet up for lunch and head out to KLPAC for the Saturday Matinee. This is the first time I’ve set foot in KLPAC since it opened. I must say that I was impressed. Our inside man was to get the tickets for us at a cool RM35 discount per head. It would have been a great deal had he delivered. Unfortunately, we wound up purchasing the tickets ourselves at the counter. But that’s not really important. It was 3.00pm and that meant show time.

The gang managed to find seats up front and centre. It was about as close as you could get to the action without actually being in it. However, that was questionable as we sat there waiting for the show to begin. As we waited, the actors made their appearances in similar fashion, slowly filling up the stools and chairs that were already on stage. The show had already begun even as the audience were getting seated. Soon, both the stage and the theatre were full, and the opening monologue began. It was a short announcement on switching off handphones and flash photography but they had creatively turned it into a sketch. As far as first impressions go, I was already taken in.

ROJAK! is a collection of ten shorts and monologues, with a fifteen minute intermission between the 2 hour plus performance. As each of the sketches unfolded, I couldn’t help but be reminded of my high school days, where shorts were the mainstay of special school events and functions. It felt like I was back in a school hall watching a collection of sketches the students had put together to keep the crowds entertained. The difference being that the production of ROJAK! was way better, the actors were more refined, the stage setup was more elaborate, and there were no school uniforms.

The following is a series of pictures taken from each of the scenes. The captions are not the actual titles of the acts.

First Five

Intermission

This public service announcement was brought to you by ROJAK!

While I was waiting for the show to continue, I couldn’t help but recall the last act. The Damnation Recital was a very disturbing piece. “15 minutes”. The words had been repeated on numerous occasions and the closure was to thank us for giving them 15 minutes of our time. And there we were sitting in a smoky darkened room, waiting for the 15 minute intermission to end. Talk about mind games.

Final Roundup

My Say
We hung around for the usual meet and greet as well as more camwhoring after the show was over. For me, I think that they pulled off an excellent performance. There were some dark, disturbing, and indulgent pieces thrown in but it was mostly entertaining. The production drew alot from everyday life and turned it into sketches that the audience could readily and easily relate to. Some of the shorts reflected everyday life so much so that you wonder if they weren’t eavesdropping on you during your last coffee session with your friends.

There’s a moral to be drawn from each of the stories. Whether intended by the directors or not, they are there nonetheless. You’ll just have to look deeper into the sketch to find them. If you wish to be intelectual about it, you can analyse each of the shorts. But if not, then sitting back, enjoying the ride, and the laughter that comes with it will do just fine. I laughed hard and long at some of the pieces. Judging by the reaction of the audience, I was not the only one having a good time.

The direction, overall production, and acting was crisp and clean. Perhaps it was because they were into their third show and everyone had gotten comfortable with their roles. There were some slipups in dialogue on some of the actors’ part but that is understandable as they played several roles each. The actors played to the audience pretty well, capturing their attention and drawing them into each of the scenes.

Kudos should also be given to the people working behind the scenes, namely the directors, stage lighting, and back stage crews. They did an excellent job setting up the stage in between scenes. Not exactly the most surrepticious bunch but efficient nonetheless.

Sign me up for the newsletter. I think I can live with a little more theatrics in my life. Oh, before I forget, Prakash is the newest superhero in town and E rawks.

If you haven’t been to see the show, I suggest you do. It is into its final day and there are two more shows as of this posting. While it may be too late to catch the matinee, you can still make it for the 8.30pm show. It is definitely worth the time, effort, and money. But as always, remember that in case of divergence in tastes and opinions, their house not mine.

Read even more

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• KY
• The epilogue??!