Let’s joget

The Ghazal Party Queen ready to bring the house down

WHO says life before Jom Heboh and Sehati Berdansa was boring? People then really knew how to party.

Picture the highlight being men dressed in drag who could gelek and joget like the best of the girls to addictive music.

During the 60s and 70s, the Ghazal Party was the most happening entertainment event for villagers in the north from Penang to Kedah. It played the role of bringing people together to escape the rigours of harsh rural life through accessible song and dance.

The alumni of Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Kulim in Kedah, who call themselves Killerbatch, are staging a play to give people a glimpse of the lifestyle and culture of a long gone era in Ghazal Party Queen (GPQ).

Written by Mohd Rodzi Abdullah, GPQ won the Cameronian Arts Award for Best Original Script in 2004. Based on the confessions of a real Ghazal Party dancer, an exciting story is woven around the memories of fictional dancer Pak Teh Nan and his dazzling group, Ghazal Party Sungai Bakat. A hardworking farmer by day, Pak Teh transforms into a slinky and graceful performer at night to chase away the villagers’ troubles. Although Pak Teh has strong feelings for Kamariah, a talented ghazal singer, he experiences heartache when the love of his life marries his best friend Din. The trials and tribulations take a toll when, on the night of the wedding, Pak Teh falls victim to slanderous accusations, culminating with his decision to quit as a dancer. Directed by Esnani Elias, GPQ features special guest appearances by singer Aishah, of Fan Club fame, and TV actor Ku Yusri, last seen in Sutun, with music by a six-piece band. Staged in conjunction with the Killerbatch group’s 30th anniversary celebration, ticket sales for GPQ will also go into a special ongoing fund to build an additional dormitory for underprivileged students at SMK Tun Fuad Stephens in Kiulu, Sabah. Catch Ghazal Party Queen from Feb 5-8 (8.30pm) at Taman Budaya Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, KL. Admission is RM20-RM30. Call 013-3405299 (Wati) or 012-3691096 (Zaili).