Encouraging and Developing a Greater Knowledge and Understanding of the Arts in the State of Perak
Shiny Black Gold
Drama unfolds on 20-22 May 2011 with the staging of PSPA’s in-house musical production, Shiny Black Gold. The stage production is one of the highlights of Perak Performing Arts Festival 2011 organised by PSPA. The play chronicles the lives of the Chinese during the glorious days of tin mining in Perak, exploring their many struggles and sacrifices. In the early 1900s, the Hakka people left their homeland in China to seek their fortune in Malaya, enticed by the ‘shiny black gold’ in the new land. In the face of such promise, they had to grapple with hardship, vengeance and retribution.
Hope, courage and passion form the essence of Shiny Black Gold and revolve around the conflict faced by the characters who have to find the courage to rise above the uncertainties and triumph in the face of adversity. At the heart of the play too is the dilemma of finding a balance between the traditions accustomed to and the new ways of life in the Promised Land.
The story centres around a young man, Lee Cheong, who left his wife and mother to travel to Malaya to seek his fortune. His new life was not as he had envisioned and he had to contend with the wrath of Madam Wong who blamed him for her husband’s death and the unscrupulous Foong Chai, the youngest of four brothers called the Heavenly Dragons, who was unashamedly involved in criminal activities. In the midst of all this a young maiden called Ying Mei fell in love with Lee Cheong, much to the chagrin of Foong Chai who was secretly in love with the girl.
The play also touches on the suffering and ordeal of the miners at the hands of Japanese who showed no mercy to the men and women. It was a trying time for the people who had to work hard for their livelihood whilst acceding to the demands of their tormenters. Some of them were slaves who had to work a whole life time to repay their debts or the debts of their family.
Written, produced and directed by Datin Rosalina Ooi-Thong, the play features original songs like ‘Find me Shiny Black Gold’ and ‘Life is great’, among others. The soundtrack is by music composer Christopher Tse while Marianne Poh is the choral mistress. Timothy Chee is the costume designer and Daimler Tan is in charge of visual production. The cast of forty-five include Xavier Fong, an up-and-coming film actor, in the lead role, well known drama teacher Sylvia Wong, who is also the play’s co-director, Shu Wern Sze, Timothy Ho, Kevinder Singh and Gerald Goh.
Shiny Black Gold will be staged at Taman Budaya, Ipoh from 20-22 May. There will be one show on Friday, 20 May 2011 at 8 p.m., and two shows on Saturday 21 May and Sunday, 22 May, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
PERAK SOCIETY OF PERFORMING ARTS
28, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 31400 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan.
Tel and Fax No : 05-5487814
Blog : http://pspablog.blogspot.com
E-mail : pspa2011fest@gmail.com
For further information, please contact
Festival Hotline - 016-5334757 or Witzi Leong at 012-5088818
