Wonderful weekend with Drum Up JB 2.0

 

On the first weekend of October, drumming fans kept their date with Drum Up JB 2.0 as they made a beeline to the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House in Johor Bahru for matinee and evening shows planned from October 4 to 6.

 

A dramatic scene from Drum Up JB 2.0

After the first season of Drum Up JB in 2023, fans eagerly anticipated the next season of the drum shows and when tickets went on sale for Drum Up JB 2.0, they did not hesitate to snap up the group deals.

 

This season’s shows not only pleased drumming fans but was also an eye-opening experience for first-timers who had never ventured to watch such a presentation on the stage of the prestigious Opera House.

 

While many know that Chinese drums were used to perform the art of the 24 Festive Drums – and erroneously thought that this art of drumming was from China – they were not aware that this performing art was founded in Johor Bahru in 1988 by two Tans, namely the late Tan Hooi Song and Tan Chai Puan.

 

Tan Chai Puan [Center] with the Lim family
at the Drum Up JB 2.0 show

Among the first-timers at the recent show, were members of the Lim family who operate Hiap Joo, the traditional woodfire bakery* at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.

 

Members of this family are still doing the business started by their forefathers and from the long queues outside their bakery, patiently waiting to buy freshly baked pastries, we know that they have been very busy keeping their customers happy.

 

Even though the location of their bakery in the city’s heritage quarter is not far from the Opera House, it was their first time at the Opera House for their first experience of the dramatic drum show.

 

Another scene from Drum Up JB 2.0

Since its inception, the art of the 24 Festive Drums has been widely accepted among people of all races and performed for private or public events for its auspiciousness.

 

Many may have watched a live performance by the 24 Festive Drums at such events but a stage presentation of the dramatic drum show was an entirely different experience.

 

After the show, the Lim family met Tan Chai Puan, who was proud to learn that they and others in the audience, were simply wowed by the dramatic performance.

 

With Eric Lee [Right] and friends
from Hong Kong, Thomas and
Suzanna, holding My Johor Stories

Over the years, the art of the 24 Festive Drums have transformed from a high school activity to an impressive, internationally accepted art of drumming that not only preserves traditional heritage but also develops a high level of discipline among drummers.

 

I am familiar with the 24 Festive Drums as I had the privilege to document an exclusive story on co-founder, Tan Chai Puan, under Portraits in my 2017 MPH Non-Fiction Bestseller, My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage.

 

When young drummers at Johor Bahru’s Foon Yew High School went abroad to further their studies, they started drum troops in their colleges and universities and brought this art of drumming to various nations.

 

The art of the 24 Festive Drums was thus exported abroad with drum troops now established in Singapore, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and even in Africa.

 

Mr Tham is familiar with our 
family's badminton glory days

In Malaysia, this performing art continues to be actively promoted and developed by younger generation drummers and professional drum troops like HANDS Percussion, Orang Orang Drum Theatre and the JB Drums Troop.

 

I also documented the story on the Art of the 24 Festive Drums among proudly Johor brands in, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the third and final instalment launched in 2022, that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories books.

 

Unlike other drum performances that may be accompanied by cymbals, the 24 Festive Drums is a flexible and dynamic artform that really has no limit to creativity.

 

The Drum Up JB 2.0 project involved some 50 people, with a management team skilled in stage design, lighting and choreography, in support of the drummers on stage, who performed a dramatic 70-minute non-stop drum show.

 

Stacey and the Chey family with
My Johor Stories books

This creative and theatrical production, dubbed ‘The Drum Book’ presented in various chapters, portrayed the identity of the drums, the harmony of percussion instruments used by main ethnic groups here, along with the development of the 24 Festive Drums to its current status as a popular performing art form.

 

At the successful conclusion of Drum Up JB 2.0, the organisers expressed their desire to create a permanent cultural attraction that features the art of the 24 Festive Drums as a must-see show for visitors to Johor Bahru.

 

To meet this commitment, they need the support of sponsors, both individual and corporate, to provide the funds to help turn their dream projects into reality.

 

Taking a bow at the close of the
Drum Up JB 2.0 show

In addition to fund contributions banked into the JBDrums Centre bank account, support may also be through the purchase of Drum Up JB merchandise.

 

Visit the JB Drums Facebook page for more details on sponsorship and merchandise.

 

* Hiap Joo, the traditional woodfire bakery, is featured under Heritage Trades in My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People.

 

Note: My Johor Stories books are available from MPH bookstores nationwide and online from mphonline. In Johor Bahru, books are available from Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (JARO) and from my pop-up store at the drum shows.

Photos at Drum Up JB 2.0 show are used courtesy of JB Drums and Tan Chai Puan.

BCSG JB celebrates milestone 20th Anniversary

 

This October, the Johor Bahru Breast Cancer Support Group (BCSG JB) marked its milestone 20^th anniversary with a fund-raising dinner in the theme, Let’s Celebrate, Let’s shine in Pink.

 

A meaningful and beautiful Candle Walk
marked the start of the Anniversary celebration

Over the years, I had the privilege to work closely with BCSG Advisor and past President, Mrs Doris Wee-Boo, so recently when she extended an invitation to join their anniversary celebration, I did not hesitate to accept.

 

I was familiar with the work of BCSG JB even before they moved into their current center at No. 12 Jalan Ru, Melodies Garden, Johor Bahru in 2014, and had the pleasure of joining them and sharing many encouraging stories about their outreach projects, roadshows and celebrations.

 

While this 20^th anniversary celebration will feature a programme with live entertainment like drama and dance as well as song and music presentations, I learnt that the funds raised would go specifically to BCSG members who were going through recurrence.

 

Music by violin soloist, Tan Guang Mei,
accompanied the Candle Walk

It was good to know that these funds would be channeled towards the transportation needs for members to go for treatments and to paying for screenings like Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT) scans.

 

Witnessed by Guest-of-Honour, Johor Jaya assemblyman, YB Liow Cai Tung, who is also Executive Committee member for the Women, Family & Community Development portfolio, the celebration kicked off with a Candle Walk.

 

Led by BCSG JB President, Datin Ang Chin Fan and Doris Wee-Boo, followed by members of the BCSG Executive Committee, the symbolic Candle Walk into the event hall was to honour and remember loved ones who had lost the battle to cancer and as a sign of hope for those who were still living with cancer.

 

Lit candles were raised throughout the hall

It was both meaningful and beautiful as the Candle Walk was accompanied by live music played by talented violin soloist, Tan Guang Mei.

 

When the Chinese banquet dinner was served, the event continued with a Ribbon-Cutting and Gong-Sounding Ceremony by the Guest-of-Honour and other VIPs.

 

As guests enjoyed the sumptuous meal, they were entertained by a musical drama presented by a cast and choir that showcased the journey of three breast cancer survivors who met at the hospital and decided to visit the BCSG JB center.

 

Guest-of-Honour and VIPs in the
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

The drama depicted how they were introduced to the support system that was available at the center, which included counselling, make-overs, the Prosthetics and Brassieres Shop as well as various activities like handicrafts and a range of physical exercises.

 

This range of exercises was demonstrated by groups on stage to create awareness of how the center was helping members to be physically active in either or all of the dance and exercise activities.

 

Directed by Dr J P Lim, this musical drama combined acting with singing and dancing. With photos and videos screened on the LED screen as the backdrop, this little drama turned out to be both interesting and informative.

 

The BCSG JB Choir conducted by 
Music Teacher Wai Yin Ching
 

One of the scenes on the screen featured the Wellness Garden where the members worked with Yaw Yin Kin, a BCSG volunteer and keen gardener, who came to BCSG as a handy-man to help around the center.

 

While Yaw’s wife is a volunteer at the Prosthetics and Brassiere Shop in BCSG JB, Yaw eventually became the Captain of the Wellness Garden.

 

For the past three years, BCSG celebrated Pink October in partnership with Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast to raise funds for their Prosthetics and Brassiere project.

 

BCSG members working in the 
Wellness Garden at their center

When General Manager, Murray Aitken, learnt about the work in their Wellness Garden, he suggested that BCSG should come up with a recipe book that made use of the produce from their own garden.

 

Supported by GM Aitken, the hotel’s Executive Chef Halim Chek Lah generously contributed eight recipes to add into BCSG’s first recipe book titled, Flavours Of Our Garden.

 

The BCSG Choir who supported the drama in song, was conducted by Music Teacher, Wai Yin Ching of Southfront Music School while the Southfront Ensemble led by her daughter, Tan Guang Mei, brought the event’s performances to a whole new level.

 

We met again the next evening
at the Drums 2.0 show!

I happened to be seated next to Teacher Wai at the event and when she left the table (several times!) to conduct the choir, I could not help feeling amused at how we are connected in unexpected ways.

 

You see, Teacher Wai’s late husband, Tan Hooi Song, was a co-founder of the art of the 24 Festive Drums. Tan was then a Music Teacher with Johor Bahru’s Foon Yew High School when he and Tan Chai Puan, co-founded the 24 Festive Drums’ art of drumming in 1988.

 

Teacher Wai and Guang Mei are familiar me as I have documented the art of the 24 Festive Drums as a proudly Johor brand in My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, and had presented a copy of this book to them.

 

We talked about the Drum Up JB! shows that happened in 2023 and were delighted to learn that we will also be going for the Drums 2.0 show in the evening of the next day. And that we should meet again there. [And we did!]

 

Chinese ink painting, Peace and Harmony, by
Belinda Ho-Foo raised more funds for BCSG JB

I liked that the musical drama showcased a very inclusive story because cancer can happen to people of every race and religion, both male and female. To illustrate this, the songs presented included familiar tunes easily identified as festive songs for Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas.

 

To raise more funds for the work of BCSG JB, Belinda Ho-Foo donated her Chinese ink painting titled, Peace and Harmony, for sale in a Blind Auction. After an exciting bidding session, the sum of RM27,000 was raised from the sale of this painting.

 

Music and dancing were very much part
of celebrations for BCSG members

For BCSG wellness warriors who are fighting the battle in their journey to wellness with the support of fellow members, there was indeed much to celebrate at this anniversary event with music and dancing.

 

It was truly a celebration that continued with spontaneous dancing to favourite tunes, not only on stage or in front of the stage but also on the aisles and beside the tables.

 

One of the BCSG JB Vice-Presidents, Salwana Mohd Dadiri, herself a survivor, succinctly summed up these sentiments in a poem she wrote in Malay titled, Kisah Kita.

 

“Berjuang melawan kanser

Bukan satu cerita yang direka

Bukan sudah direncana.

 

Namun kita percaya

Apa berlaku ada hikmatnya

Ada duka, ada indahnya

Ada tangisan, ada tertawanya.

 

Begitulah kami di BCSG JB

Tak kira bangsa, bersatu hati

Punya kasih sayang yang murni

Punya rasa cinta yang sejati

Saling membantu, saling memahami.

 

Kami berhimpun meraikan anniversary

Tanda kenangan pada yang telah pergi

Tanda sokongan pada yang masih disini

Teruslah berjuang, janganlah menyendiri

Marilah bersama kami di BCSG JB.”

 

A simple translation in English: Our Story

 

“Am fighting with cancer

Not a fabricated story

Not as planned.

 

Yet we believe

What happens has a lesson

There is sadness, there is beauty

There are tears, there is laughter.

 

That’s how we are at BCSG JB

Doesn’t matter what race, we’re united

Have a pure affection

Have a feeling of true love

Helping us to understand each other.

 

We gather to celebrate this anniversary

In memory of the dearly departed

In support to those who are still here

So keep on fighting, you are never alone

Come join us at BCSG JB.”

 

The center for the Johor Bahru, Breast Cancer Support Group is at No. 12 Jalan Ru, Taman Kebun Teh, 80250 Johor Baru, Johor.

 

For more info and updates, visit Facebook page for BCSG JB or Breast Cancer Support Group Johor Bahru.

Note: Photos are used courtesy of BCSG Johor Bahru

Message from BCSG JB President, Datin Ang Chin Fan, quoted below:

"I wanted to personally thank you for the beautifully written report on our Fund-Raising 20th Anniversary Dinner. Your detailed coverage captured the heart of the event perfectly, and the emotional, touching descriptions truly brought the evening to life. Your words highlighted the significance of the night and deeply resonated with everyone who attended. We are grateful for your thoughtful storytelling and the impact it will surely have on those who read it. 

Warm regards,

Chin Fan"

Emily was in Johor Bahru again!

 

After 25 years, Emily Gan, the character featured in Malaysia’s longest-running monologue, Emily of Emerald Hill, was back again to enchant audiences in Johor Bahru.

 

Pearlly Chua as Emily Gan in Malaysia's
 longest-running monologue, Emily of Emerald Hill

This long-awaited showcase of Emily of Emerald Hill, a play written in 1982 by Singapore playwright, Stella Kon, was proudly presented in Johor Bahru by the play’s Director, Chin San Sooi, in collaboration with Stagecraft Theatre Productions.

 

When the play was first staged with Pearlly Chua in its title role and directed by San Sooi, they took the play from Malaysia to appreciative audiences in Singapore, Canada, China and Australia.

 

As Pearlly continued to reprise her role as Emily in this play, she inevitably became synonymous with the title character.

 

Audience entering the auditorium at JOTIC
to enjoy, Emily of Emerald Hill

While Pearlly was born in Singapore, she went to school at Sekolah Sultan Ibrahim (SSI), Kulai, while her father worked with the Malaysian Civil Service in Johor.

 

So this second staging of Emily in Johor was like a home-coming for Pearlly where her family, friends and former schoolmates had the pleasure to enjoy her highly acclaimed performance of this title role, in Johor Bahru.

 

Looking back, this Emily show being staged in Johor Bahru all happened on 15 October 2017 when I met with San Sooi, at the 200^th staging of this play in Kuala Lumpur, with the incomparable Pearlly Chua in the title role.

 

Among the early arrivals were Pearlly's former
schoolmates in SSI Kulai and former
Art Teacher, Abdullah Yusof [Right]

When I was introduced to San Sooi, he was told that I am from Johor and in the course of our conversation, I learnt that his desire was for the world to see this play so I asked him to consider bringing Emily of Emerald Hill to Johor Bahru.

 

It was a matter of, Better late than Never, because years later in November 2023, San Sooi wrote to My Johor Stories, seeking to partner with a producer in Johor to present Emily of Emerald Hill here. I did not hesitate to reply and when San Sooi wrote back, he said (and I quote):

 

“Dear Peggy,

Thank you for reading my appeal for a producer for Emily. My wish is for the world to see Emily. Since you last saw it, we have re-interpreted the play in some parts.”

 

Director, Chin San Sooi, putting his personal
touch to the stage setting before the show starts

To kick-off discussions, he also provided an outline of the collaboration proposal for the consideration of the potential producer in Johor.

 

Meanwhile, I am familiar with Elizabeth Louis and her work in Stagecraft Johor Bahru. In December 2019, I had the pleasure to experience a live musical show staged here by Theatrethreesixty Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with Stagecraft Theatre Productions.

 

As such, I shared the proposal from San Sooi with Elizabeth for her consideration. I assured her that fans of Pearlly Chua as Emily on both sides of the Causeway, will certainly support this show, if and when it was staged here.

 

When Elizabeth expressed interest in producing Emily in Johor Bahru, it was my privilege to connect San Sooi with Stagecraft for them to start discussions on a possible collaboration.

 

The props for the play are simple but effective
 

As weeks passed, my fingers (toes and eyes!) were crossed, hopeful that something positive will emerge from their discussions.

 

Then in January 2024, Elizabeth updated that San Sooi was coming to Johor Bahru to view possible venues for the show. This, I thought, was a positive sign that something was really happening.

 

On 31 May 2024, when I spotted a promotional poster on social media for the Emily shows that were going to be staged in Johor Bahru, I started sharing it with all my contacts who enjoyed live theatre shows.

 

Emily in a scene, sewing a
patchwork quilt

When tickets went on sale in June, the earliest response I received was from Chong LH, a former classmate of Pearlly Chua at SSI Kulai, who assured me that she and her friends have already got their tickets to the show.

 

She happily declared, “We are proud of her!”

 

Aware that Emily on Emerald Hill had a predominantly older fan base, Stagecraft had a huge challenge to reach out to them through social media so a great deal of personal messages were sent out to create awareness that Emily was back in town after 25 years.

 

When the shows opened in September, it was not just fans, family and friends of hers but I believe Johor was proud of Pearlly Chua who performed her 220^th, 221^st, 222^nd shows in Johor Bahru.

 

As the lights dimmed in the theatre for the start of the show, I observed that San Sooi was on the stage, putting on the final touches to the stage setting before the show opened.

 

Emily in sorrow when she received a telegram
from England that shared tragic news

Having worked with Pearlly and the Emily team for so many shows, staged both locally and abroad, San Sooi added his personal touch to make sure that all the props, sound and lighting arrangements are in order for the performances.

 

The show was like a walk down the proverbial Memory Lane for the audience who could warmly appreciate the Nyonya-Baba culture and life in a bygone era, where a family matriarch shares her personal experience with flashbacks to life as a young girl when she was married to a wealthy, older man as a second wife.

 

The duration for the two-part show was one hour and 45 minutes with a brief intermission for a few adjustments to the simple stage set and for Pearlly to change her costume.

 

Pearlly Chua in her element as Emily Gan

From start till the end, Emily held her audience captive and transported us to another place as she shared her life’s joys and sorrows, with moments of audience participation that happened quite spontaneously…

 

When Pearlly took a bow at the end of the performance, she proudly announced that this was her 222^nd show after her first showing in Johor Bahru some 25 years ago.

 

Then theatre lights came on and chairs were set up in front of the stage for Pearlly, San Sooi and Stella Kon to sit down for an interactive time with the audience.

 

Pearlly Chua taking a bow after the show

It was a very special time when the actor, director and playwright were there to listen to audience feedback, comments and questions, and respond to them.

 

From the audience interactions, I soon discovered that in addition to Pearlly’s former schoolmates, former Art teacher and family friends from Kulai, the audience included Stella’s classmates from the Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore as well as members from Friends of the Museums, Singapore.

 

When someone in the audience addressed Pearlly as Emily, Pearlly did not hesitate to correct her with a reminder that she was Pearlly. This drew much laughter as it proved that Pearlly had grown synonymous with her Emily character.

 

San Sooi, Stella and Pearlly [Left to Right]

Then someone asked Pearlly if her character was similar to that of Emily. To which Pearlly smiled and graciously replied that her former classmates could probably better respond to such a query.

 

There was hardly a pause when Chong LH, her former classmate, stood up and shared that Pearlly had a bubbly character and was dramatic since she was young.

 

Pearlly’s former Art Teacher, Abdullah Yusof, was overwhelmed with emotion as he congratulated Pearlly on her performance. He brought his grandchildren along to watch the show and expressed his desire for them to learn the English language.

 

“Malays must know English to survive,” said Abdullah. “I love Bahasa Melayu but I also love English. The more languages we know, the better,” he added.

 

Stella responding to queries in
an interactive time with the audience

Meanwhile over the years, Emily on Emerald Hill had been played by different actors and directed by different directors, each with their own strengths and abilities, so Stella always gives the artistes the liberty to interpret the play in their own way.

 

She said this play was written in 1982 for the Singapore Play Writing Competition so it did not feature much Hokkien dialect or Baba Malay language. When asked if she would make any changes to the play, her reply was short and simple: “Nothing!”

 

By all indications, this interesting interactive session could go on and on until someone tactfully moved to set up the stage for the audience to capture photo mementoes with Pearlly and treasure their experience of Emily of Emerald Hill in Johor.

 

Meanwhile, the team at Stagecraft Theatre Productions was much encouraged by the audience response to the staging of Emily and aims to build on this to stage more shows here.

 

Live theatre and Shakespeare fans, please stay tuned for updates on the next exciting shows, possibly Othello by the KL Shakespeare Players, coming soon in April 2025.

 

For more info about Stagecraft Theatre Productions and show updates, visit their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.