Theater Review: IQ.Rock

Anomalist Production, the well-known theatre group behind Attorney and Home have staged their most recent production IQ.Rock, a play written and directed by Khairi Anwar at the Damansara Performing Arts Centre from the 12th until the 15th of April. The play is a coming-of-age story which tackles the issue of education alongside ideas on politics, racism and social issues within the context of Malaysia specifically set in the FELDA settlements in Negeri Sembilan.

The show was a fantastic reminder of the importance of education in the lives of the youth. It centres around the life of SPM student Azim, played by Haikal Amdan who becomes inspired by his newly appointed English Language teacher, Mary, played by Ranessa Teyakaraja. The conflicts which arise in and out of the classroom make for an interesting plot development which consists of many side plots that add in to the endearing nature of the play. The seemingly natural portrayal of all the characters make for an engaging and entertaining show which grips the attention of the audience from the beginning until the end. Megat ‘Adli who plays the character Sahar is one of the more notable characters of the night as his fantastic portrayal of the character’s inner struggles and eventual reconciliation prompted strong positive reactions from the audience. The rest of the cast deserve their round of applause as well as the play employs the concept of one actor playing multiple characters which makes for an interesting use of the cast who, aside from playing major roles, also include themselves as part of the ensemble.

The setting of the stage also plays a major part in the storytelling as it is an experimental staging style with wooden logs representing rubber trees placed in the background of the stage which always reminds the audience of the FELDA setting of the story. The moveable and multifunctional school chairs also make for an interesting prop as it was used for various things including a motorcycle. This alongside with the music used in the play which comprised of contemporary pop songs makes for an interesting and captivating experience for the audience.

As in all theatre shows, what it all boils down to is the production’s ability to deliver their message and their story to the audience effectively. In the case of IQ.Rock, they have succeeded. The core of the play which centres around the life of young Azim as he navigates the trials and tribulations of growing up in rural Malaysia and within the Malaysian education system. As audiences of the show would agree, the show made a profound impact which prompted many to reflect on their own past and relish in the nostalgia.

In short, the play did fantastically in its effort to inspire the audience on the importance of education. From the fantastic actors to the setting of the stage, Anomalist Production once again shines as a serious theatre group making its mark in the theatre scene in Malaysia.