Books by Kee Thuan Chye - 1984 Here & Now; We Could *** You, Mr Birch; The Big Purge

Kee is a journalist who has established a solid reputation for himself among the voices of conscience in his own country. He has written these three plays during his periods of deep thought and after much reflection. They are fascinating reads.





SOMETIME in the near future, when you are browsing through the shelves
of a bookstore and looking for something substantial to digest, you may
want to consider one or all of the following titles: 1984 Here & Now, We
could **** You Mr Birch or The Big Purge by Kee Thuan Chye.
Kee has made occasional forays into the literary pages of various local
dailies. He is better known for his writing than his acting, even though
he has played minor roles in Hollywood movies like Entrapment and Anna And
The King.
He is versatile, without a doubt talented, and constantly seeks to
broaden himself and excel in the field of theatrical arts that he feels so
much passion for.
These three plays are revised editions of those that were published in
1987, 1994 and 2003. They are the collected thoughts of a man who, through
the theatre, chose to make known his feelings on subjects that were close
to the hearts and minds of many Malaysians.
While others preferred to maintain a stoic silence, Kee takes up the
gauntlet and walks bravely down a darkened corridor filled with real or
imaginary dangers.
Those who have attended his plays, staged from time to time to select
audiences, came away gratified that there are playwrights who have
artistically and successfully transplanted their feelings, passion and
thoughts onto the stage.
The Big Purge revolves around characters from different ethnic
backgrounds in a wayang kulit ambience. It touches none-too-gently the
issues of racial politics, migration and loyalty to one's country.
The play is starkly satirical and calculated to draw certain conclusions
in an atmosphere of hilarity.
1984 Here & Now, when it was first staged in 1985, drew rave reviews.
Malaysian audiences were unprepared for such a drama that touched on
subjects that were either talked about behind closed doors or argued aloud
in coffee shops among people from the same ethnic background.
It is said that members of the Special Branch also attended the play,
albeit for a different reason. Almost 20 years have passed since then, the
issues that were deemed "sensitive" then have slipped out of this category
and are no longer jaw-dropping when discussed publicly.
Based on George Orwell's novel, 1984, Kee's Here & Now broke new ground
when it first appeared on stage in 1985. It was, and still is, a
courageous piece of theatre. At a time when others purposely pursed their
lips, Kee jumped onto the issues with great gusto. Surely, a brave act by
any standard.
Theatre draws differing opinions, even from audiences who share a common
interest. No doubt this particular play will too, but all viewers from
then and the readers of the book now will readily agree that it sparks
scintillating discussion.
The dialogue between the main players is as relevant today as it was
back in 1985. To judge for yourself, the reader needs to approach the play
with no preconceived notions and allow the mind to draw its own
conclusions.
We Could **** You, Mr Birch is another of Kee's stirring contributions
to the local theatre. Based on an episode in colonial Malaya - when J.W.W.
Birch, the first British Resident, was murdered - the play projects a
multi-dimensional version of how it might have been. It adroitly employs
the fascinating elements of conspiracy, intrigue, love, seduction and
recalcitrance.
It is one of the gems that appears on the Malaysian stage from time to
time and brings the house down with long, pronounced applause. A lover of
theatre will be much entertained with Mr Birch.
Kee has pursued his theatrical interests with great fervour in the years
past. His private thoughts have manifested themselves in the form of plays
without fear or favour. The local theatre owes him a great debt for adding
not only colour, but also a sense of purpose, to the field of arts that
occasionally needs that vital spark to rekindle interest among theatre
lovers.
Playwrights such as Kee are rare in this country. In a multi-racial
nation where sensitivities are jealously guarded, for good reason, those
who buck the trend can sometimes be asked to pay a high price. But theatre
is one area where the lines become blurred and almost anything is game.
Thus, Kee has chosen the right platform. The three plays are daring,
controversial and most certainly entertaining. The fact that they were
allowed to be staged speaks volumes about the transformation that the
nation has undergone and is still undergoing.
But Kee can hold his head up high, because at a time when others
shrugged their shoulders and walked away, he stepped forward and spoke
aloud his thoughts, and theirs too.
Not bad for a guy who also sings a mean rendition of Johnny Mathis's
Fascination when he's in the right mood.