By Aliff Ikhwan
Edited by Wan Nur Amrina
Official poster for the TESL Theatre Day
Throughout the year 2023, we have encountered various types of theatre organised by organisations under IIUM as well as external ones. However, in the midst of that, the TESL Students’ Society brought to us a captivating TESL Theatre Day which serves the audience a total of 3 plays; “The Tale of King Mahmud & The Conditions,” “Mahsuri & The Tale of Baghdad” and “The Adventure of Moana.” The plot twist here, this theatre was a competition where the audiences were allowed to vote for the best plays. So, the question is, who won the prize? Drum rolls…
A scene from the Mahsuri & The Tale of Baghdad
Before that, I’d like to give reviews of each play. Starting with “Mahsuri & The Tale of Baghdad” which was a combination of two tales. I found that it was very fascinating and creative that two cultures, which were the Middle East and Southeast Asia merged in one play. I could say that everyone did a very good job of presenting the storyline in such a comedic way. The audience engagement was good, and the jokes delivery was not awkward, making it pleasing to watch. The thespians’ articulation and voice projection deserved praise as it gave the audience an authentic experience of watching a theatre. However, there was a part where Mahsuri died without giving birth to a child, contradicting the ending as there’s a descendant of her bloodline. I would rate this one 8.5/10.
A scene from the Tale of King Mahmud & The Conditions.
Next, we are moving on to “The Tale of King Mahmud & The Conditions.” It is a play about King Mahmud who is reeling from the loss of his Queen, and embarks on a quest with loyal companions to win the heart of the enchanting Princess of Gunung Ledang. As they face challenges and betrayals, the king strives to meet the princess's demanding conditions. This play uses a lot of allusions in their script which I found interesting as an audience. The props used in this play are very mesmerising, and I’d like to give a thumbs up to the committees involved in the making of the plays. Not to mention, the choice of fantasy-like music was very comforting as well. Even so, I’d like to point out the lack of clear articulation. Since I was one of the audience, it’d be lovely to hear clear pronunciation so that I can dive into the emotion deeply. For this one, it’s 8/10.
A scene from The Adventure of Moana.
Last but not least, “The Adventure of Moana” explores the story of Moana, a brave teenager from Motunui, who teams up with Maui to save her people from a mysterious plague. Their oceanic journey brings thrilling adventures and challenges as they seek to retrieve the power of creation, Tamaina. The fate of Motunui hangs in the balance. As I observed the stage, I could see lots of well-made props and costumes that were eye-catching. This musical play inserted jokes that were very entertaining and funny. The actors did a great job of engaging with the audience which eventually earned their heart and votes. Not to mention, their voice projection was amazing. For Moana, I’d give this play 9 out of 10.
So… Who won the three-way battle? The answer is “The Adventure of Moana” which successfully gained first place! Then, it’s followed by “Mahsuri & The Tale of Baghdad” and “The Tale of King Mahmud & The Conditions.”
Picture from a special performance by the Caklempong team and piano-violin duet.
The TESL Theatre Day was also coloured by amazing performances from the IIUM Andeka Caklempong and the piano-violin duet, giving some sort of emotional calm to the audience. The way they performed was so passionate that every beat felt appealing. Just to let them know, their hard work and hours of training paid off and I, as the audience, enjoyed every bit of their performance.
Finally, I’d rate the theatre day overall, 9/10. A great atmosphere with enjoyable plays indeed lifted my expectations of this theatre. A big thanks to the crews and committees who I am sure play a crucial role in making this program a big success. To the TESS especially, I hope that they will continue to organise this kind of program in the future. Last but not least, a special thanks to students and lecturers from USIM, UTeM, SMART College, UKM, UNITEN, UPM, DRP High Commission University, UM, UPSI and IIUM International School for their participation in this program. Also, I want to give credit to Sr. Jasmin Ameera and Sr. Azliana who were big helpers for me in writing this article.
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