Nilai U Theatre and Acting class students add musical touch to end-of-term play.
Mano Maniam was seated expectantly at the rear of the hall watching it slowly fill up before curtain rise. Although the veteran thespian has been teaching acting and the finer points of stagecraft to students for the better part of three decades, he still admits to having butterflies just before any performance, even though it is his students who are being graded.
“The students are planning on doing something different this semester. Unlike previous years where the performance took place on the floor surrounded by the audience, this time the performance will be on the stage proper. We have also got a professional lighting set up and PA system, while the stage manager and crew all communicate using walkie-talkies. Everything is a step up and much more professional,” surmises Mano.
Students at Nilai University (Nilai U) are expected to complete four university courses that are outside the scope of their core studies. They can choose from an extensive list of courses provided which include Dale Carnegie Skills for Success, Outward Bound Survival Skills and, of course, Theatre and Acting. Students who complete these university courses will be awarded certification to further enhance their résumés and employability.
The latest batch of students had decided to perform a medley of plays, song and dance entitled ‘The Long and Short of It’. With anxious faces peering from behind the curtains, the students would have seen that the President Hall was approaching seating capacity and they indeed performed with gusto, especially the song and dance bits. Incorporating latest news and trending items on social media, the plays touched on subjects such as chocolates with taboo ingredients, assault with steering lock, RM2,000 compensation, with collective tongue lodged firmly in cheek. Judging from the howls of laughter and thunderous applause, it appears the audience appreciated the well-aimed jabs at some of the latest incidences that have caused much uproar in cyberspace.
The five plays were all written, directed and produced by the students. The first was a short vignette entitled ‘Madam Lee’ about the customer from hell. This was followed by ‘The Truth’ – a tale of attempted murder, confused sexual orientation and zombies! Then came ‘Cadbury’ which told the story of a rich family cursed to look for that elusive magic confectionary. ‘Good and Evil’ tackles the subject of bullying and gangsterism while ‘The Best Student’ revolved around a bunch of schoolmates trying to outdo each other in class. This semester’s offering included song and dance performances as interludes and these too seem to go down well with the audience. The flash mob scene at the end of the play even got the audience on their feet to participate in an impromptu dance celebration.
Mano emphasises hands-on experiential learning to dependence on textbooks. “A lot of writing is required for students through drama reviews, journal-keeping, and script-writing, besides the formal exam-writing," he outlines. Students learn valuable lessons in teamwork, communication and creative thinking. The increasing number of students signing up for this module is proof of its growing popularity. A number of alumni from previous semesters have also volunteered to help with the production is testament to the sense of camaraderie among former and current participants.
“The main purpose of the Theatre and Acting module is not for students to stage a totally professional show but to instil in them self-belief and confidence. Most importantly, it teaches them to appreciate the arts,” concludes Mano.
Nilai U was established in 1997 and all of its programmes are validated by the Ministry of Education and accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. For more information, please go to www.nilai.edu.my or call 06-8502308 / 07-2262336 / 03-79603089.
