The Tale Tale Heart @ KLPac

Today I went for my first play in KL since the performance by Neo Swee Lin at The Actors’ Studio Bangsar about, I don’t know, 5 years ago?

I must say I was not disappointed by the quality of the production at all; it not only matched up to the standards set by The Magic Flute (operatic production that I saw a few weeks ago at KLPac as well), the set design is also absolutely brilliant (which Magic Flute did not require) and way beyond what I thought local productions are capable of thinking up (so maybe it might not be an original design thought, but hey, they did pull it off!).

The night began when we arrived at KLPac in time for some tabemono and nomimono (that’s food and drinks). While she had some excellent bruschetta, I had some superb Tiramisu, although between us, we couldn’t decide whether the Tiramisu contained any alcohol but it was superbly chilled to my exact liking. I spend most of my time eyeing other theatre goers while keeping up our conversation (as is what I usually do).

I found some reasonably good looking guys but for the life of me, didn’t manage to spot a single good looking girl for the entire night save for Joanna Bessey who was there for the show too. She still looks as young as the day she starred in Kopitiam really! Now, there were lots of young girls there that night but they were either too young or old enough but neither cute nor sophisticated. (Hmm, on retrospect, I think I managed to pass one girl at the end of the show. She had a certain look that made her passable but for my life I can’t recall what she looks like now.)

Back to the topic, Swee Keong and U En, the two leads for the play, were excellent in their portrayal. If I didn’t know that Swee Keong’s a young dude, I’d thought he’s as old as the story says he is. His groans! They were pitiful, heart wrenching and mysterious all at the same time for the old man is to be pitied, yet it seems as if he has a certain sinister history that could not be told.

U En’s dialogue; in my friend’s words, are wonderfully reproduced in his slightly British accented English. He was scary and methodical, appears extremely tormented yet calm in his demeanour, much like a serial killer really. In front of the old man, he appears submissive, daren’t looking straight at him (though there are other reasons for this too), completely helpful and speaks with a serene tone. Out of the old man’s eye and ear sight, he appears to resent his life.

As the story is recounted by U En, via video screened dialogue and live storytelling, we are brought into the dark depths of the carer’s tormented mind. Overheard after the show was over, ‘I won’t sleep a wink tonight, why did we choose to see this at night?’.
That line alone, sums up the overall impression the play left on us.

p.s. Did I mention that Gavin the Director looks quite good in the Programme Booklet even though the picture’s in negative format?