Review: OLA BOLA THE MUSICAL at Istana Budaya

Looking for a sport filled, laugh inducing show? Well look no further than Ola Bola the Musical. This show will not only have you laughing till you are at the edge of your seat but also provides an all encompassing experience that will be unlike any other.

Ola Bola the musical, showcases the journey of Harimau Malaya, the Malaysian football team in the 1980's.The story focuses on several plucky yet hopeful individuals including "Tauke" Chow Kwok Keong, formidable and ever prideful team captain; his sidekick/ best friend Rahman, an aspiring sports commentator; and Muthu, the goalkeeper struggling to balance his responsibilities to his team and to his family, alongside the rest of their team, as they harrow through trying to achieve their dreams.The story touches on perseverance in the face of all odds, unity and comradeship This musical was based on the 2016 hit movie, Ola Bola. Like most people, having watched the movie, I quickly became a fan of the franchise and was curious to see how it would play out in musical form.

Right off the bat, as you enter the stage at Istana Budaya, the environment truly does feel like you are sitting in the bleachers of a stadium. Another noteworthy element of the show, was the surround sound 180° stage and the integration of the LED screens that displayed realistically designed backgrounds. Prior to the start of the show, there were a few people on stage to pump up the crowd's spirit as they chant and play drums.

While some might wonder why see it on stage when there is already a movie. Well to that I say the show was not a shot for shot remake of the movie. In fact, it was almost completely sung through. Speaking of the songs, the entire tone of the numbers in this production was in hip hop which not only made the story more intense but also it managed to captivate the audience. For the most part the numbers were enjoyable, well choreographed and an absolute delight to see before our eyes.Some of the standout performances include Iedil Putra's performance as Rahman; Lim Jian Wen, who reprised his role from the movie as Chai; and Brian Chan's performance as "Tauke" Chow Kwok Keong.

What makes this a truly Malaysian show, besides the obvious, is the seamless blending of the Malay and English languages in the dialog and songs as well as the incorporation of a few Mandarin and Tamil lines that showcases Malaysia's nature of being melting pot of cultures. The sets and stage design were also reminiscent true to the style of 1980's Malaysia. The entire show was also packed with funny Malaysian jokes. I was laughing away almost halfway through the show. Of course, one of my favourite part of the entire show was the playback sequence of one of the football matches which was a surprise and had me floored.

Now to the core of it. Was it worth watching? I would say so. The show was highly entertaining and humorous. The stage design and production value was great. The acting and dancing of the cast was just a joy to watch. Honestly, just by watching the show you get a sense of how much blood, sweat and tears were poured into this production. I think Tiara Jacquelina (the director and book writer), together with the rest of the creative team and cast did a fantastic job all around.

Suffice to say, the show was far from disappointing. Though the medium of the franchise was changed, the production managed to keep the core message on the franchise intact. One a whole, the show was a delight to watch unfold on stage, it was very well done and can be considered quintessentially Malaysian. In my opinion, this show sets higher standard on theatre productions in Malaysia, that I hope other productions strive to meet.

OLA BOLA THE MUSICAL at Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur, Closes on the 11th March 2018

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