A roaring success
OlaBola The Musical is a triumph for the local arts scene.
I WAS sceptical at first.
When word got out that OlaBola , a film about our national football team’s efforts to qualify for the 1980 Olympics, was going to be turned into a musical stage production, I raised an eyebrow.
My concern was simply this: How do you replicate a football game on stage? Surely the notion of a group of men kicking a ball around the opulent Istana Budaya stage seems ... jarring.
But the moment the lustrous-haired “Harimau Malaya players” stepped on stage and played their first game against “North Korea”, my doubts were allayed.
Combining street dance styles and actual football moves, OlaBola’s choreography is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Executed by the talented cast with grace, fluidity and artfulness, every football match staged was a sight to behold. Simply put, OlaBola The Musical found a language between dance and football. And boy, did it speak to us.
Still, it wouldn’t be a proper football match withfans out the roaring now, would it? To bring to life the atmosphere of a stadium erupting in cheers and excitement, three projector screens were positioned in a semi circle, enveloping the audience with animated football fans. The cast also “interacted” with the projector screens, headbutting an animated ball for instance, which required incredible timing and precision.
The practical sets were no less impressive. Whether it was a coffee shop or locker room, the set designs brought back all the charm of the 1980s. Team captain Chow Kwok Keong’s house looked so cosy I wanted to move in!
The sets and props weren’t just pretty, they were cleverly used. In a scene where the Harimau Malaya players were sent to a military camp, a couple of unassuming benches were innovatively (and efficiently) transformed into various obstacle courses.
OlaBola The Musical wasn’t just a feast for the eyes, but the ears as well.
Besides a smattering of sombre ballads and traditional Malay tunes, the show’s music leans heavily on hip-hop, which may sound like an odd choice at first. But after watching the show, it’s hard to imagine any other genre of music accompanying it.
Not only do the thumping beats and the rap verses tie in beautifully with the football choreography, hip-hop brings out the ferocity of the sport and what Harimau Malaya was trying to achieve.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle to realising OlaBola The Musical was finding the actors. Newcomer Brian Chan, who plays lead Chow Kwok Keong, sang, rapped, danced, dribbled a football and managed to look dashing at the same time. And although we know Luqman Hafidz (Ali) – an original cast from the film – could act, who knew he had a knack for singing and dancing as well?
While established names like Luqman, Stephen-Rahman Hughes, Douglas Lim, Altimet and Iedil Putra are attached to the project, it’s nice to see the cast comprising mostly of little-known talents, proving that a good show need not rely on star power but instead pure talent. Standout fresh faces include Nasz Sally, who played a sassy, hip-swaying office manager Cik Kiah and stole our hearts, and Melissa Ong, whose showcased her pristine vocals as her character Mei Ling sang to convince her dejected brother Chow to return to the team.
Iedil had one of the hardest jobs of the night, portraying a character memorably played by Bront Palarae in the film – sports commentator Rahman. The actor rose to the challenge and lent his own flair to the character, infusing every line with wit and gusto. Directed by Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina, the musical raises the game for local musicals and gives us a glimpse of what all stage productions in Malaysia could be. By the time Harimau Malaya scores its final goal against South Korea at the “1980 Olympic qualifying games”, OlaBola The Musical will make you proud not just of our national football team, but of our local arts scene as well. Syabas!
OlaBola The Musical is playing at Istana Budaya until March 11. For tickets, visit www.galactix.asia/olabola-musical.