Last Saturday evening, Malaysia Club’s annual culture extravaganza Re:Believe was pulled off. Malaysia Night is a huge scale event, with food served for those who arrived early enough and juice boxes for all. The play clocked in at over two hours, almost filling the nine hundred-seat auditorium, seeing students write, direct, produce and perform. The producers and director even managed to make cameo appearances! The play was accessible and enjoyable for both Malaysia Club regulars and those not as familiar with Malaysian culture, with the action spanning at least three languages. An early rendition of ‘Fabulous’ from High School Musical 2 confirmed my suspicions that MNight had something for everyone.
Re:Believe had a Romeo and Juliet-esque plot full of drama, comedy, dancing and singing. Despite the sensitive subject matter of racial tension in the wake of a national election, it was told sympathetically. Although the second half hurtled towards a tragic ending, Re:Believe managed to entertain throughout, ably using song and dance to explore backstories, beliefs and feelings. The big reveal of the main antagonist was especially thrilling. Each constituent element of Malaysian culture was well represented on stage, and the cast’s dedication to putting on a good show was evident.
Part of what made MNight so fun was the degree of audience participation. There was obvious joy at seeing friends on stage and plenty of spontaneous applause. The actors, producers and directors were clearly aware of this, and were still able to ensure a smooth running of the show. The show’s MCs were able to bounce off the audience during breaks, ensuring entertainment throughout. The meta inclusion of Paper Trails, the book that inspired last year’s play as a catalyst for romance, was another very nice touch and also very well-received by the audience.
At the end of the play, I found that I still didn’t really understand the title, but it was worth it for the delightful three hours I spent in the theatre. The ending was also a little disappointing, (spoiler!) one of the lead characters dies, with the subsequent sequence feeling slightly rushed.
The shear ambition of the night allowed for a few minor hiccups, but a microphone occasionally not working didn’t really matter when there was a live band on stage. As a feat of organisation, passion, and entertainment, Re:Believe was a real success.
