Nicely complex Hero

IS he a hero or is he not?

Singaram (played by Indi Nadarajah) — the “hero” in question in Arun Subramaniam’s play of the same name — had his character stripped before your eyes, like the clothes he removed piece by piece.

The play, which ended last Sunday at the Actor’s Studio Bangsar, was directed by Jo Kukathas and Zalfian Fuzi.

It was presented by The Instant Café Theatre Company’s FirstWorks playwright programme.

Hero weaved in and out of intrigues, personal tragedies and indiscretions, as incense wafted from the stone sculpture of Lord Ganesh.

The three actors — Indi, Anne James and Ley Shahrwind Agilan — made full use of the stage which had a circular boardwalk around the “heart” which was a living room.

Singaram, in his quest for the presidency for the TPP (Tamil’s People Party) had employed any and all means to get there.

Wife Saraswathy (Anne) tried to do what’s best for her family. “Indian men are all magicians,” was one of her more memorable lines.

Arjun (Ley Shahrwind), the only child, tried desperately to get the attention of his father. Wondering at the neglect, he pondered: “Is it better to be retarded?”

Although politics was discussed at length with the usual laments — “we are fourth generation Malaysians, how many generations are those getting the scholarships?” — it was more than just another political play during Merdeka month.

There was much foul language, plenty of drunken scenes, glimpses of philandering and a New Age twist of gangster turns politician.

Saraswathy’s complex relationship with her husband and son was as beguiling as the political shenanigans.

Choosing to execute the “rule of paradoxical veracity”, Singaram plotted his own murder when threatened with exposure (pun intended) over a graphic sex video, thereby engineering the bigger headline in the national dailies.

But Saraswathy prefered to let her “atan” die a hero for the sake of her son.

I felt the hero was actually Saraswathy. Anne James was outstanding as Saraswathy, scarily personifying the “typical” Indian woman.

Ley, all of 14 years old, wasn’t dwarfed by his more accomplished fellow actors. An actor with a future to watch for sure.