Wordhasit: New Faces In Ramlee Musical May See New Faces

It remains to be seen if theatre lovers will see Sean (left) and Liza in the second season of P. Ramlee: The Musical … The Life, The Loves & The Inspiration.

IT has been an exciting and exuberant couple of years for the Malaysian theatre scene.

Next month, theatre buffs will be treated to the second season of Enfiniti Productions’ P. Ramlee: The Musical … The Life, The Loves & The Inspiration at Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur.

The multiple award-winning musical (which bagged several awards at the 6th Boh Cameronian Awards) zooms in on Malaysia’s entertainment genius, the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee’s dazzling yet beguiling life and career.

Helmed by Adlin Aman Ramlie and associate director Zahim Albakri, the first staging ran for three successful weeks in October last year.

More than 20,000 people flocked to the venue to catch its sterling cast which included theatre actor/singer Sean Ghazi in the title role and singer Liza Hanim as Saloma.

The question on everyone’s lips is, will these names return for the second staging?

We learnt that Malaysia’s much-loved songstress Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, who bagged the Most Popular Female Singer at the recently concluded Anugerah Bintang Popular 2007, held at the Arena of Stars in Genting Highlands on Sunday, will not be reprising her role as P. Ramlee’s muse Azizah.

Although Enfiniti executive producer Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina is tight-lipped about the new cast, we’ve heard that a series of auditions have taken place.

Apparently, the auditions were attended by several finalists of top reality talent TV shows.

Sources say the selection process was not easy, especially when the three most crucial components — singing, dancing and acting — in a theatre production could not be taken for granted.

The production crew is expected to hold a meeting today to finalise the line-up.

Tiara, who is currently on a holiday with her family in Egypt, will be holding a Press conference to reveal the new and not-so-new cast.

Judging from the overwhelming response to the first show, the success of the new season is imminent.

* MORE theatre news. After its modest achievement at the box office with a collection of RM2.1 million, Metrowealth International Group’s action-packed Impak Maksima is making its way to the grand Istana Budaya sometime next year.

The TV series, which boasts the same title, fared well with a 3.5 million viewership.

According to its director Ahmad Idham, the idea was mooted to create interests amongst youngsters to watch theatre.

“The production fringes on social issues with a contemporary twist. The concept is there and I hope I’m able to materialise the idea soon,” he said in a phone interview recently.

The 30-something Ahmad Idham will be taking the directorial seat marking his maiden effort as stage director. He will be assisted by stage/TV and film actor Ahmad Tarmimi Siregar.

* TV3’s brand management group executive Shaffique Ahmad Zehnun, 30, is tying the knot with HOT.FM assistant music director-deejay and former national runner Nik Norazura in July.

The akad nikah will take place at Nik’s hometown in Kuala Terengganu on July 28 followed by a reception at Terengganu Equestrian Resort. Another reception will be held in Subang Jaya, Selangor, two

weeks later.

Shaffique will receive nine trays of hantaran (gifts) while the bride’s side is presenting him with seven.

During the procession, the bride is expected to wear wedding togs designed by Izatt Artistic Team Sdn Bhd.

Said Shaffique, Nik Norazura is “charming and simple. She is very focused in all her endeavours”.

Congratulations to the couple!

* HE’S done it yet again! We’re referring to a 20-something TV and film actor who is known for his involvement with a bevy of beauties in the entertainment fraternity.

An alleged “sex scandal” linked him to a certain A-list film and TV actress last month and it brought much stress on his film and TV actress-wife who is pregnant with their child.

Just when we thought he would repent and turn over a new leaf, he’s back at it again!

We discovered that the actor was caught in a compromising situation with another woman in a hotel room in Jalan Bukit Bintang last week.

Hey, with a promising future for this actor who has landed meaty TV drama roles, we feel that it’s time he cleaned up his act!

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