Octopus! - Malaysia's Gay-Themed Play

( Taken from Fridae.com )

Kuala Lumpur, December 2010 – The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) proudly brings to you Octopus by American playwright Steve Yockey, tackling increasingly common relationship quandaries with an edge, yielding thought-provoking results. Octopus premiered in 2008 with the Actor's Express Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia, and will play in Malaysia for the first time.

After young couple Kevin and Blake engage in an adventerous and hastily planned night of “fun” with the older, more “experienced” Max and Andy, they are left trying to salvage their relationship from a pummeling mix of jealousy, betrayal, telegrams from a soaking wet delivery boy and a ravenous sea monster from the ocean floor. Rendered through post-modern gay lens, Octopus slips from domestic comedy into a dark fable examining the role and depth of commitment in relationships and what it really means to say the words “I love you”.

From L-R: Malik Taufiq, Will Quah ( 26yo ), Edmund Wong, Nandang Abdul Rahman, Jack Lua.

This production of Octopus is directed by klpac's Director-in-Residence, Kelvin Wong and will feature an eclectic cast of household names like Malik Taufiq and William Quah, alongside up-and-coming writer Nandang Abdul Rahman and newcomers Jack Lua and Edmund Wong. Octopus will also feature original music from singer-songwriter Elvira Arul. Strictly for mature audiences only.

Review from The Star Paper , 19 Dec 2010

OCTOPUS starts off light and breezy: Kevin and Blake, a young and good-looking couple, invite the older and more experienced Max and Andy to their place for a night of fun.

 Malik Taufiq and Will Quah playing the lovers, Kevin & Blake.

Despite their reservations, nervousness eventually gives way to excitement, and after some initial awkwardness, the two pairs click. Before they know it, some clothes come off (to the delight of many of the women and gay men in the audience) and a night of pleasure ensues.

 Do you want to see Will Quah prancing around on stage half-naked?!!  

If yes, what are you guys still waiting for?! -- Go and watch the play now! ---

All the characters shine in their roles. Malik and Quah, who have fantastic chemistry, deliver splendid performances as Kevin and Blake, respectively. The scenes in which they interact and argue are captivating and feel very natural. It is delightful watching them transform into fully-fleshed, authentic characters.



Wong also delivers a fantastic performance. He starts off as the jovial, flamboyant telegraph boy who brings comic relief, and effectively transitions into a sinister, dark character towards the end. The scene in which he confronts Malik brims with dramatic tension and is one of the highlights of Octopus.

But Yockey’s play has some weaknesses: it drags a bit in the beginning, and the message becomes quite heavy-handed towards the end. Occasionally, it is overly cryptic: for example, I’m still unsure what the sea monster represents. Is it a symbol of the overwhelming pressure of guilt, the devastation of a breakdown in relationships, or even the ravaging menace of HIV/AIDS? Or, perhaps, a combination of all three?

Despite these shortcomings, Octopus is a wonderful piece of theatre that is meaningful and compelling. Its initial light tone and fantastical nature is a smokescreen for its engaging examination of complex issues.

Highly recommended!

( Hahahahaha...I wonder the writer that goes by the name of Terence Toh, is one of us or not? Hehehehe )

The Octopus

Pentas 2, 

KLPAC ( KL Performing Arts Center )

Block 8B

Pentas 2/ Stage 2

Sentul Park

Jalan Strachan, Sentul

16-18 December 2010 ( 8.30 pm )

19 December 2010 ( 3.00 pm )

20-22 December 2010 ( 8.30 pm )

Ticket Price : RM 38 ( Adult ) or RM 25 ( Students / Disabled )

And here's a little gift from me to you guys, hehe
-- But you need to caption the picture by yourself ya! ---