Puteri Gunung Ledang (musical)
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| Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical | |
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| Original Box-Office Poster | |
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| Music | Dick Lee |
| Lyrics | Adlin Aman Ramlie |
| Book | Saw Teong Hin Zahim Albakri Adlin Aman Ramlie |
| Based upon | Puteri Gunung Ledang (film) |
| Productions | 2006 Istana Budaya Season 1 2006 Istana Budaya Season 2 2006 Singapore |
Puteri Gunung Ledang is a Malaysian musical that first ran at the Istana Budaya between the 10th and 24th February 2006 and had a second season at the same venue between the 6th and 21st August 2006. The musical is based on the 2004 Puteri Gunung Ledang movie and stars Tiara Jacquelina as the Gusti Putri and Stephen Rahman-Hughes as Laksamana Hang Tuah. The show was directed by Zahim Albakri and Adlin Aman Ramlie (who also acted in it as the Sultan), and the music was composed by Dick Lee.
The enthusiastic response to the first season of the high-profile musical was enough to ensure that a second season would be staged. The second season featured slight changes in the set-up and dialogue along with more sophisticated props.
A live cast recording of the songs from the show was released on CD in August 2006. A few songs were omitted from the album, all of them featuring the vocals of Sukania Venugopal.
The musical had its first international run when it was perfomed in Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, Singapore from the 24th November 2006 to 26 November 2006 in conjunction with Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts. The tickets for the show was declared soldout a month prior to the performance prompting, the organisers to create an extra show - a matinee performance on the 25th November 2006.
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[edit] Story
Set late in the 15th Century, the musical tells the tale of Gusti Putri, a princess of Majapahit who falls in love with the Malaccan warrior Hang Tuah. The pair first meet when a Malaccan entourage arrives in Majapahit, and both are immediately intrigued with the other's charm and intelligence.
When Majapahit is threatened by a coup, the king Gusti Adipati asks Sultan Mahmud of Malacca for help. Sultan Mahmud promises his aid on the condition that he be allowed to marry Gusti Putri. Gusti Adipati agrees to the condition, not realising that his sister has fallen for another. Sultan Mahmud then sends Hang Tuah to lead a delegation to warn Majapahit's enemy. Gusti Putri, overcome with longing for her beloved, decides to leave Majapahit for Gunung Ledang, where she will wait for Hang Tuah.
Gusti Adipati learns that his sister has fled, and chases her to Malacca. When Sultan Mahmud learns that Gusti Putri is on Gunung Ledang, he sends Hang Tuah as his delegate to formally present his proposal of marriage to her. The lovers are reunited on Gunung Ledang, but Gusti Putri is disappointed to learn that Hang Tuah has sought her out on behalf of his king.
Gusti Putri then sets seven conditions for Sultan Mahmud to fulfil before she will accept his proposal, the seventh condition being a bowl of his young son's blood. Before Sultan Mahmud can kill his own son, Gusti Putri stops him, declaring that the conditions were a rejection and all she wants is to live on Gunung Ledang in peace. Enraged, Sultan Mahmud condemns her to live forever alone on Gunung Ledang.
[edit] Cast
[edit] Season 1 (10 to 24 Feb 2006)
Main Cast
- Tiara Jacquelina as Gusti Puteri Retno Dumilah
- Stephen Rahman-Hughes as Hang Tuah
- Adlin Aman Ramlie as Sultan Mahmud
- AC Mizal as Gusti Adipati Handaya Ningrat
- Sukania Venugopal as Bayan
- Hamzah Tahir as Bendahara
- Yalal Chin (BCM) as Patih
- Mohammed Afif Halim as Raja Ahmad
Ensemble: Sabrina Hassan, Abdul Mutalif Abdul Bakar, Chedd Yusoff, Megat Sharizal Yusoff, Eyza Shariff, Baby Arin, Zeqhty Nattrah Ramli, Razali Hussain, Ismarizal Zulamran, Azrul Zaidi, Hamzhoni Ishak, Mohd Zainureen Zulkeflee, Hasanul Farihan Ismail, Aesar Mustafa, Athira Tiara Adly, Norsiah Yatim, Ma Nor Hud Abdul Mansor, Callista Chuah, Nik Nur Azlina Nik Ibrahim, Norsafini Jaafar, Ruzana Ibrahim, Mohd Fairuz Mohd Tauhid, Ilyka, Ramona Ismail, Nadia Aqilah Bajuri, Azharudin Ramli, Mohd Razi Ismail, Chan Sheow Fern, Lee Su Yee, Mohd Fazli Razali, Mohamad Elmey, Razak Isman and Khairulazhar Mohtar.
Back-up Singers: Ali Quasyairy Abu Kassim, Saidatul Aina Jamaluddin, Amandus Paul Panan, Mohd Noorkhalis Syafique Kamal, Nurfarhana Haidir and Noor Meliazira Abdul Halim.
[edit] Season 2 (6 to 21 Aug 2006)
Main Cast
- Tiara Jacquelina as Gusti Puteri Retno Dumilah
- Stephen Rahman-Hughes as Hang Tuah
- Adlin Aman Ramlie as Sultan Mahmud
- AC Mizal as Gusti Adipati Handaya Ningrat
- Ida Mariana as Bayan
- Firdee Akassya Rosli as Bendahara
- Yalal Chin (BCM) as Patih
- Martin Haniff Sargeant and Mohammed Afif Halim as Raja Ahmad
Understudy Cast
- Lily Zarina as Gusti Puteri Retno Dumilah
- Firdee Akassya Rosli as Hang Tuah
- Jeffry Haikel as Sultan Mahmud
- Mohammad Faizal Mohd Ali as Adipati Handaya Ningrat
- Norenshah Sahari as Bayan
- Ismarizal Zulamran as Bendahara
- Azrul Zaidi as Patih
Ensemble: Sabrina Hassan, Abdul Mutalif Abdul Bakar, Chedd Yusoff, Lily Zarina, Zeqhty Nattrah Ramli, Ramona Ismail, Eyza Shariff, Megat Sharizal Yusoff, Athira Tiara Adly, Nik Nur Azlina Nik Ibrahim, Mohd Razi Ismail, Norsafini Jaafar, Aesar Mustafa, Azrul Zaidi, Mohd Fazli Razali, Azharudin Ramli, Ruzana Ibrahim, Nadia Aqilah Bajuri, Hasanul Farihan Ismail, Mohd Fairuz Mohd Tauhid, Chan Sheow Fern, Ismarizal Zulamran, Mohamad Elmey Jumandi, Ma Nor Hud Abdul Mansor, Razak Isman, Wan Nurul Ameera Wan Mazlan, Fatin Hamamah Mahmuh, Gloria Anak Patie, Maslizariana Mohamed Bakri, Mohd Arif Nazri, Mohd Hairul Nazmie Talib, Muhaini Ahmad, Mushalim Mushadi, Muslimah Saptuang, Nadiha Mohammad, Noor Fazlida Roos Affandey, Sufinah Abu Bakar, Yunus Ismail, Zanariyah Talib and Raimee Salleh.
Back-up Singers: Ali Qushairy Bin Abu Kassim, Saidatul Aina Binti Jamaluddin, Amandus Paul Panan, Mohd Noorkhalis Syafique Kamal, Nurfarhana Binti Haidir, Noor Meliazira Binti Abdul Halim and Mohamad Fauzan Bin Abu Taib.
[edit] Singapore (24 to 26 Nov 2006)
- Tiara Jacquelina as Gusti Puteri Retno Dumilah
- Stephen Rahman-Hughes as Hang Tuah
[edit] Songs
Act I
- Suatu Hari Nanti (Someday) – Adipati, Patih, Putri, Bayan, Ensemble Majaphit
- Moga Temui Cinta (May Love be Found) – Putri, Bayan
- Kemasyhuran (Fame) – Ensemble Majapahit
- Jiwa Abadi (Eternal Soul) – Putri
- Jiwa Abadi reprise – Putri
- Tinta Dewa (Lord's Command) – Bayan, Ensemble Kraton
- Di Puncak Tertinggi (On the Highest Peak) – Hang Tuah, Putri
- Suatu Hari Nanti reprise – Ensemble
- Dewa Perang (Lord of War) – Adipati, Ensemble Prajurit
- Hajatmu Kubantu (Your Intention I Will Aid) – Adipati, Sultan
- Keranamu Kekasih (For You, Beloved) – Hang Tuah
- Katakan Hadirmu Kerana Cinta solo (Say You Are Here Because of Love) – Putri
- Tinta Dewa - Bayan dan Suara Ramai (Lord's Command - Bayan and the People) – Bayan, Ensemble Kraton
- Moga Temui Cinta duet – Bayan, Putri
- Suatu Hari Nanti duet – Adipati, Patih
- Moga Temui Cinta solo – Bayan
Act II
- Melaka Terbilang (Glorious Malacca) – Ensemble Malacca
- Di Puncak Tertinggi solo – Hang Tuah
- Di Puncak Tertinggi duet – Hang Tuah, Putri
- Cinta Atau Setia (Love or Loyalty) – Hang Tuah
- Titah Sultan (The Sultan's Command) – Sultan, Ensemble Malacca
- Melaka Terbilang reprise – Ensemble Malacca
- Mendaki Gunung (Climbing the Mountain) - (Dance) Hang Tuah, Rombongan Tujuh (Seven Delegates)
- Putri Chant/Tinta Dewa – Putri, Ensemble
- Keranamu Kekasih duet – Hang Tuah, Putri
- Katakan Hadirmu Kerana Cinta reprise – Putri
- Tujuh Syarat Agong (The Seven Conditions) – Ensemble Nenek Kebayan
- Melaka Bercelaru (Malacca in Turmoil) – Hang Tuah, Putri, Ensemble Malacca
- Cinta Atau Setia solo – Hang Tuah
- Curtain call: Suatu Hari Nanti/Keranamu Kekasih
[edit] Adaptation
In the original story of Puteri Gunung Ledang, Sultan Mahmud of Malacca sends his emissary, Hang Tuah, to Gunung Ledang to present the Puteri with his royal proposal of marriage. Puteri Gunung Ledang: The Musical is based on the scenario: what if Hang Tuah and the Puteri fell in love? In the original story the two barely meet, but the creators of the musical decided to expand the brief encounter of the Puteri and Tuah into a full-fledged love story.
[edit] Characters
In the original story, the Puteri is a mysterious fairy princess who is proud and frighteningly beautiful. In most versions of the legend she has magical powers and considers herself above mere mortals, and there is no explanation as to why she chose to live on Gunung Ledang. Puteri Gunung Ledang: The Musical’s approach was to set up the Puteri as a human princess with flaws and a realistic background, and uses the love affair between her and Tuah as the reason why she decided to live on Gunung Ledang. In order to set up the Puteri as a mortal princess, the Majapahit empire was chosen as her kingdom of origin. At the time of Sultan Mahmud’s rule, the Majapahit empire was a powerful neighbour of Malacca. The Puteri was set up as the younger sister of the Adipati (King) of Majapahit at that time.
Hang Tuah is an actual Malaccan historical figure, but his career as a Laksamana (Admiral) began during the reign of Sultan Mansur, who was Sultan Mahmud’s grandfather. Though Puteri Gunung Ledang: The Musical is set during the reign of Sultan Mahmud, Hang Tuah is shown as still being in his prime of his career. However, there is a line in the show where the Puteri says that she remembers that she was a child when she saw the famous Tuah for the first time in the streets of Majapahit.
[edit] Story Focus
The original legend centres on the Puteri’s response to Sultan Mahmud’s proposal. During the time of the old Malay Sultanates the Sultans were believed to have ‘daulat’, a divine right bestowed from God that gives them absolute power over the land and its people. It is because of this that the Puteri, though she was not interested in his proposal, did not refuse him outright. Instead she set for him seven impossible tasks for him to fulfil, but Sultan Mahmud was either too proud or too blind to realize that the tasks were her way of turning him down, and when he attempted to fulfil them Malacca fell into ruin. It is interesting to note that historically Sultan Mahmud was the last Sultan of Malacca, and at the end of his reign he had to flee from his city, thus ending the Malaccan Sultanate.
Puteri Gunung Ledang: the Musical, however, decided to focus on the love story between the Puteri and Tuah, taking time to show them getting to know and falling in love with each other, and their human frailty when they find themselves bound against their will to an agreement made between those who have power over them: Sultan Mahmud and the Adipati. The seven impossible tasks are only briefly mentioned towards the end of Act 2, near the finale.
[edit] Tun Teja
The musical’s reinterpreted love story of Tuah and the Puteri bears striking similarity of the love story between Tuah and Tun Teja.
As chronicled in Hikayat Hang Tuah and other sources, Tun Teja was a beautiful princess from Pahang. Sultan Mahmud heard of her beauty and sent Hang Tuah as his emissary to present to her his royal proposal of marriage. Upon meeting Tuah, Tun Teja fell in love with him. Some versions of the story say that Tuah reciprocated Tun Teja’s feelings, but he ultimately placed his loyalty to Sultan Mahmud above his personal emotions.
The Puteri Gunung Ledang movie acknowledges the existence of Tun Teja, who in that version is already Sultan Mahmud’s wife and the mother of Raja Ahmad. Puteri Gunung Ledang: The Musical omits Tun Teja completely.
[edit] Trivia
- Stephen Rahman-Hughes was not fluent in Bahasa Malaysia, the language the musical is staged in. Due to this, he had to learn his lines phonetically.
- Tiara Jacquelina and Adlin Aman Ramlie reprise their roles from the film.
- M. Nasir, who played Hang Tuah in the film, is an established singer but declined to reprise his role in the stage version.
