Sybil: The Tale of a Patriot...

(Blog Update For 18th & 19th June 2008)

The Actors Studio @ Bangsar Shopping Center once again holds the place for another local production called "Sybil" - which revolves around a true story about an unbreakable woman back in the 1940s who was captured, tortured and beaten by the Japanese army (more like this Japanese Colonel), one of their clans or something... apparently there are various different groups of Japanese armies clans or something...this one don't like losing a battle. So Sybil (a local Malaysian) was captured and all and didn't break or leak any information about her informants or any news about who she works for and etc... She never did break radio silence! (errr..wat does that mean..?)

Anyways, a full review and pictures of the performance can be found at the URL below:

The Star Newspaper: Paying tribute to Sybil Kathigasu
Utusan Malaysia Online: Jasa Sybil di-angkat ke pentas teater
Kakiseni.com: The 60 Second Plug @ Sybil

By the way, this whole week has been quite a tiring week for me, loads of events here and there... will upload everything soon! Gonna upload about Xango the healthy Mangosteen Juice event, Acuvue OASIS Contact Lenses, Get Smart Movie Premiere next!

Last but not least, went for lunch with Jon Ming @ Pavilion, we went to get his FL37r Flash for his Olympus DSLR! Hehehe... some one got flash now :P Anyways... Boeing in Sg.Wang still offers one of the lowest price in town for digital camera and equipments.


Some of the newspaper cuttings on Sybil, the play done by local publications.


Yes, she is unbreakable!!! Sybil Kathigasu...the way the play took place really drew alot of emotions towards us the viewers. You have the time? Go and watch it for yourself!


Before we go on... hahah let's have a look at some funny t-shirt pics! Bought these when i was in Bangkok, FedSex - When you absolutely need to get it overnight! LoL... looks like Fedex :P


When i first look at this t-shirt, it reads Click here to add me as a friend! Instead, on second look...its actually "lick here" - right where your nipple is la! Hehehe LoL!


For those of you who LOVES chicken RICE! Try out KFC's Chicken Rice Combo! Of course its no match to the real chicken rice that we have here in KL! But oh well..


Jon Ming setting up his flash! Ok ok... lets try this flash out! (butt err... the ceiling is not white la!).


Sudden extra burst of flash!!! Sorry bro... heheh~ :P


Actors Studio Bangsar - it's been a while since i was last here... if i remembere correctly the last was with Jack here for some play by Gardner & Wife! (L-R: Zoe, Nico, Marvin & Gadiy).


Group hugggg!!! hehehe.. i only know a few people in this group but they are all from the T4YP! Theater 4 Young People! :P


That's Alfred! HEhehe... scary wei!


Ahh British Airways girl, Johan and Marvin!


Me, Richard and Zoe! Hehehe... why la dat face?


Supper at Murni's! Hehehe... awesome food!


The guy on the far right is one of the actors in the Sybil performance!


Such a large group tonight... and many more to come!


Apparently these guys just love taking photos!


In this picture, those that i know... Gadiy, Farah, Kaha, BA Girl! :P


Justin and Vincent was there too! My pool buddies! Ok not so much of futsal la!


And here's Justin! Finally he looks like he had 1 month of sleep.. before this was like a zombie la this fella!



OT many people know the tale of Sybil Kathigasu, the gallant nurse who suffered during the Japanese Occupation to save her fellow Malayans from torture.

As many Perak folk know, Sybil’s story is one of sadness and pride. She bravely fronted the resistance movement in her own daring way and thus subjected herself to arrest, torture and war scars that ultimately led to her demise in 1948.

Her spine-chilling tale will, for the first time, be re-enacted in a 100-minute play directed by Datuk Faridah Merican.

Perak Heritage Society president Law Siak Hong said that the society mentioned Sybil’s story to Faridah some time ago, hoping that the heroine’s story could be told in a drama.

“Sybil far surpassed the women of her time. She was probably the only Malayan woman to have been accorded the Hero’s Medal from the British Government in 1947,” he said.

Sybil, who was born in Medan in 1899, arrived in Papan, Perak, where her famed clinic still lies, with her husband Dr A.C. Kathigasu in late December 1941.

“Barely five days after that, a bomb ripped through Ipoh. Sybil endured 20 months of fear and defiance.

“She quietly aided the resistance movement and tended to wounded guerrillas,” Law said.

He added that Sybil was later arrested along with her husband on suspicion of aiding the resistance.

“She was tortured terribly by the Kempetai (Japanese secret police) officers and interrogated. Later, she was thrown into the Batu Gajah Prison and was only released after the war was over,” he said.

Law said that Sybil’s noble acts needed to be remembered by all and that the play would be one way for the public to learn about her life.

He added the play would be based on an adaptation by U-En Ng of Sybil’s own book No Dram of Mercy.

Law said that the play would be a fundraiser and proceeds would help to kickstart the society’s project to document Perak heritage.

“We are using this fundraiser to raise at least RM50,000 through ticket sales as well as individual donations or sponsorships,” he said.

Sybil, the play, will be staged at the Actors Studio, Bangsar Shopping Centre, at 8.30pm from June 12 to June 14, June 17 to June 21, and at 3pm on June 15 and June 22.

In Ipoh, the show will be staged at Taman Budaya Negeri on June 25 and June 26 at 8.30pm.

Tickets are available at RM40 and RM20 (students). For enquiries, call 03-20940400/1400.

The final fundraising show will be held at Taman Budaya Negeri on June 27 at 8.30pm.

Admission is by invitation and reserved seats are available at RM60. Limited free seating is available at RM40 for adults and RM20 for students.

For invitations, call the society at 016-5341018, the Perak Academy at 05-5478949 and the Perak Society of Performing Arts at 05-5487814

posted by Shaz @ 6/22/2008 11:04:00 PM