Thursday November 12, 2009
Journey to enlightenment
ARTSPHERE
Compiled by CHAN LAI HUN
CONFERENCE Of The Birds is a contemporary operatic interpretation of a poem written in Persian by the 12th century poet, Farid ud-Din Attar. The poem describes the search by a group of birds for a leader: it is an allegory of a Sufi sheikh or master leading his pupils to enlightenment.
This production is a loose interpretation of this poem, using sound and movement to tell the story. The play is directed by Chee Sek Thim and features performers Tan Jin Yin, Sharlene Rani Kumaravellu, Girlie Tan Swee Im, Elsie Chin, Lim Chai May, Loke Shiuk Tung, Oh Pei Ying and Philip T.C. Yeoh.
Venue: Wawasan Open University, Penang.
Dates & Times: Nov 20 and 21 (8.30pm) and Nov 22 (3pm).
Entry by donation: RM20 (adults), RM10 (students/senior citizens). Available from Sentuhan, 90 Armenian Street; Penang Heritage Trust, 26 Lebuh Gereja; or James Lochhead (016-4846 042).
Follow updates on the Birds at: birdsconf.wordpress.com.
There will also be two dialogues. Can We Imagine?: The Creative Environment In Penang with Chee, Johan Othman and Wawasan Open University artist-in-residence You Sue Ching, moderated by Himanshu Bhatt.
The discussion takes place tomorrow (6.30pm) at Wawasan Open University, Theatre 2, Level 5.
The second dialogue, The Creation Of Conference Of The Birds, with Chee, Johan and William Radice will take place on Nov 21 (4pm) at Sun Café, 65 Jalan Macalister, Penang.
> ONE Load Of Bull Jit – stories true and false – from reknowned playwright, raconteur, actor, aspiring balloon-boy and lover Jit Murad.
Catch Jit Murad at his best in One Load Of Bull Jit. Jit takes the stage and the house hostage to foist anecdotal musings on love, life, toothpaste and a whole lot of bull. Catch this award-winning playwright at his best from Nov 24 till 29 at 8.30pm with a matinee show on Nov 29 at 3pm. The venue is PJ Live Arts Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
The charity preview is on Nov 24 and all proceeds go to Nur Salam Children’s Home Chow Kit.
Tickets for the charity preview are at a minimum donation of RM50 and include pre-performance food and drink courtesy of La Bodega. Call Kimmy (017-3610 069) to book tickets for this show.
Tickets for evening show: RM63 and RM53; matinee: RM53 and RM43. Price includes RM3 Ticketcharge booking fee. For further details, call Ticketcharge (03-2241 9999) or visit ticketcharge.com.my.
> CATERING to the diverse music interest of audiences, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) goes contemporary in a one-night-only showcase this Saturday (8.30pm) at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, KLCC, Kuala Lumpur.
Themed Exploring Distant Frontiers, the MPO will entertain with contemporary music by composers Vasks, Dutilleux, Connesson and our very own Yii Kah Hoe.
Matthew Trusler will perform at a one-night- only showcase this Saturday. MPO associate conductor Kevin Field will lead the MPO to present Yii’s Opening Of The Stage, inspired by the preliminary ceremony of the traditional shadowplay called wayang kulit, a ritual performed by the master of the play to purify the area where the play is to be staged. Also included in the repertoire list are Connesson’s Supernova and Dutilleux’s Timbres, Espace, Mouvements (which literally means sound, space, movement).
The MPO will also collaborate with violinist Matthew Trusler to perform Vasks’ Concerto For Violin Distant Light. A piece of nostalgia with a touch of tragedy, this work was commissioned by violinist Gidon Kremer in 1996.
Tickets are priced at RM35. Telephone bookings: 03-2051 7007, fax bookings: 03-2051 7077, e-mail bookings: dfp_boxoffice@petronas.com.my.
> KLAP Theaters Art Performers in association with the National Department of Culture & Art, Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture are staging the English play My Mother My Aunt, written, produced and directed by J.D. Menon, from Nov 14 till 19 at the Malaysian Tourism Center (Matic), Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
The story revolves around Aisha and her quest to find her father. Brought up by her unwed mother Vinnie and four devoted aunties, all living under one roof, Aisha, now aged 19, feels stifled by their attention and expressions of love.
She lives in her own world and her questions about her father triggers never-ending arguments and fights with her mother.
This play is aimed at raising funds for a lung cancer patient in need of chemotherapy. For details, call 03-4108 7404.
> ALEXIS Bistro’s International Jazz Series presents Cynthia Utterbach with the Michael Veerapen Trio.
Utterbach is a jazz artiste-actress-writer-educator from Los Angeles, now based in Hamburg, who has enjoyed a 10-year tenure in Europe performing for festivals, clubs, radio and TV.
Utterbach has her own solo performing tribute concerts such as Lady Legends, Sarah Sings, The Gershwin’s, The Close Your Eyes Jazz Family, Three Ladies Of The Blues and Voices Of Praise – performing throughout the European community. As a writer and jazz storyteller, she also includes her original songs, from gospel to soul, in her performances along with her special adaptations of the great jazz standards.
Utterbach has been touring Asia for the last five years and will be performing at Alexis Bistro Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, on Nov 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 10.30pm.
Cover charge is RM25. Table bookings for diners only. For more information, call 03-4260 2288 or visit alexis.com.my.
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