Ibu Zain the Musical : Emas Tempawan

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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

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12/2/09: Finding Natasha Hudson

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Features/20090212213537/Article/indexF_html
By : HIZREEN KAMAL


Natasha

HIZREEN KAMAL speaks to the actress who left screen acting to look after her first child and is now making a comeback in a totally new medium – theatre.

SHE “disappeared” from the industry for nearly eight months to care for her toddler, Nessa Helena Shahrin. Without a hint of a comeback, many thought she would continue enjoying the bliss of being a full time wife and mother.Recently, however, model and actress Datin Natasha Hudson re-emerged claim to she would continue her acting career. Her comeback is a theatre production that marks her stage debut.What makes this even more special is her role as Miss Ruth (a Caucasian headmistress) in Ibu Zain, which was played by Catriona Ross when the play was first staged at Istana Budaya last year.Ibu Zain: The Musical is based on the life of Tan Sri Zainun Munshi Sulaiman, fondly known as Ibu Zain, a Malayan independence fighter.This time around, it runs for 10 days, from March 13, at the Malaysia Tourism Centre in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.“I missed acting very much. This will let others know that I am back!” Natasha said.With no experience in theatre, the Ipoh native is somewhat apprehensive and views this as a great opportunity to try something new.Some may view her as mere replacement for Catriona who is busy shooting a feature film and could not commit to this production. But Natasha does not mind.“Catriona proposed my name to the producer (Siti Rohayah Attan). I don’t see the issue of being second choice a problem. What is important is that I deliver and let the audience evaluate me.”Natasha said that when she first got the call from Siti Rohayah two weeks ago, she could not believe her ears.“I was a little apprehensive, but with help from the rest of the cast, I am getting the hang of things,” she said.Her husband Datuk Shahrin Zahari has given his okay for her to take up acting again.She previously starred in Cermin, a horror movie, and a musical comedy titled Tipu Kanan Tipu Kiri.Shahrin is an Umno member and can relate to the early struggles of the party.“He encouraged and even insisted that I accept the offer. “He probably hopes that when I go back to work, I would stop bothering him,” she joked.Natasha is excited over the role.“Though an Englishwoman and a Christian, Miss Ruth did not support the British but helped Ibu Zain. To her, education and women’s political rights are pertinent issues that should be fought for,” said Natasha. “I just have to be careful and make sure of my British accent,” she said. “I think acting in theatre is more demanding as there is no one calling out ‘cut’ in the middle of a scene,” said Natasha, fondly known as Tasha.“Everything has to be spot-on and lines have to be spoken clearly,” she said. “I also get stage fright and I hope this production will help me deal with it.Natasha has only three scenes, but the fact that she has been offered a spot in Ibu Zain the Musical means a lot to her.To prepare, she has been researching on Miss Ruth, looking up various historical books and watching the musical’s first staging.Her role calls for acting and singing. “It’s different from what I have attempted on the silver screen and so, I am a bit excited, Natasha confessed.“This is another branch of art that I intend to be good at. I am savouring the experience and hopefully, I’ll be able to do more theatre after this,” she added.During the last eight months, Natasha has received a number of offers to act in films and dramas, but she had been reluctant to leave her eight-month-old behind.“My life has changed for the better with Nessa. I am happy and there are times when I can’t believe that I am a mother! I may have more commitments and responsibilities, but I am enjoying every bit of it.”









Rosminah, director and scriptwriter.

THERE are plans to stage Ibu Zain the Musical around the country. The production relives the life and times of Tan Sri Zainun Munshi Sulaiman, who was a teacher and author.

Director and scriptwriter Rosminah Mohd Tahir has received many requests for stagings from several parties.Currently, talks are underway with the Johor government to bring the production to Johor Baru.After all, a production like Ibu Zain: The Musical, with its elements of history, patriotism and the struggle for independence, should be watched by everyone, she said.“For that, the team behind the musical is busy constructing the set with the right props and backdrop to make it more economical for travelling.”Presented by the Malaysia Women’s Writers Association (MWWA) and Aman Malaysia, with Aman co-ordinator Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir as its patron, it is hoped that with the second staging, more people will be able to enjoy the production.The new venue at the Malaysia Tourism Centre is a far cry from the sprawling four-stage setting of Istana Budaya (when it was first staged there in August), so the production team will have to get used to the new setup.“Istana Budaya was huge and the sets could be effortlessly changed with just a press of the button. But in MTC, there is only one stage.“We need to be creative and pay more attention to the backdrop so that one can be utilised for several scenes,” she said.This time around, the production cost is only RM300,000, compared to RM900,000 for the first staging of the musical. Rosminah said the cast would not be using microphones, and the number of dancers would be halved because of the smaller stage.While there may be minor changes to cast line-up, acclaimed dramatist and actress Liza Othman continues to reprise her role as Ibu Zain.Others in the 40-strong cast include Datuk Rahim Razali, Datuk Jalaluddin Hassan, Avaa Vanja, Mazin Ameen Siraj and Zaefrul Nordin.“Public response was overwhelming the first time around, with at least 900 theatre-goers each night.The production collected RM115,000 in ticket sales.”Producer Siti Rohayah Attan, who is also president of MWWA, said that stories with historical elements would continue to be relevant.The script was written to bring to light the contribution and struggles of Ibu Zain, so that she would be remembered by the younger generation.“If a luminary like her goes unnoticed, her struggle for the country’s independence would have been in vain,” she said.MWWA has always supported the theatre scene, having staged some 20 theatre productions in the Klang Valley, Kedah, Perak and Negri Sembilan.Among the more memorable ones are Lantai T. Pinkie: The Musical, Nyonya, Dejavu and Anugerah.Tickets are priced at RM20, RM30 and RM50. Call 03-6186-6592.






02/08/09: ‘Ibu Zain’ returns
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Features/20090208172747/Article/indexF_html




(From left) Liza, Nur Fatimah, Tengku Iezahdiyana and Nurul Syariza play Ibu Zain at different ages.


IBU Zain, the musical tribute to one of the country’s “First Ladies” in the struggle for independence, returns to the stage from March 13-22 at the Malaysia Tourism Centre in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.It is presented by the Women’s Writers Association of Malaysia and Aman Malaysia, with Aman co-ordinator Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir as its patron.First staged in August last year at Istana Budaya, Ibu Zain once again stars acclaimed dramatist and actress Liza Othman in the title role, an affectionate moniker for former Wanita Umno Chief Tan Sri Zainun Munshi Sulaiman.Liza, who also played Zainun in the film 1957 — Hati Malaya, shares the role of the women’s activist and freedom fighter with Nurul Syariza Nor Azim, Tengku Iezahdiyana Nurhanie Tengku Alauddin and songwriter Nur Fatimah Abdul Wahab. They play Zainun at different ages in her life.Others in the 40-strong cast include Datuk Rahim Razali, Datuk Jalaluddin Hassan, Datin Natasha Hudson, Zaefrul Nordin, Hamzah Tahir, Avaa Vanja Ramli and Mazin Ameen Siraj.Ibu Zain is produced by Siti Rohayah Attan and written and directed by Rosminah Tahir with Nik Nizam Jaafar as music director.Zainun, a founding member of Umno in 1946, served as its Wanita Chief for four years and was also a Member of Parliament. She was also the mother of acclaimed journalist and novelist Adibah Amin.The National Archives and the RTM Museum helped the production crew with historical documentation.Twenty traditional and contemporary songs have been composed by Nik Nizam for the two-hour musical.Tickets are priced at RM20, RM30 and RM50. Time: 8.30pm. Call 03-6186-6592 or 017-871-6060

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