KUALA LUMPUR: Popular actor Remy Ishak recently auditioned for two roles in Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina's popular musical Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical which will make a comeback to Istana Budaya next year.
The 37-year-old Melakan said that he was trying his luck and auditioned to play either legendary warrior Hang Tuah or the 15th century sultanate's last monarch Sultan Mahmud Shah, who wanted to marry the mysterious princess of Gunung Ledang.
“I auditioned within a day at Enfiniti Productions in Kota Damansara late last month. I’m still waiting for them to revert to me.
“If I get to be Hang Tuah or Sultan Mahmud, it's going to be my first historical figure on the stage, and the second in my career after the sailor Othman Alias in Pulang last year,” he said.
Remy who enjoyed the Puteri Gunung Ledang movie in 2004 and the musical which came two years later, said that Datuk M. Nasir and Stephen Rahman-Hughes were superb as Hang Tuah, in the movie and musical respectively.
“But Adlin Aman Ramlie as the lustful sultan, was my favourite in both," he said.
Tiara, who is the executive producer and director of Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical had said that a whole new cast would be appearing in its restaging in July next year.
She said that a “young, fresh and talented new team” would take on the roles of Hang Tuah, Sultan Mahmud, Javanese king Gusti Adipati Handaya Ningrat and the princess herself.
The original cast comprised Stephen as Hang Tuah, Adlin as Sultan Mahmud, Datuk AC Mizal as Gusti Adipati and Tiara as the princess.
Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical will be staged in Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre in June next year, before returning to Istana Budaya. Tiara's company Enfiniti Productions also plans to take it on a nationwide tour.
Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical made its debut in Istana Budaya in February 2006, co-directed by Datuk Zahim Albakri and Adlin.
The musical tells the story of a Javanese princess who falls in love with Hang Tuah. However, he is loyal to Sultan Mahmud and helps the sultan seek her hand in marriage.
No stranger to historical films and plays, Remy has starred in the films 29 Februari and Pulang, and the play Natrah.
“I’ve always wanted to play characters from the Melaka Sultanate since I’m quite the history fan,” he said when met at the launch of his first Iflix series Ombak Rindu today.
The launch, held at Sunway Putra Mall here, was attended by the four-part series' stars Izara Aishah, Hanna Aqeela and Datin Diana Danielle, as well as its director Osman Ali.
The Iflix series which is available from tomorrow onwards, is based on Osman's 2011 film Ombak Rindu which starred Datuk Aaron Aziz and Maya Karin.
Remy plays the male protagonist a spoilt and rich adopted son, Hariz, who was originally played by Aaron, while Izara plays Izzah, the female protagonist played by Maya in the movie.
Ombak Rindu is based on the novel of the same name written and published in 2002 by Fauziah Ashari. It is the story of village girl Izzah, who is sold by her uncle to a nightclub in Kuala Lumpur to become a prostitute. However, she is saved by Hariz, who buys her from the nightclub owner and makes her his mistress.
The film earned Maya Best Actress award at the 25th Malaysian Film Festival and Anugerah Skrin 2012.