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SINGAPORE : If you’ve grown up in Singapore or lived here for long enough, you probably would have heard the legend of how Bukit Merah (Malay for red hill) got its name.
Be it in school, or from a children’s book of Singaporean folktales, the story of a little boy who’s ingenious idea to erect a banana stem wall along the sea to protect 15th century Singapura from a swordfish attack, is one that is well-known to all, if not most.
But theatre company W!LD Rice’s latest production, “The Swordfish, then the Concubine” promises to give all theatre-goers a different perspective to this common folktale.
Penned by acclaimed Malaysian playwright Kee Thuan Chye, “The Swordfish, then the Concubine” blends ancient myth with the increasingly popular style of contemporary political satire.
The play explores the relationship between rulers and subjects, the absurdities of war and the meaning of absolute power.
Sounds too serious?
Think again.
“It’s very very funny!” exclaimed the play’s director, Ivan Heng.
Heng is also artistic director for the OCBC Singapore Theatre Festival, which “The Swordfish, then the Concubine” will make its world premiere at.
“You can’t help but laugh at it!” he added.
Elena Wang, who takes on the role of Nurhaliza, the forward thinking concubine of the Sultan, also shared the same view.
“It’s incredible because 'The Swordfish, then the Concubine' is ultimately a tragedy,” she said.
“But Thuan Chye has written it in such a comical way that you do laugh at it but it’s shocking at the same time.”
Coupled by the traditional live accompaniment provided by Gamelan Asmaradana, Heng says that all play-goers will be transported into another world - an escape after a hard day of work.
“I love it! It’s nice to come to the theatre and be transported to the land of myth and fairytale, laugh, enjoy and understand what we are doing now,” said Heng enthusiastically.
“It’s about the problems and possibilities of our time.”
On that note, catch “The Swordfish, then the Concubine” during the OCBC Singapore Festival 2008, from 6 to 10 August, at the Drama Centre Theatre.
Tickets are available from SISTIC.
- CNA/os
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