TWO satirical comedy shows gave me plenty of laughs these past few weeks. One was by the Instant Cafe Theatre with The May 9 Show and the other Allan Perera's Malaysia's Got No Shame performance at PJ Live Arts Centre.
Both running for two-and-half hours, ICT's The May 9 Show at the Damansara Performing Arts Centre was a little like a Malaysian version of American television's late night comedy talk shows, with a dapper Sean Ghazi as the host.
His main guest was ICT co-founder Jo Kukathas who lampooned a political figure of the country, tagged as YBeeee (actually Yang Berhomat) and a wannabe-something called Curry Spice.
The show, which ran from May 9 to 19, was timed to mark the one-year anniversary of the historic 14th general election that saw the government changing hands for the first time since Merdeka.
Each night of the show had an invited guest or guests who included former Bersih chairwoman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown, and Klang MP Charles Santiago.
I caught the night with International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Dr Ong Kian Ming, also Member of Parliament for Bangi, as the guest.
He was “interviewed” by YBeeee, and Sean, about Jho Low, and some current affairs.
This has to be a first for a serving Cabinet minister to share the stage with ICT.
Ong, perhaps a fan of political satire, gamely gave his two cents’ worth of satire, as he responded to a photograph of him kayaking, that he was looking for some clues as to where Jho Low was hiding, and urging people to take public transport all the way to Kajang for satay.
He drew a nice round of applause and laughter when he replied to the query of what happens after GE15 if he fails in any re-election bid, that he might join Douglas Lim and his MACC (Malaysian Association of Chinese Comedians). YBeeee had it right with, “he also funny ah”.
Ah, YBeeee, that ICT ode to some old-school politicians from governments past, who think cash is king, and people can be bought easily. The character was greeted lustily by the audience, as YBeeee walked onto the stage, posing for “photographers” with practised ease.
Bush jacket, tick. An over-sized “boutonniere”, tick. Sleazy manner, tick. YBeeee was in top form, poking fun at politicians who change their minds and make turnaround — or U-turn — decisions, and trying to get the host to do something for him with the promise of a theatre in affluent Bangsar.
POKING FUN AT MANGLISH
The audience also greeted Kukathas' Curry Spice, who got her English accent and British ways after a few weeks in London.
She poked fun at Mangalish — the different ways a Chinese or Indian would respond to a Brit asking questions like from buying something — and Malaysian cultural habits.
When this saucy Spice lass from Sentul announced she was going to run for Prime Minister as she thinks the country is ready for a leader with a gender difference, she got lusty cheers from the house.
With a frenetic energy, Curry gave her reasons for her political ambition, with multimedia aid as the backdrop, showing her Womanifesto, and IniKariLah tagline.
It was as good fun as Perera's company Giggle (M)'s show, Malaysia's Got No Shame, as a dig to a certain politician's self-coined slogan, Apa Malu Bossku.
Perera, musician-singer and entertainer who is best known today as one of the co-founders of Comedy Court with Indi Nadarajah, presented several alter egos including old-school rocker Bluesman, Bangladeshi Basha and sex health expert Rukumani Jones (or perhaps she was a marital health expert in a lovely lehenga).
The show offered several laugh-hard moments, as Perera entertained with his take on the goings-on in our country with songs dedicated to a politician's lawyer like How Much Is That Lawyer In The Courthouse? To the tune of How Much Is That Doggy In The Window, among others.
ICT's Kukathas and Perera showed no lack of wit in their commentary on current issues.
But, as the person next to me had to explain almost every joke to friends during the shows, you had to be fully briefed on current affairs to get the sly digs.
There was a warm, almost palpable camaraderie with these entertainers during the shows. It felt cosy, lending audiences to respond to the characters well.
Both shows played to full houses, and the producers had to extend the run, proving that Malaysians loved being entertained, and fitfully at that.
ICT's The May 9 Show may have another run later this year, but Perera is all geared for another outing at the end of the month.
Malaysia's Got No Shame
When: May 24-31, 8.30pm (with 3pm matinee on Sunday).
Where: PJ Live Arts, Level 1, Block E, The Square @ Jaya One, 72A, Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya
Admission: RM55-RM125
Book now at www.Giggle.com.my or email info@giggle.com.my