Are you a KLPac virgin?

A school. A murder. A scandal.
That’s Air Con. Who would expect air con is symbolic meaning of a blow job? I wouldn’t.

Along with art loving friends of mine, we were all set to catch Air Con, which is back by popular demand for this second season, over at KLPac. Yes, finally.

Air Con discusses the issues of sexual awakening, bullying, and social prejudice, among other things, in a fictional boarding school called SM Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah in Kedah. A transvestite prostitute, or trannie is found dead nearby the school grounds, and six boys – Burn, Chep, William, Asif, Mimi and Mona – are caught in the repercussion such a violent act brings into their lives.

Personally, I think the mastery behind this play was the fluid and engaging characters, strong storyline, the playing of lights and sounds, and of course the realistic and amazing designed sets. I loved to bits. And also, there was no pretentious lines to make the cast sound super-smart, or cheesy dialogues that make them look lame. Nothing technical here, I am just speaking English.

The actions were lewd. The language was crude. Though some may find the oral sex and dry humping scenes – done behind a screen –was distasteful and disgraceful, something that mothers don’t want to hear or see from their offspring. But I say it was a bold, adventurous and daring move. Stories that we avoid to share, and words that we afraid to speak. The scenes were real, were true. They were necessary to add realism to the play. Yet it was nothing too heavy or intense. Perfectly well balanced in between the line of light heartening and thought provoking.

After three and a half hours (yes, it really was that long without me realising it), the play came to an end and the audience couldn’t stop applauding; it was a play that made us laugh, think, cry, and think again.

I have nothing to say but good words. Kudos to singer/songwriter Shanon Shah who scored high with his debut play, directed by Jo Kukathas and Zalfian Fuzi. *standing ovation*

How glad I am to know there is room and space for artistic freedom (no censorship or whatsover) in this neat looking place, at the heart of KLPac.

Skip the regular entertainment and predictable storyline.

Don’t be a KLPac virgin.