Bellyfull of laughs

First published in Sunday People, New Sunday Times
22 March 2009

Bellyfull of laughs

Big mole, curly hair and yellow boots? Adibah Noor shares with MAX KOH her memorable moments working with the Phua Chu Kang spinoff series


 
The cast of PCK Sdn Bhd with Adibah (right)

Constantly sought after for her singing, hosting, voiceover, and acting skills including the upcoming Yasmin Ahmad film Talentime, Adibah Noor has plenty on her plate. 

Adibah (of Terlalu Istimewa fame) is preparing to host the Anugerah Industri Muzik 2009 with Afdlin Shauki for the third time in May, and working on her second album “hopefully before the Raya holidays”.

But she made time to take part in the spinoff to the immensely popular Phua Chu Kang series.

“It was through an angel called Harith Iskandar who asked me to audition for Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd,” says Adibah. “I mean, could I pass up the opportunity to work with some of my idols on television?”

Needless to say, Adibah, with 11 years of showbusiness tucked away, passed the audition and gleefully bagged the job in PCK Sdn Bhd. 

The half-hour, 13-episode comedy follows the irreverent gum-booted contractor (played by Gurmit Singh) and his loud wife Rosie (Irene Ang) who has moved to Malaysia to expand his construction company business.

Chu Kang hooks up his former employee and burger millionaire mogul Izzy (Harith) to form a 50-50 partnership, and moves in next door to the man’s mansion in Bandar Botanic, Klang.

Chu Kang’s house plays host to many boisterous characters. 

Nell Ng plays socialite Datin Suzie Kong whose glamour and classiness is the antithesis of her sister, Rosie, while Fadzlie Rahim is Izzy’s contractor brother who poses a direct competition to PCK Sdn Bhd. 

And then there is Fatimah (Adibah), Izzy’s nosy and curious 60-year-old mother who works as a maid in Chu Kang’s house in order to spy for Fazzy. 

“I really enjoy playing my character who mistrusts Chu Kang and Singaporeans in general,” says Adibah, whose cinematic acting credits include Mukhsin, Gubra and Buli Balik. 

“She doesn’t act like an old woman at all. She has a lot of zest and it is really fun to see her dual nature as a spy in Chu Kang’s house and also as a caring mother. 

“However, she slowly begins to become fond of Chu Kang’s family in the series.”

So what is it like working with the lovable and famous cast?

“My goodness, the experience is indescribable! They were very co-operative with no air of snobbishness. We were friends right from the start.

“They were really thinking actors and many times I couldn’t stop myself laughing when they ad-libbed jokes,” she says, while admitting that’s her biggest challenge on set.

“So many times Gurmit would make funny expressions and I would burst out laughing and we had to do so many takes because of that,” recalls Adibah with a wide grin.

The sense of fun and teamwork certainly helped her make it through the shooting which sometimes lasted from 6pm to 10am. 

But it was all worth it, for Adibah. “I mean, it’s Phua Chu Kang! This series has captivated audiences in Singapore and Malaysia. And besides, now I can boast that I have worked with Phua Chu Kang, the best in Singapore and now Malaysia!” 

Catch Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd beginning March 25 on Wednesday nights, at 8.30pm on ntv7. You can also catch Adibah on AIM 2009 which will be aired ‘live’ exclusively on ntv7 on May 9.

Behold, real life

First published in New Sunday Times
22 March 2009

Behold, real life
MAX KOH



A group of people living with HIV/AIDS takes the unconventional road to raise awareness on the dangers of drugs addiction and the diseases, writes MAX KOH

ONE Saturday morning, the quaint town of Batu Arang was awash with excitement as people gathered at SMK Tuanku Abdul Rahman for the first BA Pesta Komuniti (Community Festival).

The Fallen Leaves Theatre Group (FLTC) was performing a play about the dangers of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS, amid a string of short talks by community leaders and representatives from the Malaysian AIDS Council.

Despite the heat, all eyes were on the performance Jangan Main!, a story about a guy named Zam and how he became ensnared in the world of drugs.

There was an air of ubiquity to how the cautionary tale unfolded — Zam skipped school with friend, Zam was peer-pressured into smoking, Zam drank cough syrup and soon, Zam was hooked on hard drugs.


Gritty realism that captured the attention of the audience

Sure, you must have heard a version of the story before but there is a gritty realism to how the events were portrayed in the play.

The “actors” were uncannily successful in capturing the audience’s attention. The scenes were based on the actual experiences of the cast themselves.

FLTC comprises recovering drug addicts and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Abdul Manap, who plays the older Zam, soliloquises: “Siapakah aku di dunia ini? (Who am I in this world?)”

Garbed in a white T-shirt with a pink ribbon on the sleeves, Manap is a-fire about the dangers of drug abuse and, through performances and workshops, tries to reach out to those at risk of drug addiction.

FLTC had its origins in June 2006, when Cloudbreak Creative Centre was invited to help residents of Positive Living Community (PLC), a local HIV/AIDS hospice in Batu Arang, in a drama therapy programme.

Company’s strongperson and producer Jade Ong relates how the weekly workshops sparked their imagination and soon, a new breed of writers eager to share their stories emerged.

However, it was only after a trip to a theatre performance (the members had not, until then, seen a live theatre performance) that they had the idea to develop their personal stories into a play that would raise awareness of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.

The first show was at The Actors Studio in December, 2008, and it was sold out. It met positive response and highlighted the stigma faced by those living with HIV/AIDS.

The company brought the show to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Penang and Malacca.

In Jangan Main!, we watched as Zam fell deeper into the world of drug addiction.

The message that sharing needles and indiscriminate sex were dangerous really drove home when acted out so realistically, even against the lighter moments such as busking (the cast played instruments).

The play also touched on the stigma that AIDS patients faced. In one scene, a reformed Zam burned the clothes given him by his late friend afflicted with AIDS.

The scene was simple but poignant.

The Pesta Komuniti was held for the first time in Batu Arang, a small town that houses a few drug rehabilitation centres and HIV/AIDS Hospices.

About 500 people turned out for the two-day event which included a workshop with the students of SMK Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

A chat with a cast member reveals that more work needs to be done to increase awareness.

“Even here in Batu Arang, a primary student suffering from HIV was kicked out of school when one of the parents found out about it. And it happened again in the next school he was enrolled in.”

Nevertheless, the work continues.

While the focus is still on the members’ recovery process, the group is also working to renovate its studio, Cloud 9, and to manage themselves independent.

Currently, individuals from Cloudbreak make up part of FLTC. George Wielgus is the director while Ong is the producer.

At Cloud 9, the residents were eager to show visitors around.

The spacious house had its interior walls adorned with mahjong paper that visitors were welcomed to write a lyric of their favourite song, a poem or even draw a self-portrait.

On another hanging from the wall, the team members had written or drawn their goals and visions for the group this year.

“We hope more people will invite us to perform because the dangers of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS still remain unspoken in our country,” says Ong.

After each performance, the actors would engage the audience in a forum as well as involve them in a form of participatory theatre.

“After all, the drama-based approach has proven to be rather powerful and effective,” she adds.

For more information, visit fallenleavestheatrecompany.wordpress.com.

So Wickedly Funny

First published in Sunday People, New Sunday Times
8 March 2009

So wickedly funny
MAX KOH




Comedian-magicians Barry Jones and Stuart MacLeod combines the irreverent, funny and macabre to create a magic show of their own, writes MAX KOH

IN Wicked Wizards: Barry & Stuart’s Part-time Warlocks, Barry Jones shows us how to balance a spoon on the nose. “This would be an excellent after-dinner magic trick,” he quips while Stuart MacLeod looks on. “We won’t use any glue or gum to make it stick.”

He turns his head from side to side, and amazingly the spoon does not fall off. He then, proceeds to remove the spoon which is attached to his nose with a five-cm nail!

The audience cringes.

“This way you won’t need to use any glue at all!”

The crowd bursts out laughing.


Barry shows his trick with the spoon.

At another point, the duo wears eye-patches and begin to do a little “pirate jig”, much to the audience’s amusement and laughter.

Is this a magic show or Saturday Night Live? Well, it is both!

The British comedian-magicians combine gory tricks, stand-up comedy, drama and a dollop of silliness to create their own brand of magic show.

Humour is a big part of their act and they perform regularly in comedy clubs in UK. Magic tricks are woven into little drama sketches. Their quirky characters engage in witty repartee.


Ouch! Barry’s tongue is skewered


Before you think the humour is mere novelty, the duo astounds you with first-class magic tricks. They were previous winners of numerous Scotland’s Young Magician Of The Year awards.

Barry and Stuart met at a magic circle event 10 years ago, and decided to pair their skills against older counterparts. Their electric chemistry and awesome tricks proved to be a winning combination as they soon toured local clubs and festivals, and even got their own TV show.

They courted controversy for one programme, called The Magic Of Jesus. They re-enacted the miracles of Jesus like turning water into wine.. That got a lot of Press. One bishop remarked: “Maybe these two fraudsters could try being crucified to see if they can rise three days later.”

But the Wicked Wizards’ brand of humour offended some members of the audience. Someone yelled “you suck!” as Barry and Stuart pushed the limits.

They don’t shy away from the taboo as they even demonstrated a voodoo curse on a member of the audience and seemingly conjured a ghost on stage. But it was all in good fun, as their witty exchange lightened the mood.

If you’re squeamish, keep away as there’s a lot of blood (fake), needles, pins and razor blades.

Despite the dark and twisted approach, Barry and Stuart perform a number of silly but impressive tricks that will make you smile.

I felt slightly short-changed though, as I had expected a big trick to end the night but it never came. Still, I enjoyed the show. Their quick fire humour, trickery and awesome audience rapport make a winning formula.

Wicked Wizards, presented by Gardner & Wife Theatre, is on at Pentas 1, KLPac until March 15. Tickets from RM48. Call 03-4047 9000 or visit www.gardnerandwife.com