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The graduating class of  TTRP (Theatre Training & Research Programme) founded by the late Mr. Kuo Pao Kun put up a multilingual play by the name of SPIRITS PLAY at NAFA, and I was fortunate enough to get a ticket to the gala perfomance complete with a light buffet and wine!

In the black box theatre, the set was constructed of five planks of white panels elevated and leading away from a small circular stage into shrouded enclosures of leaves, simulating trees. The setup and movements reminds me of Japanese Noh and Kabuki traditions which is more symbolic than realistic.  There were numerous prior stagings of this classic, from Kuo Pao Kun, Stan Lai to Ong Ken Seng’s. Naturally there would be much expectation of this particular performance. Also, the graduating class is comprised of theatre veterans from many different countries.

I was preoccupied by the multilingual aspect.

How would it act out? Would it play into the multi-lingual/racial theme of the nation’s propaganda? When the play started, the five actors/actresses each speaking a different language (Cantonese, English, Spanish and a Taiwanese dialect? ) was disruptive but slowly as the plot deepens, aided greatly by their skilful acting and strong enunciation of the script, together with the available surtitles, language barriers did start to melt away. Deeper universal themes emerge, like suffering and the pain of loss and the brutality of human nature that transcends borders. Five spirits, wandering spirits met in limbo each recalling its tragic story….

The General - his insatiable ambition and Machiavellian world view
The Soldier- like millions of others, deceived by their leaders, sacrificed
Mother- loss of family, husband, children, there is no role for family in wars other than to conceive more soldiers for sacrifice
Girl- raped, innocence robbed to provide comfort to soldiers marching to their deaths
Poet- he embodies memory but refusing to lie to propagate the war, caused him his life

Slowly the stories fused into a unison whole, interwining, victor and victim in tandem…cyclical

This production evokes painful memories of the Pacific War, celebrates the truth of oral history over documented well-conceived and dramatised lies. One lone figure shrouded in green make gutteral sounds uttered a few words in Japanese, embodies the guilt of the initial victorious, his half painted face denotes the horror of Hiroshima where some sort of justice was delivered. We are reminded there is no honour in war. There is only death, deceit and suffering. More importantly, the importance of the memory of the people, written, spoken, performed, remembered…