More comical than ever
The popular Indicinelive! sketch comedy series makes a long-awaited return to the frontlines.
THE wait has been long enough. It’s been six years since the last proper Indicinelive! (pronounced in-dee-see-nee-live) sketch comedy series was staged in Kuala Lumpur.
Many things have changed in the theatre scene since then, especially with the emergence of a new generation of young comedians. Yes, the last Indicinelive! show played at The Actors Studio, Lot 10, KL in 2012 and that venue is long gone now.
The good news is Indicinelive! is back in the headlines this weekend with shows at KLPac. The run continues on July 24-29 at the same venue.
Indicinelive! director Kelvin Wong, 32, is revved up for the upcoming shows, presented by The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat.
Wong, who introduced Indicinelive! in 2009, had to put the series on hiatus when he went abroad to study in 2012. He returned to KL in 2016, where he formed the Theatre-sauce collective, which focuses on edgy works of theatre.
But the Indicinelive! story wasn’t done and dusted. A revival was on the cards.
This fifth instalment of Indicinelive! features 23 new sketches, including a hilarious list of situational acts, character-based skits, advertisement spoofs and more.
The writers involved are Ariff Kamil, Freddy Tan and Tung Jit Yang, with the fresh addition of Veshalini Naidu and Terence Toh.
“We laugh because there is something truthful underneath the giggles. The truth is often unpleasant and uncomfortable and laughter is the way we – as individuals – deal with issues in order to move on,” says Wong in a recent interview.
Indicinelive! is in capable hands with a list of newcomers and returning performers on board, including Ariff Kamil, Dinesh Kumar, Jeremy Ooi, Nur Zakuan, Lee Min Hui, Alfred Loh, Adry Nasution, Kamini Senthilathiban, Gregory Sze and Amanda Ang.
You’ve seen most of them on stage in quite a number shows in the Klang Valley.
“I think this is the most Malaysia-centric Indicinelive yet, intentionally so.
The timing is perfect with a lot of question marks now (about the country). We want people to see a switch and laugh with hope. Today you laugh, but tomorrow what will you do about things?” asks Nur Zakuan.
The fairly young cast – most in their 20s and early 30s – will definitely have a lot to say about the changes happening in Malaysia Baru.
“I wouldn’t segment the show since every piece isn’t just comical, but they also hold important messages,” says Sze, who makes his debut in this show series.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better group (of performers),” says Wong, who mentions the enjoyable show rehearsals.
“This is how it is done ... we get together and put things out in front of each other, then we follow the reactions of the cast members who aren’t in that particular scene. While I have an idea of the whole show in mind, I still find feedback very important.”
Each cast member will be playing about 13 to 14 characters, while the stories will mostly be done in English.
To add more fun, the show features an unrehearsed breaking news session as well as pantomime sketches (parodying contemporary culture and politics).
Indicinelive! is on at the Indicine space, KLPac, Jalan Strachan, off Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah in Kuala Lumpur on July 21-22 and July 24-29. Tickets cost RM60. For more info, visit www.klpac.org or www.ticketpro.com.my. Call: 03-4047 9000. For mature audiences only.