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A colour of its own REINVENTING THE OLD: With an updated script, and a brand new cast and director, Purple aims to stay relevant and educate audiences on the themes of both unconditional and parental love.
2QH RI WKH PRVW JURXQG EUHDNLQJ SOD\V WR KDYH EHHQ VWDJHG ORFDOO\ UHWXUQV WKLV \HDU %HQMDPLQ /LP VSHDNV WR WZR PHPEHUV RI WKH FDVW DERXW WKH LVVXHV WKDW 3XUSOH WDFNOHV DV ZHOO DV WKHLU RZQ RQ VWDJH H[SHULHQFHV 17 YEARS ago, local playwright Goh Boon Teck read an article in a magazine about a transsexual and could not stop crying. It prompted him to write a play based on the story, one that takes audiences on an emotional journey of selfdiscovery, love and courage. After two phenomenal showings in 1995 and 1998, Purple marks its return with an updated script and an entirely new cast. This is also the first time the play is directed by a woman, with Skinned Knee Productionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Rayann Condy taking over from Goh, who directed the past two shows. Taking centre stage as protagonist Maggie Lai is Shane Mardjuki, who has starred in past theatre performances including the awardwinning What The Butler Saw and more recently, Twelfth Night.
Joining Maggie in her lifechanging transformation is the trio of nurses played by Elizabeth Loh, Rebecca Spykerman and Matilda Chua. Incidentally, this is the second time Shane and Rebecca have performed together on stage, their previous encounter being Twelfth Night where the actress had also done her bit of cross-dressing for her male alter-ego role Cesario. This time however, Shane faces an even tougher challenge playing a man who desires to be a woman. Shane, describe to us the kind of person Maggie is and how you felt playing the character. Shane: Maggie is resilient, courageous and endearing. She is a colourful person with different sides to her too â&#x20AC;&#x201C; loud and brash at one point, quiet and reflective at another. To play and understand Maggie and to be a reflection of her in itself is challenging yet a privilege. What went through your mind when you were initially called to play the role of Maggie? Shane: Will I have to shave my legs for this?
Rebecca, if you were really put in the position to aid in a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life-changing decision as monumental as Maggieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, how would you feel? Rebecca: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d probably feel overwhelmed, willing to support and anxious all at the same time. It is still a very personal experience as Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learnt from Purple. Singapore in 1995 and 1998 was a totally different society. What is the magic of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adaptation? Shane: We feel that society has developed and we have grown to be more receptive to the idea that transgender do exist but we may not necessarily be more accepting. Similar to the previous two shows, we still hope to educate audiences through the life of Maggie that transsexuals, like everyone else, deserve a place in society and should not be marginalized just because they are physically different. Did you face any challenges while training for the circus stunts? Shane: Rayann envisioned the circus setting as one that is not only fun for the audience but also
a ref lection of the way Maggie was treated by the nurses and the society â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an animal or freak show. While practicing the pole-dancing stunt for one of the scenes, I fell on my head. I tried my best to make it look sexy but slamming your head into the floor is just not that hot. Rebecca: Circus training was a challenge for me â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it was really mind over matter. I hung upside down on the aerial hoop, did not grip it tight enough with my knees and I just dropped head first onto the floor.
Purple also places a strong focus on parental love. Share with us your own relationships with your parents. Shane: I have an awesome relationship with my parents. They are fully supportive of what I do and for that, I am really blessed. My dad is pretty old-school and not too liberal about certain things regarding sexuality. But he went to a screening of a film in which I had a bedroom scene with another man. What he did just showed me his support and love for me, and more importantly gave me the courage to pursue the things I love like theatre.
PHOTO | TOY FACTORY PRODUCTIONS
Rebecca: I am very blessed to have my parents. They initially thought that my desire to be a â&#x20AC;&#x153;starâ&#x20AC;? was just a phase, but they supported what I did nonetheless. I look up to my dad a lot. He may not be my biological father, but his undying love for me since I was born blows me away. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s common these days to see Caucasian parents raising Asian children, but my dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a hardworking and extremely committed Chinese man who has me, a curly haired Eurasian kid, as a daughter. I do not see him often because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been working overseas since I was a child, but he is an awesome dad and I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t trade that off for anything. What do you hope the audience would take away from Purple? Rebecca: Transsexuals are extremely courageous and selfembracing people, and we have come to respect and accept them for who they are. We hope the audience will be inspired by the life of Maggie and know that we have a responsibility to be accepting of all mankind, regardless of gender. There is a place for everyone in this world and nobody should be marginalized.