Mak Yong Sindo

It was a production by second year students. It was an adaptation of our all time favourite fairy tale – Cinderella (who was convert to Malay and be known as Sindo). This part, I figure it out myself, correct me if I am wrong but Sindo and Cinderella does has it similarities.

I’ve decided to try this Mak Yong performance once I heard the title. I tried to recall some Mak Yong pieces that I have come across but Sindo seems rather not familiar. It must be some story that I never heard of because of my ignorance, or so I figured.

My friend read the brochure, and she goes;

“Macam cerita Cinderella”

What the heck, it does not bother me, it would be interesting I said.

Interesting indeed.

They start just slightly off 8.30 pm as expected – bagus sikitlah dari IB – but since I entered early, it was rather a boring wait.

The stage was divided into three section. Two sections on a platform, one occupied by the musician and another, were for the chorus – tak pernah tengok konsep ada korus neh – and then, there is the main arena.

Show start. Mengadap rebab was lovely. I had goose bumps. Pok Yong was excellent. I love her voice though I don’t really quite understand the language but it was clear. The dance was excuisite. Lembut, sharp not perfect but getting there. Then I saw this one dancer who was very much on her on world. Pemalasnya!!! Tangan orang lain dah turun, tangan dia baru nak turun. Orang lain dah berkalih duduk, dia baru nak angkat punggung. Kaki tak bend langsung OK!!! How can you dance Mak Yong and not bending your knees? The worse, muka dia takde perasaan dari awal sampai ke sudah. Macam model wannabe dalam ANTM je expression dia. This is what we call, kerana nila setitik, rosak susu sebelanga.

The show moves on. Comes in Peran. I love Peran’s scene. Funny, witty and some players can be very creative and cynical in their jokes. This two Peran, there was nothing special, there were just funny. At times, Peran Tua forget his dialog and the fact that he is supposed to ‘kecek kelate’. It was funny but I rather laughed at a good well plan joke than a coincidently happen and embarrassing one. Forgivenlah this kind of thing, pelakon mana yang perfect tiap kali show kan. Kudos to Peran Muda who control the game very well from start till end. That love bite idea, was childish but fresh and a good one.

I don’t understand Mak Tiri Sindo and Sindo herself. Mak Tiri Sindo was shouting at the top of her lung from start till end. Even when she was already meroyan in the final scene, she still shouts. Susahnya nak faham apa dia cakap. Does being mean means you have to jerit sekuat hati kau? Sindo, we know dia bernasib malang but menangis je dari awal sampai ke sudah. Aku dari kesian jadi meluat. Can some colours be added to the character? Of course one could do so right.

The scene with orang kampong, I said it’s either was not rehearsed or just plainly a bad direction and choreography. Merata-rata, disorganized, serabut, pening kepala tengok. Especially the dancing class scene. Dah la semua orang berebut nak buat lawak, it seems like everybody tried to catch their 5 minutes fame. Yes, komedi akan tarik minat penonton and yes it works but when it’s too much, it’s just too much.

As I mention earlier, there was this platform for the chorus. At first I thought it was a great idea to have the platform and the chorus but then the chorus and some of them in jeans and t-shirt keep coming in and out, in and out throughout the performance, I started to find this part of the play such nuisance. Aduyai, ada yang bersembang-sembang lagi. Now, I can understand if they sit there as a chorus and when their scene came, they get up and stand-by backstage tapi ini ada jugak yang masuk sembang-sembang, keluar. Selang seminit masuk balik, nyanyi selagu, keluar, kejap lagi masuk balik. What a distraction.

And talking about distraction, aduyai, I got the C block seat, very the depan arena. Mula-mula seronok sebab boleh nampak muka and gesture pelakon sebijik-sebijik tapi semua itu berakhir sebaik persembahan bermula. People just masuk, keluar, masuk, keluar. I am not sure this people are audience or part of the production team but they surely cannot seat tight. To make matter worse, everytime someone moves, the seats bergegar – irritating and disturbing sangat. When you study performing arts, don’t you also learn the hall etiquette?

Then it comes to my mind, they are second year students, this is a Mak Yong piece dengan suntikan cerita moden, why be hard on them. It was a good effort to perform this to the public. At least they will become better in the future. Some even have shown good acting skills if not excellent. I personally kagum dengan Peran Muda, Raja cum Pok Yong, the musicians and Raja Muda (except the part dia marah Mak Tiri Sindo) the rest, no they did not failed, they are just on the right track of learning.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! :D

*I saw the show on the second night.