PETALING JAYA: Have you experienced so much happiness in your life that, if you were to die at this very moment, you would have no regrets? A provocative thought, to be sure – one that sparked the idea for director Low Yee Choy’s latest production, ‘so happy i could die’.
“When I’m having very happy moments, I sometimes wonder, is this the happiest I can get in my life? Yes, it’s quite pessimistic, but I think, what if this is the happiest I will ever feel, and whatever happens from here is just downhill?” the 23-year-old told FMT Lifestyle recently.
Admitting that this notion scared him, Low began to wonder if anyone else felt the same way he did – which is how he ended up envisioning a combined exhibition and stage performance.
To that end, ‘so happy i could die’ is an immersive and participative arts event that invites viewers to ponder on themes such as mortality, fulfilment, and the consequences our choices have on our lives.
And yes, Low admitted with a laugh, its title is inspired by the Lady Gaga song of the same name.
Presented by Theatresauce in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), it tells the story of the Protagonist (Dinesh Kumar Maganathan) who enters a strange, Purgatory-like world.
There, he encounters Death (Mia Sara Shauki), who shows him a few happy moments they will have together. Will the Protagonist come to terms with the end of his life, or will he try to escape his fate?
Fascinatingly, where the story goes is up to the audience to determine. In the tradition of interactive television shows like “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” and video games such as “Until Dawn”, those watching can vote on the actions of the Protagonist.
According to Low, there are 25 moments when the audience will be invited to make a choice. For example, at one point, a character has to pick between an umbrella and a mask. Votes on what should happen will be collected and counted to determine the outcome.
Some choices will have minor effects on the story; others have deeper repercussions.
Creating a story that could go in many directions was admittedly a challenge for Low and his actors. Nevertheless, he hopes the audience will enjoy this unique interactive component, and he credits the cast for being very giving and committed.
Furthermore, ‘so happy i could die’ is an entirely physical performance, with the characters relaying the story through actions and movement. This is all par for the course for the innovative Low.
“I’m always intrigued by the use of the human body to tell stories. I personally don’t like too many words as I find them boring; I prefer to create my narratives through physicality, lights, sound and space.
“Without text and speech, the audience is given more room to use their imaginations. They can create different interpretations of the story. I like it when people come out of my shows having discussions of what they just saw.”
To create the show’s purgatory-esque setting, its set design features lots of branches. Indeed, look for a tree emerging from the middle of the ceiling.
“The set grows as the show grows. We also play with darkness to further the narrative,” Low teased.
‘so happy I could die’ doubles as an exhibition during non-performance hours, during which visitors are invited to check out the set created by Jun Ong and Wee Jia Foong.
This, Low said, was an opportunity for the public to get to know the world of the production on a more intimate level.
Ultimately, he hopes that people who attend the show, exhibition, or both will be inspired to think about the choices they make in their daily lives and “ask themselves if they have lived their lives to the fullest – that if they died now, they would have no regrets”.
“And if they do have regrets,” he added, “what can they do to make things better?”
‘so happy i could die’ (for mature audiences only)
Where:
Indicine @ klpac,
Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah,
Sentul, 51100 Kuala Lumpur
When:
- Aug 9-11 @ 8pm & 9.30pm
- Aug 12-13 @ 3pm, 4.30pm, 8pm & 9.30pm.
Tickets:
- RM35 (Aug 9)
- RM55 (other showtimes)
- RM180 (bulk purchase of 4 tickets)
To book, click here.
Exhibition times (FREE):
- Aug 10 & 11 @ 10am-5pm
- Aug 12 & 13 @ 10am-1pm
Learn more about Theatresauce via its website, and on Facebook and Instagram.