POPULAR in the 1990s, award-winning actress Haliza Misbun is seldom in the news these days.
But whenever she is, she makes sure it is all about her career, plain and simple.
“While I do use social media to connect with old friends, I use it sparingly since I’m quite a private person,” she said at the launch of the play Pokok directed by U-Wei Saari, at Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka in Kuala Lumpur recently.
Pokok will be staged at Dewan Bahasa from from Dec 7 to 16. Besides Haliza, it also stars actors Ebby Saiful, Rahim Jailani and Buyung Zasdar.
“I’m happy to guard my private life and I believe artistes should be a bit ‘mysterious’ and be recognised more for their craft,” said Haliza.
The 45-year-old artiste found fame playing strong female characters in dramas as Sumaiyah which earned her Best Actress award at the Anugerah Sri Angkasa 2005, and Tumirah which earned her Best Supporting Actress at the Anugerah Skrin 1998.
Having been more selective with drama and film roles over the last decade, largely due to the lack of challenging roles for 40-something women, Haliza said: “It’s pretty sad that too often, 40-somethings like me are reduced to playing ‘mummy roles’ in dramas and telemovies, when heroines are only given to younger actresses.
“Hollywood doesn’t practise that. It has lots of challenging roles for woman in their 40s and 50s and we should emulate that,” she said.
LIFE’S TRIALS
On her collaboration with U-Wei, Haliza said it’s her dream come true as he had always been a “feminist” director who excelled in creating strong and independent heroines.
“I’ve been an avid follower of his work over the years, and I loved his film Perempuan, Isteri Dan... which made Sofia Jane a star. So when he recently offered me the female lead in Pokok, I was more than delighted.”
Haliza plays Mardiah, a reformed drug addict who had been jailed for petty crimes but who has since turned over a new leaf after marrying a handicapped odd-job man named Darwis (Ebby).
According to Haliza, the play is a reflection of life’s trials and how social and economic pressure affects the best of people.
Mardiah and Darwis live in a small house at the edge of a forest and the structure is protected by the canopy of a giant tree, which is both their shelter and a danger should its boughs break.
Mardiah's landlord Tuk Kaya (Rahim), who is also Darwis’ employer, also lusts after her.
“Mardiah knows what is in Tuk Kaya’s mind but she refuses to return to her ‘bad’ ways. She used to feel safe in prison. Outside of it, she is restless and anxious.”
In order to give life to the role of Mardiah, Haliza plans to meet some former prisoners.
“It’s an interesting challenge. I want to get into the mind of the prisoners, how they feel when they are on both sides of the prison wall, and how jail time has affected them psychologically,” she said.
She also watched some good Hollywood films like The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption which are examples of cinematic works that humanise prisoners.
Ebby, 59, said it was great to play a handicapped person once again. He enjoyed playing a blind man in the late Khalid Salleh’s play Kena Main at Istana Budaya in 2015.
“I always find such roles interesting. My character Darwis has only a leg, having lost the other limb in a work-related accident in Singapore when he was younger. Nevertheless, he does his best to live a normal life. He provides for his wife and is protective of her,” he said.
“Tuk Kaya uses his generosity to tempt Mardiah but she remains loyal to Darwis. The couple also realise that their home is in danger and they must make sacrifices, however painful, to survive,” said the 59-year-old artiste who is a director of TV dramas these days.
UNIVERSAL MESSAGES
U-Wei, whose film Hanyut won Best Film at the Malaysian Film Festival last year, said Pokok, written by former Media Prima chairman Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, was his second play at Dewan Bahasa after Wangi Jadi Saksi a decade ago.
“Wangi was an epic battle, a clash of values, seen from women’s perspective. Pokok looks at contemporary issues facing society, especially the relations between landowners and tenants, also from the point of view of women,” he said.
“Haliza and Ebby are experienced and versatile stars of the small screen and stage, thus the roles of Mardiah and Darwis suit them nicely. Add Rahim as Tuk Kaya and Buyung as Amud and we have a strong ensemble cast for this two-hour show.”
According to Johan, Pokok is a thought-provoking story set in a remote village, yet carries universal messages that are relevant for all times and places.
“With U-Wei as director, plus a strong and experienced cast, Pokok will be an entertaining story for all theatre fans,” he said.
Produced by Balang Rimbun, the company behind the dramas Hari-Hari Terakhir Seorang Seniman and Pok Ya Cong Codei, Pokok also marks a first collaboration between Johan and U-Wei.
It is supported by Dewan Bahasa, the Culture, Arts and Heritage Department of the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, Perodua and Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia.
Tickets are priced at RM30 and RM50. For details, go to www.instagram.com/teaterperdanapokok/