Liver & Lung deliver energy and joy in this family friendly musical.

KUALA LUMPUR – For any Malaysian, Sang Kancil is perhaps one of the most beloved characters from childhood, with the seemingly endless tales of a clever mousedeer thwarting its enemies with tricks and mischievous ways. Now, award-winning theatre company Liver & Lung are bringing the spirit of Sang Kancil story to the stage, with new family-friendly musical Sang Kancil & The Dragon King.

Developed by Liver & Lung artistic director Shafeeq Sajahan, alongside Irena Taib, musician in local indie-band The Impatient Sisters and Ji Yong, Sang Kancil & The Dragon King comes hot on the heels of the recent Lunar New Year celebrations, and ties in with the Chinese zodiac year of the dragon. Set in a colourful playground in TTDI, the musical tells the story of Ben, an ordinary schoolboy with an extraordinary talent for painting. When he finds out it’s about to be demolish and replaced with a condominium, Ben is heartbroken, but undergoes a transformation into the legendary Sang Kancil, as he overcomes a clueless tiger, conniving crocodiles, and the imposing Dragon King, who threatens to wash away the joy of the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Shafeeq always understands the importance of live music, and Sang Kancil & The Dragon King is no different, featuring a live band comprising a cellist, keyboardist and live percussion. As a family musical, Shafeeq himself even comes onstage to hype up the audience before the show, bringing an impressive amount of energy and enthusiasm to rev us up, and excite us for the adventure that lies ahead. The show is peppered with little moments where the cast takes the time to address the audience, educating them on terms such as a mural and its significance in society, and emphasising how important theatre can be as a bridge for life lessons and social commentary.

As the music begins, cast members Joshua Anthony Gui, Putrina Rafie, and Phraveen Arikiah come out onstage, and immediately break the fourth wall by interacting with the audience. As Joshua settles into the role of Ben, we’re impressed by his strong vocal capabilities, as he sings a song of colours and art, joyous and sonorous while ‘painting’ with a sketchbook and brush in hand.

But the colours are taken away from poor Ben, as the other two put on construction hard hats, stomping about like giants, as they threaten to put their foot down and crush the playground forever. What can a small boy like him do to change the world? Plenty it seems, as he sings about whether dreams can be big enough, and he is encouraged by the other two cast members (now playing aunties), to chase those big dreams of his. In a simple but effective dance – he transforms into Sang Kancil, moving smoothly to the melody and showing off Joshua’s skill with contemporary dance.

And so begins a quest to return Ben to his former self, as he is set to complete three tasks and get by some fearsome beasts. Audience participation is key here, as we are encouraged to help Ben in his journey with hand signs. From distracting a tiger with his artistry, to using realistic paintings to tricking a pair of rapping crocodiles, there is so much fun that emanates from this musical with each task he completes.

In his final task however, he encounters the Dragon King, or a dragon queen in this case, dressed in a red qipao. Daunted, he begins to question himself, filled with doubt as he approaches her. But it is creativity that ultimately triumphs over fear, as he finds the courage to face her head on, and overcome this final challenge. As the aunties appear once more, they help him reverse the transformation, to hold hands, close his eyes, and see the colours. It is a magical moment, reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy finally returns home to Kansas, and we too begin to believe how there will always be hope in spite of setbacks, colours no matter how old we are.

One is left impressed not just by Joshua, but also by Putrina and Phraveen, who embody their countless characters and many costume changes smoothly and quickly, each one distinct and charming in their own way. All three actors are well cast, each one a skilled singer who can more than carry a note as they express themselves and bring hope and joy to each song, and bringing out their characters. Blending social commentary with family-friendly theatre is nothing new, but Liver & Lung have accomplished and integrated the two ideas very well in this deceptively simple story.

Returning to the playground, the cast emphasises how important the art of play is, for the children of both now and the future, and we must keep the faith alive. In a happy ending, we learn to believe again, and as we embrace our inner child, we are left with an all-important message on the power of creativity, and that no matter how small we are, we hold the power to triumph over odds in our own hands and make a difference, if we just try. Regardless of age, whether child, parent or curious audience member somewhere in between, we see and draw meaning from such a show, and forming those unique interpretations and appreciation is exactly what family theatre should be about.

Sang Kancil & The Dragon King plays at PJPAC from the 29th February to 10th March 2024. Tickets available here