'Hang Li Po' Musical Theatre Transports Audience To Malay Sultanate, Ming Dynasty Era

MELAKA, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- Audiences watching the ‘Hang Li Po’ musical theatre, currently being staged at Encore Melaka here, will find themselves transported to the 15th century Ming Dynasty and Malacca Malay Sultanate era.

Presented by Istana Budaya, the theatre set looks so realistic it is easy to forget that it is merely a stage performance. Among the props is a life-size sailing ship, created through mapping technology, which enhances the show’s artistic value. 

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Not only that, the captivating costume design, with every detail reflecting the beauty and luxury of that era, made the ‘experience’ of being in the Ming Dynasty era feel more real.

Some 74 actors and dancers performed in the large-scale production, which involved more than 200 production staff. The performance was accompanied by 32 musical compositions played live by 49 musicians from the Malaysian Traditional Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra and guest musicians including those from China.

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The over two-hour long ‘Hang Li Po’ musical theatre runs from Oct 3 to 6.

What makes this performance more special is staging it at Encore Melaka, which has a 360-degree rotating platform and is equipped with the latest stage technology as well as platforms that can be raised or lowered by up to six metres, allowing for seamless transitions between scenes.

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This musical theatre’s illustrative story is inspired by historical records of the friendship between the Chinese Emperor and the Malay Sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century. The original script was written by the late Rahimidin Zahari and it was reworked under the direction of Adzwadi Saini, the director of ‘Hang Li Po’, who is assisted by Amsyar Azizan from Istana Budaya.

The production stars Dewi Liana Seriestha as Princess Hang Li Po, Luqman Hafidz (Sultan of Malacca), Brian Chan (Admiral Ming You), Hairi Safwan (Tun Perpatih Putih), Datin Louisa Chong (Kembang Cina), Amyza Aznan (Mak Inang) and Saifullah Ghaz (Menteri Di Po) and others.

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Dr Nur Alwani Raihan Mohd Syed, 31, who watched the opening performance on Oct 3, said she found it exciting, describing it as of international standard. 

"It was really worth our time travelling from Shah Alam (Selangor). Overall, we enjoyed the show from start to finish because all the songs and dances made the whole performance very enjoyable.

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"We were truly amazed by the stage landscape, and this was the first time we experienced (the seats) in the auditorium moving. It was really exciting to experience something like this in a performance," she told Bernama.

Her husband Dr Muhammad Ariff, 32, agreed, saying he would certainly urge his family and friends to watch the show.

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"The thing that caught my attention the most was how they utilised the movable stage, the backdrops and also the orchestra itself. All the actors' voices were very impressive, especially Princess Hang Li Po’s," he said.

Meanwhile, Istana Budaya director-general Zubaidah Mukhtar said the theatre performance was held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.

"The government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, entrusted us with this big project to celebrate Malaysia and China’s diplomatic ties through the arts and culture medium.

“We carried out this responsibility with full dedication to prove that Istana Budaya’s creative talents are capable of producing excellent and world-class performances," she said.

-- BERNAMA