Chaos, cults and criminals cause havoc in surrealist ‘POLY’

‘POLY’ features Engku Armand (far left), Sandee Chew, Omar Ali, and veteran actress Anne James. (Abdul Sami pic)

PETALING JAYA:

“Is this real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality.”

As the opening line of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” illustrates, it can be hard to distinguish between truth and illusion – especially in today’s world when absurd things happen on a daily basis.

“POLY”, a new surrealist play written by local playwright Ian Skatu, gleefully tackles this theme, presenting complex characters in situations that blur the line between reality and absurdity.

Audiences are invited to laugh at, think and wonder about the surrealist scenarios presented to them, as well as contemplate: are these distorted realities really so different from our own?

Staged at the Damansara Performing Arts Centre here, “POLY” combines mystery and absurd humour through a triptych of tangled tales.

“Polygraph” revolves around a deceptive criminal and a detective who try to uncover the truth about a murder. “Polygon” introduces viewers to a cult obsessed with materialism and the search for a saviour; while “Polygamy” is the story of a cheating spouse dealing with stress and anger, desperate for answers or a way out.

Playwright Ian Skatu wrote ‘POLY’ to inspire and empower his younger self. (Abdul Sami pic)

This is the first full-length play by Skatu, who now lives in Singapore. “I wanted to write something that might inspire people like my younger self, who was afraid to show the world what he has written because of fears of not being good enough,” he told FMT lifestyle.

“‘POLY’ invites you to do what you want: explore territories that are uncomfortable because sometimes, ironically, that’s where you find comfort.”

This production by FSKi Works features veteran actress Anne James, Engku Armand, Omar Ali and Sandee Chew. It is directed by Cheong Chua, with Amirah Redza as choreographer and Adry Nasution as scenic designer.

Each performance features a cameo role by a different guest: watch out for local influencers, DJs, and other personalities from the local entertainment scene!

In addition, there will be two “relaxed shows”, which feature minor changes to accommodate the neurodiverse community, such as reduction in sound levels, softer lighting, and access to exit anytime.

Surrealist plays are not very common in Malaysia, which is why Skatu invites viewers to take on this unique theatrical experience.

It is a show for those who “like to think in circles and make sense of things that appear abnormal when the answer is actually right in front of you”, he said, “like in those Netflix criminal documentaries, where everything clicks at the end. That’s ‘POLY’.

“When you’ve finally made sense of everything, it feels great: like an itch you can finally scratch.”

‘POLY’

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