UPDATED: Audio interview with director Kelvin Wong.
I have worked with KLPAC’s publicist on their first Hokkien production for my other podcast PenangHokkien.com. Recently, Valerie informed me about this fascinating production at KLPAC that I thought would be nice to share with TiltedWord.org’s readers. Even though the characters of Octopus are mainly gay, the subjects are definitely beyond GLBT, and you can surely bring along your straight friends with you. I hope you’ll get to share your opinions of the production back here, after you see it.
Listen to the audio interview with Kelvin Wong, the director of Octopus.
Kuala Lumpur, December 2010 – The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) proudly brings to you Octopus by American playwright Steve Yockey, tackling increasingly common relationship quandaries with an edge, yielding thought-provoking results. Octopus premiered in 2008 with the Actor’s Express Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia, and will play in Malaysia for the first time.
After young couple Kevin and Blake engage in an adventerous and hastily planned night of “fun” with the older, more “experienced” Max and Andy, they are left trying to salvage their relationship from a pummeling mix of jealousy, betrayal, telegrams from a soaking wet delivery boy and a ravenous sea monster from the ocean floor. Rendered through post-modern lens, Octopus slips from domestic comedy into a dark fable examining the role and depth of commitment in relationships and what it really means to say the words “I love you”.
Lauded as experimental and queer-friendly, Octopus challenges audience members to reinterpret their outlook on emotional and physical struggles through the realism of relationships: love, commitment, lust and fear. These universal themes strive to speak to all, regardless of sexual preference nor orientation.
This production of Octopus is directed by klpac’s Director-in-Residence, Kelvin Wong and will feature an eclectic cast of household names like Malik Taufiq and William Quah, alongside up-and-coming writer Nandang Abdul Rahman and newcomers Jack Lua and Edmund Wong. Octopus will also feature original music from singer-songwriter Elvira Arul. Strictly for mature audiences only.
Dates/Time: 16th December (Thursday) to 22nd December (Wednesday) @ 8.30 pm
Venue: Pentas 2, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)
Tickets: RM38 (Adults); RM25 (Students and the Disabled)
Promotions: Buy 1 ticket for Octopus and 1 ticket for Birdy (Pentas 2 @ 2nd – 12th December) for RM60!
Box office: Call or Walk in: klpac @ Sentul Park (03 4047 9000)
Call or Walk in: The Actors Studio @ Lot 10 (03 2142 2009 / 2143 2009)
Online purchase/Location Map: www.klpac.org
Others: Octopus will run for approximately 70 minutes without an intermission. Doors will open at 8.20 pm (10 minutes before the show). Strictly for mature audiences only (language, semi-nudity, nature of content).