If oaths from the past serve as the rule of law today, and these laws are passed down from generation to generation, are we able to adjust and change them?
That is a thought-provoking question. It is one that Chinese-language theatre director Loh Kok Man is examining in his remount of playwright/author Kee Thuan Chye's local theatre piece The Swordfish, Then The Concubine (Swordfish).
The theatre production, which plays at Pentas 2, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) from March 10-13, is based on the classic literature work Sejarah Melayu.
This 120-minute Mandarin adaptation (with English surtitles) is a story that unfolds around a pledge between a mortal and a god: subjects cannot disobey those in power, and those in power cannot humiliate their subjects.
“Even in the past, it had been thought of whether or not to break rules set in earlier times. Of course, regulations can govern the people, allowing them to live well under certain circumstances, protecting their property and rights. But when times are changing, there are certain things we should also adapt to,” says Loh, who first tackled Swordfish in 2016, in a recent interview.
The acclaimed play, presented by Loh’s Pentas Project, combines the stories of Hang Nadim, a brave and smart boy who saves Temasek (Singapore) from a deadly swordfish attack, and Nurhalisa, a tough and defiant concubine sentenced to death by impalement.
This political satire is a curious study on obedience, tolerance, judgement and war, all the while alluding to contemporary social dilemmas, political games and secret codes.
“For me, what is interesting about this classic is that the historical stories are not solely about rulers. Within it are also stories of civilians and children saving their villages.
“While we don't know if these stories are real or fictional, the society at that time is preserved in written form, and also reflects the author's musings on humanism,” shares Loh, 50.
Swordfish (written in 2005) debuted in 2008 at the Singapore Theatre Festival. In 2017, Kee directed and produced Swordfish in its original English version called Swordfish + Concubine.
The upcoming performance features returning actors Yeo Lyle, Thian Siew Kim, Valerie Chian, Niko Hugh with new additions Tammy Yee, Eugene Ng and Jet Lew.
Performing alongside the Swordfish actors on stage are live musicians Boyz Chew Soon Heng and Zyee Leow Sze Yee, founder members of the Orang Orang Drum Theatre group. The traditional Malay folk song Ulek Mayang from Terengganu will also be featured in the show, lending a poetic dimension to this adaptation.
Fairuz Sulaiman, a multmedia artist, has been tasked to add shadow puppet animation specifically for this play, incorporating modern and creative visual effects to advance the story.
A discussion between Loh and Kee led to this new version of Swordfish, with shorter lines and more focused scenes. To keep up with the times, the playwright has introduced brand-new plot points based on contemporary events in Malaysia. It was Loh's goal to avoid making the addition elements feel jarring.
“Rather than directly reflecting a particular phenomenon in society, I want the audience to be stirred through the use of myths and fables. We remain open-ended, not forcing the audience to necessarily make a change. We simply provide a platform for contemplating a different world,” says Loh, who aims to achieve this through the use of puppets, masks, animation and dance.
“I hope that more Malaysians will appreciate this work, especially the young people, and that the performance will inspire them to think more about our social phenomena,” concludes Loh.
The Swordfish, Then The Concubine is supported by Program Penjana Malaysia, MyCreative Ventures and the Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana).
More details here.
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