NST review

Youngsters and grown-ups danced and sang through adapted versions of 16 Broadway musicals in Dansing Thru Broadway (Season 2), all for a good cause. JOHN TIONG was entranced.

THE English was crisp, clear and exuded a pristine quality. Though many of the cast were barely in their teens, the children among them showed how, with proper guidance and hard work, success could be achieved.

The 42-strong cast had just staged Dansing Thru Broadway (Season 2) a fundraiser organised by Petronita for the National Kidney Foundation, Prince Court Eye Medical Centre and Mercy Malaysia’s relief work for Gaza, at Auditorium Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur. It raised RM1.2 million for the charities recently.

The mimed singing and varied dancing styles were in no way five-star but they were of a standard you could be proud of, especially considering that the cast largely comprised primary and secondary school students.

They were completely at ease and scintillating in their respective roles, whether as rugged cowboys in tasselled apparel, sophisticated women in Victorian costumes, or Oriental maidens from Miss Saigon.
In fact, the main theme of the some 16 Broadway musical segments culled from famous musicals such as Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins and Oklahoma! was the way one has to cultivate savoir faire in confidence, and the knowledge of what to wear to bring out one’s own charms.

The show started with down-and-out graduate Karim (Radhi Khalid) trying to pin down a job as assistant to musical producer Grey (Brian MacIntyre).

He looked shabby in torn jeans and a stunned Grey gets the show going, advising him to dress up properly if he wants to get on in life.

On Put On Your Sunday Clothes and Elegance (from Hello, Dolly!), shop assistants Cornelius and Barnaby won the hearts of their fancies by

presenting themselves as smart millionaires.

The whole musical became Grey’s tool to help Karim overcome his predicament in understanding Broadway, and later, winning the job he was after.

Karim soon learns that, a stage performance is just another business, and that without money rolling in, nothing can function, as was portrayed in Newsies’ Carrying The Banner in which children demand more money for their work.

The beauty of the Karim and Grey story is that they injected local flavour into their presentation.

London streets from Oliver turned into Chow Kit Road, and Kenny Hills became the place where the rich and famous lived.

The musical Puteri Gunung Ledang and P. Ramlee were also mentioned to draw parallels with musicals written about legendary figures.

One of the most thrilling parts of the show was in the song I Hope I Get It In by an effeminate interviewer auditioning candidates for a stage production.

The English here was spoken with a Malaysian flavour and the dancing resembled aerobics with the cast going wild in front of a large mirror, and everyone excited and waiting to be chosen.

Dansing Thru Broadway was choreographed by Farah Datuk Seri Sulaiman of the Sayang Dancers and directed by Sabrina Hassan. The music arranger was Helen Yap and the vocal trainer, Malaysian tenor Peter Ong.

Petronita is the association of wives and female employees of Petronas.

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DTB II

SHE had a vision — to bring Broadway to the Malaysian stage. Dancer-choreographer Farah Sulaiman did that in June last year, and is restaging her dream , DanSing Thru Broadway, this week.

“I like the songs of the ‘70s and ‘80s, but Broadway has countless of classics. The show is staged with a Malaysian feel,” said Farah in a recent interview.

The musical is about a no-nonsense graduate, Karim, who seeks a job in the theatre industry.

“He has no background in the arts. But he is keen to work in the industry under the guidance of Grey, a theatre producer.

“Slowly, Karim finds that every single element in his life is connected to music,” explains Farah.
In putting the script together, Farah says she was ably helped by her niece, dancer-actress Sabrina Hassan.

“We have incorporated local elements such as the Malay language into the work. We just want to make Broadway more appealing to the public. People always shy away from English productions in Malaysia,” says Sabrina who recently acted in the film, Maut .

DanSing Thru Broadway has scenes from Hello Dolly, Oliver, Miss Saigon, Hairspray, Grease and Phantom Of The Opera .

The cast comprises dance instructor and opera singer Peter Ong, actor Radhi Khalid, Audition 1 winner Tria, rapper and actor Reefa, Ho Soon Yoon, Nicole-Anne Thomas, and Keith Yew.

What excites both aunt and niece is the participation of 20 young entertainers ranging from eight to 17 years.

“They are fresh and talented,” says Farah.

Farah, who used to have a ballet school called Sayang Academy of Dancing, says she admires the passion of the children who came for her auditions.

“Most of the children have zero knowledge in the performing arts but they were passionate about seeking the knowledge and gave the audition their best.

“We came across a boy with an exceptional vocal talent but he was stiff when it came to dancing. After staging the first production, he finally found his groove,” adds Sabrina.

The 20 young actors are a dedicated lot.

“They would train at least seven hours a week without hesitation or complaint. It was all smiles despite being tired,” says Farah.

Petronita, the association for the wives of Petronas staff and female employees, is the official organiser of the Broadway-inspired musical.

Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to The Children Dialysis Fund of the National Kidney Foundation, The Children’s Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate Corrective Surgery Community Project and The Musculo Skeletal Cancer Treatment Regional Centre.



* DanSing Thru Broadway runs Feb 19-21, at 8pm at the Auditorium Dewan Bandaraya, Menara DBKL. Tickets are RM50, RM80, RM150 and RM200. Get them at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas Box Office or call 03-20517007.


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