A CHINESE Tok Dalang (master puppeteer) in Kelantan is glad that his grandson has shown a talent for wayang kulit, Sinar Harian reported.
Eyo Hock Seng, who is fondly known as Pak Cu, said he was proud to be passing the torch to Adam Yeo, 13. For now, he is mentoring the teenager.
“Adam is ready to inherit this tradition. I’m glad to share my five decades of knowledge before I retire in a few years,” he said.
As for the skills required of a Tok Dalang, Pak Cu said: “He must master voice modulation to portray multiple characters during performances.”
According to him, modern influences have altered wayang kulit performances, from costumes to puppetry.
“Previously, we needed ceremonial rituals, complete with roast chicken, to ‘open’ and ‘close’ the stage.
“Now, preparations are simpler with key instruments like the serunai and colourful puppets introduced in the 1980s to attract audiences,” he said.
> Actor Fadlan Hazim, known for his villainous roles, has had his share of unpleasant encounters with strangers who were upset with his characters, Harian Metro reported.
“Last year, an elderly man scolded me and nearly spat in my face,” he said, adding that he had also been getting “disturbing” online messages.
“These are the people I worry about, which is why I filed a police report,” he said.
However, he is taking it in stride.
“If people hate me, it means I’ve played the role well,” said Fadlan, whose latest drama is titled Curang Tanpa Niat.
● The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
