A quick glance at the headlines will prove this to be true, with mighty rivers overflowing with pollution and deforestation rampant.
This lack of care towards Mother Nature is what one theatrical play hopes to address. “Water: A Musical” is written and directed by long-time theatre practitioner Chin San Sooi, with music composed by Joanne Poh.
Chin, 81, is probably best known for his production of “Emily of Emerald Hill” starring Pearlly Chua, which has captivated audiences as far as Australia and North America. He was also the co-founder of the performing arts collective Five Arts Centre.
This collaboration tells the story of seven animals in the Malaysian jungle who gather to discuss the destruction of their homes and the subsequent tainting of the waterways.
The hour-long musical is aimed at being both educational and interactive, and will invite audiences to sing and dance along with the performers.
Speaking at the launch of “Water” recently, Chin said writing a play about conservation had been on his mind ever since he’d read about the deforestation of the National Park in Pahang many years ago.
Despite being earnest about the idea, his muse proved elusive until the onset of the pandemic which, as it turns out, granted Chin the time to be productive.
Over the course of the lockdowns in 2020 and last year, he churned out eight scripts, comprising two satires, three musicals, two monologues, and an operetta.
With the script for “Water” now on paper, Chin was determined to turn it into a musical, even though he isn’t a composer himself. “A musical is more difficult to realise,” he said, “as it is very challenging to compose music to lyrics written by another person.”
The task of composing thus fell on Poh, a singer and piano teacher at her own music school, who took a year to get the work done.
The cast of “Water” runs the age gamut, with its youngest performer being 13-year-old Kirsten Wong and its oldest 61-year-old Hilda Looi.
Designer Khang Nanyao helped create the different characters through specially crafted 3D-printed headgear for the characters of Mousedeer, Tiger, Elephant, Monkey, and Wild Boar.
“In a small but significant way, we hope ‘Water: A Musical’ will make people more aware of the environment and treat it with respect and concern,” Chin said.
He added that he hopes the play will lead to the awareness and acknowledgement of larger issues such as ocean conservation.
The musical is supported by the Environmental Protection Society Malaysia.
‘Water’ runs from Sept 21-25 at the Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) in Petaling Jaya. Tickets are priced at RM48 and RM38 for students, seniors and the disabled. To purchase, contact DPAC at 03-40650001 or click here.