A Heartfelt Performance: The Story of Kancil

Act One: The Visionary Behind the Scenes

Directing Kancil was Ms. Gloria Tan, an instructor at Operation Theatre and a familiar face to the production. Having starred in the original 2016 staging of Chronicles of One and Zero: Kancil at the M1 Fringe Festival, Gloria revived the play with her students, facing numerous challenges along the way.

One major hurdle was translating the original Malay script into English without losing its poetic nuances. “A lot of meaning gets lost in translation,” Gloria shared. Another was capturing the play’s darker undertones, masked by the seemingly playful nature of Kancil, the mousedeer. “It’s hidden under the pretense of being cute because of Kancil, but the story is really dark,” she reflected.

Despite the challenges, Gloria found inspiration in her students’ determination. “I take my hat off to them. They kept saying, ‘Yes, we can do this,’ and they pulled through,” she said proudly. Balancing Kancil rehearsals with other commitments, such as managing seven shows for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance earlier in October, showcased the team’s unwavering dedication.

Act Two: Breathing Life Into the Characters

Actors don’t just play roles—they embody them. For Za’im Zuhaili, known as Izzy, a first-year Design for User Experience student, portraying Kancil meant deeply connecting with the character’s emotions as she witnesses the destruction of her fellow animals. “One of the biggest challenges was trying to feel the same emotions as Kancil,” Izzy shared, recounting a transformative rehearsal with Gloria that helped him ground himself in the role.

Kyal Sin Htoo, a first-year Information Technology student, tackled the role of Rimba, the forest spirit, with finesse. “Getting praised by Ms. Gloria was the most rewarding thing ever,” she shared. Similarly, Lim Xin Hui Venus (Ve), a first-year Consumer Behaviour and Research student, embraced her role as Rimba despite the challenges of memorizing lines and performing amidst intricate multimedia elements.

Together, the cast created an immersive experience, bringing the forest and its characters to life with raw emotion and unwavering dedication.

Act Three: The Music That Set the Tone

The production’s soul lay in its music, provided by Gamelan Naga Kencana (GNK), an Indonesian music interest group. The group’s hauntingly beautiful melodies, led by Zahidah Binte Zakaria, added a visceral depth to the performance. Zahidah, a second-year Pharmaceutical Science student and overall in-charge (OIC) of GNK, described the journey as both exhilarating and anxiety-inducing. “We struggled to convey the emotions behind Kancil effectively without a music director, but collaboration and guidance from our seniors helped us push through.”

From creatively using the mallet’s end to striking gongs for a chilling effect to harmonizing with the play’s intense scenes, the musicians demonstrated innovation and synergy. Combined rehearsals between GNK and Operation Theatre became a melting pot of ideas, transforming abstract concepts into a cohesive, emotive performance.

A Tale That Hits Home

Premiering in The Republic Cultural Centre’s (TRCC) Studio, Kancil delivered a sensory feast. Multimedia visuals, coupled with evocative performances, drew audiences into the heart of the forest. In a shocking twist, a seemingly lighthearted celebration of Kancil’s birthday turned into a haunting tale of habitat destruction, leaving the audience in reflective silence.

“Stop destroying our Earth!” Gloria urged, when asked what she wished audience would take away from Kancil. The original playwright, Zulfadil Rashid, echoed this plea, emphasizing the importance of preserving heritage and identity. Rizman Putra, director of the original 2016 staging, praised the youthful energy and raw passion of the performers, highlighting the play’s powerful message on humanity’s impact on nature.

Warning: The video below might contain scenes that viewers may find disturbing.

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Second-year Mass Communication student Grace Yap found the multimedia elements particularly striking. “It drove home the message about deforestation,” she remarked, noting how the combination of acting and visuals made the story unforgettable.

Conclusion

As Arthur Miller once said, “The mission of the theatre…is to raise the consciousness of people to their human possibilities.” Kancil did just that, offering a poignant perspective on the devastation caused by human progress. It leaves audiences pondering: Does advancement truly justify the cost to our planet’s wildlife?

With its stellar performances, mesmerizing music, and heartfelt message, Kancil stands as a testament to the transformative power of theatre, urging us all to rethink our relationship with nature.