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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Arts & Fashion

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Never Eat Too Much Before Rapture was an all-you-can-eat 'play buffet', where the audience called the shots.

IF there ever was a show where you got your money's worth, Never Eat Too Much Before Rapture (NETMBR) would be it. Thirty short plays, in 60 minutes!

The phrase "a one of a kind experience" has been used in countless reviews to the point it is almost a cliché: however, in this situation, I feel completely justified using it. NETMBR is like nothing you've ever seen before, the strange love-child of a sketch comedy and a game show, a madcap tribute to unpredictability.

NETMBR was performed at Indicine, KLPac in Kuala Lumpur last week, and featured the talents of Alexis Wong, Jeremy Ooi, Grace Ng, Dinesh Kumar, Jen Yee, Ui Hua, Ho Lee Ching, Freddy Tan and Amanda Ang. The show was based on the long-running Chicago show Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind, by the Neo-Futurists ensemble.

The production featured 30 original plays, all written and directed by the ensemble, who had to act all of them out within an hour.

NETMBR did not have a fixed ticket price: instead, audience members were asked to play pricing mini-games, such as rolling a die, adding the result to a pre-fixed number, and then paying that amount. This was a nice whimsical little touch.

Upon entering the show hall, audience members were given a "menu" with the titles of all 30 plays, all with corresponding numbers that were also marked on paper plates attached to a string above the stage.

When the show began, a one-hour countdown timer was started. Audience members were then invited to call out the number of the play they wanted, with NETMBR cast pulling down the corresponding paper plates and performing the play related to it.

I was slightly doubtful about the show's reception: Malaysian audiences are not exactly noted for their spontaneity. As it turned out though, I needn't have worried.

The show I attended last Friday saw an extremely enthusiastic audience calling out numbers like their lives depended on it.

NETMBR's plays were a mixed bag, featuring musical numbers, crazy antics, meta humour, and thought-provoking observations. Many of them also featured audience participation, which was a lot of fun. A man forgets to bring his phone to work, to dramatic effect. A woman faces her fear of cockroaches. And a man downs a glass of spoilt milk!

One highlight was Almost Perfect, about a man preparing for a romantic date. Featuring no dialogue at all, this highly relatable piece worked well due to Dinesh's expressive performance. Also memorable was The Importance Of Family Albums, with Ng performing a monologue about appreciating your loved ones, and taking a group photo of the entire hall at the end.

My personal favourite play, however, had to be Never Beat Too Much Before Rap-ture, which saw Ui Hua lead the ensemble in a rap about a typical day in his life. Featuring lyrical gems such as "Going to head to the kota/to play a game of DOTA", the cast's high energy made this segment a joy to watch.

The production also featured more serious pieces, such as Hollow, which touched on addiction, and Attenuation, about a personal tragedy. While there was decent material, these pieces did not work as well as the comic pieces, mostly due to lack of emotional buildup.

The ensemble performed generally well. The show's highly physical nature (much running, shouting, grabbing of plates involved), however, resulted in a few of them running out of breath towards the end, which affected enunciation and voice projection.

NETMBR also featured a "Show Changer" play, which, as the name suggested, would fundamentally change the nature of the show. This turned out to be Ang "shooting" Dinesh with a prop gun (with aiming instructions from the audience!) removing him from subsequent sketches, although his "body" remained on stage.

While this was not executed to its full potential (Dinesh was "resurrected" halfway through, which was a bit of a cheat!), this was a very original idea, one that truly guarantees every NETMBR show is a different experience. Here's hoping this is improved and expanded upon in future instalments.

In the end, the NETMBR ensemble successfully completed their mission, finishing all 30 plays with slightly under three minutes to spare. Overall, it was a highly enjoyable production, with a unique and promising concept that truly has to be experienced.

Keeping the shine

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Dewan Filharmonik Petronas unveils new season packed with diverse flavour.

NEW season, new delights! It's that time of the year again when you thumb through Dewan Filharmonik Petronas' brochure for the upcoming season's highlights.

Outside the classical repertoire, the 2013/2014 season of performances at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) in KLCC, Kuala Lumpur will offer audiences a contemporary cultural snapshot of music and beyond. Together with resident orchestra the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO); discerning music fans can look forward to everything from songbirds, accomplished jazz artistes, an acclaimed dance legend, indie rock straight through whimsical tunes from Pixar.

Kicking things off the new season is a performance by teen prodigy and piano virtuoso Tengku Ahmad Irfan on Aug 17. The showcase will see Irfan premiering his original composition titled Sahibul Hikayat Fantasy Overture alongside pieces by R. Strauss, Sergei Prokofiev and Jongen.

MPO specifically chose Aug 17 because it was on this day – 15 years ago – that the orchestra performed its first concert at DFP. In September, the celebration continues with the fourth instalment of DFP Seni Festival. Look out for Malam Melayu Klasik; a nostalgic showcase featuring veteran singer Datuk Andre Goh and Badan Kesenian Yayasan Warisan Johor on Sept 16. There will also be an MPO & All That Jazz showcase on Sept 22, featuring the likes of singers Atilia Haron, Elvira Arul and Dina Nadzir.

It's an opportunity to catch these songbirds on the big stage as they run through favourites from the jazz songbook and beyond. Then on Oct 8, Kelab Sukan & Rekreasi Petronas and DFP will present a one-night only charity concert featuring the undisputed jazz queen Datuk Sheila Majid and Indonesian pop crooner Harvey Malaiholo. Expect to hear hits like Sinaran, Lagenda and Ku Mohon by Sheila Majid as well as Dia, Aku Begini Kau Begitu and Jerat by Harvey Malaiholo.

Music lovers can also look forward to rousing performances by the Vienna Boys Choir (Oct 30), Grammy-nominated German guitarist Ottmar Liebert (Nov 18) and Icelandic jazz-funk fusion band Mezzoforte (Nov 25).

Vienna Boys Choir, is one of the oldest boys' choirs in the world. For nearly 500 years it has been an enduring symbol of Austria. Its first-class training has produced numerous highly qualified vocalists, violinists and pianists.

Liebert, 54, is no stranger to jazz guitarists. Despite being European, he is best known for his Latin-influenced music and brings contemporary flamenco to the forefront. His new album Dune, is a slight detour from the man's signature sound as it embraces a more intimate and reflective tone. All said, Liebert's guitar style will be the focus on stage at DFP.

Mezzoforte, meanwhile, is considered to be Europe's most important jazz funk fusion band since it emerged as a teenage jazz outfit in 1977.

In 2012, the band celebrated its 35th anniversary. Its latest album Islands documents the band's process of maturing musically and adds another gem to its discography.

In 1996, the three founding members Eythor Gunnarsson, Johann Asmundsson and Gulli Briem expanded the band with the saxophonist Oskar Gudjonsson, in 2006 with the guitarist Bruno Müller and trumpet player Sebastian Studnitzky, adding new colour.

On Nov 25, you can bet Mezzoforte will be a hot concert ticket. Watch the fans go crazy as the band plays its summer hit Garden Party.

Homegrown indie outfit Hujan will end the year with an acoustic set on Dec 2 under the DFP Spotlight Series. The band's catalogue of hits will be significantly rewired but you can count on Hujan frontman Noh and bandmates to deliver an enjoyable performance.

The New Year brings in more joy as MPO presents a series of Valentine's Day concerts next February. Prepare to be serenaded by the smooth vocals of English singer Stephen Rahman-Hughes (Feb 8-9), husband-wife piano duo Robert Levin and Ya-Fei Chuang as well as violinists Liza Ferschtman and James Ehnes.

It's Beatlemania all over again as MPO Plays The Beatles next March. Movie buffs are also in for a treat. Next June, MPO presents Disney's Pixar in Concert. For the first time ever, the orchestra will perform memorable tunes from feature films like Toy Story and Finding Nemo. The musical arrangement will be accompanied by visually stunning film clips.

For a dance spectacle, legendary dancer Datuk Ramli Ibrahim will also hold down a two-night engagement with the MPO next June.

For enquiries and subscription (03-2051 7007) or email dfp_boxoffice@petronas.com.my. Visit the Box Office to get your copy of the new brochure or download it at www.mpo.com.my.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Rabu, 10 Julai 2013