Goldrain and Hailstones, A Play not to be missed!

Goldrain and Hailstones. What should I say. This is one of the best masterpiece which I could consider to be given an Oscar award. I actually went on the 14th September 2006, that falls on a Thursday. To be true, I am not hat familiar in this so called place Sentul. But since my dad is quite familiar with the place, so he took me over there. When I got there, I got a shock of my life. Firstly I taught it was a recreational park but then later I came to know that it is actually the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre which is abbreviated as KLPAC. The place was really beautiful and awesome. All over there are trees and since it is nearly night, it is very beautifully lighted. I began to think to myself that surely this day is going to be a memorable experience for me. You would not believe it that really it has given me an unforgettable experience. My friends Amer and Hisyam were also there and guess what, the three of us took the same seating. So guys! want to know more what this play is about, keep on reading.

This play was actually written by Jit Murad and directed by Zahim Albakri and it is actually about the sense of belonging. The title itself symbolizes the Malay traditional proverb which means “Hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri, lebih baik di negeri sendiri”. What this means is that no matter whether you go abroad to study or sightseeing, but when it comes to you where you born and breed in this country, this is the best place to be. This is clearly depicted in this play where there are four main characters by the name Man, Nina, Jay and Amy. Actually, there is only 2 people who play the same role and this can be seen where Jit Murad play his role as Man and Jay whereas Lin Jaafar play her role as Nina and Amy.

The play is actually about both of them have went abroad to study in the United States and came back to Malaysia after some time. The play begins with the return of Amy ( her real name is actually Aminah ) after living and studying in the States for ten years. Her return has invoked back the memory of Man, Nina and Jay about their childhood and their own experiences studying and living abroad. Each of them came brought back home with different beliefs and values, thinking and seeing things differently. Although this play was written 13 years ago, but it was actually during those were the days where students from Malaysia will go abroad to further their studies but when when they come back, not only their whole entire body has changed but also their way of seeing things which not any Malaysian will accept expect those whose thinking is the same as theirs and also those who can accept things in a free way.

In addition in terms of sense of belonging, this aspect can be viewed by the words of Jay and Amy. Jay here said that he only felt home when he is going to a foreign country. Amy on the other hand, who come from Negeri Sembilan although nowadays if anybody asks where you come from, they will usually say in a simple word that is I am from Seremban. Amy’s mother comes from Negeri Sembilan is very much attached to the Malay culture whereas Amy’s father who live like the English people who is quite open minded have made Amy to search for her sense of belonging. Only when her father passed away, then only she came to realize about herself. I was quite sad here because both of them like lost in the woods, where they don’t know which path to choose. Although both of them have different routes to the States, but when it comes to their hometown, they like somehow stuck somewhere.

Above all this, the play was full of jokes and laughter. Most of the audiences were laughing breathlessly although there were some foreigners who were not laughing probably they do not understand since some the words are in Malay. There is a part where it really made me to laugh but I didn’t laugh out instead I was laughing in my heart. The part is when the Chinese taxi driver ( Jit Mrad ) who talked using the Chinese slang and also Lin who played the role as a Chinese lady using the Chinese slang was quite a surprise for me. I was surprised on how both of them were able to switch their accent. This is really intereting because hardly people find diffuclty on following the slang of the other races but here it is awesome. Perhaps they have undergone some special training or maybe they just picked up like that.

Another part which impressed me a lot is when Lin who did the Negeri Sembilan accent and a American accent made me as if I’m in a linguistic class. Even Jit when he was playing the role as Jay was able to switch from a man like behavior to a lady like behavior. Although there is another term for it where it is quite famous among Malaysians but I think’soft guy’ will do. It is really nice the way the they acted it out.

Besides that, the stage directions were also quite simple in a away the play is set to be. Although there are not much props, but overall, there are essential things like chairs and tables. The lighting and the sound system were also good where it shows the different types of settings of the play. For example the sound of people eating, shopping and the airplane noise. Not only that, if we see in Nina’s house, there’s a chandelier which is being drawn down and up which indicates that her house is full of richness and luxury.

Overall, I have no words to say about this play because everything is nice and perfect. Jit Murad and his co –partners have done a great job in setting up this play not only to show to the Malaysian audience on how a person changes when he or she is in another country but when he or she comes back to their own place, how does the environment and thinking affects them. Both of them that is Jit Murad and Lin Jaafar have done something great for the Malaysian theatre where they not only add Malaysian values, cultures and beliefs but also acted as a nice couple. Although there are some words which have connotation meaning but I feel that it is a part of the play. Thank you very much Dr. Edwin for making all of us to go and watch this wonderful splendid play. I also hope that Dr. Edwin if could get for us the script so that we can read it. Again friends, I hope you all enjoyed the play and till then we meet our next meeting. Have a nice day.