Understanding Natrah

Salam..

I have always enjoyed plays. The first play that I have attended was a school play entitled "Oliver Twist", held at the Kuching Civic centre. It was organised by St Joseph's School, my alma mater. The second was also a school play, entitled "A Sprinkle of Magic". Then, it was held at Tan Sri William Tan Auditorium, in the school.

One knows how acting in a play has always been difficult. There is no room for mistakes to occur. Unlike in films, retakes can be done if the actors forget a line or misses a step. Near perfection is expected in an on stage acting.

Natrah was restaged at the Istana Budaya (IB). The last one was in December last year (2009). It was not left alone without any controversies, as the controversies of Natrah herself. The Late Natrah will remain as one of a significant point in the Malaysian-Singapore history.  Some will say it should be remebered, while the other quarters may wish not to remember it. Honestly, until this play was staged in IB, I have never heard or read about it. There was no recollection of the word "Natrah", "Nadra" or Maria-Bertha Hertogh in the history text books in school. 13 years was not too long ago since I left secondary school. Heck, I even bought the book Tragedi Natrah scripted by Fatini Yaacob to read on the the retrospective accounts of what actually transpired that lead to the upheaval of the locals, regardless of race and religion against the British and Dutch colonialist.

I would regard the staging of Natrah, by our very own Erma Fatima as a resounding success. If it was not, it wouldn't be played a second time around. Now, there are plans to make a third play, which shouldn't be missed by those who has not been to it. There are some differences in the second play, according to those who have attended the first. Some elements of the Bollywood beats, rhythm and choreographed dancing were added, perhaps making it more appealing to the Bollywood inclined audience. With such addition, perhaps, "Teater Muzikal Natrah" would be appropriate to describe the whole play.

Historical facts will remain as facts. In a theatrical depiction, it all depends on the director to decide on the interpretation of a historical event. Local nationalism was allegorically depicted in this issue. Forced apostation, the desperate attempt to save what ever honour that was left in a colonialist point of view, denigration of a good name in order to slander are just some points taken to heart by the locals. Of course, the colonial perspective will be otherwise. Some of the issues, although it occured half a century ago, is still akin to our recent times.

The Natrah play shows that creativity can be based upon factual accounts. Facts need not give in to creativity. As history subjects are usually stale when told in textual forms in schools, resulting in the mind to succumb to the half-closed heavy eyelids. The lack of oxygen in the air seems to encourage further this sleepy army on the offensive. Through the play, the interestingness of the characters, (and of course the prettiness of the casts that plays Natrah) and subject touched, it has, encouraged myself to read up on the somewhat "lost" historical event of Natrah. Not even the cooling temperature of the aircond and the dim lighting of the IB could doze me off to slumberland.

Natrah is, a sad event. If I were to be in her shoes, being fully aware that people gets a hold of your life, but, at the same time, knowing what I want and need, is no different from the world coming to an end. Conditions were already bad for Natrah when living unwillingly under the clutches of the biological parents. Seeing her lover, Mansor Adabi many years later in a video recording living in a good life that was played to her in an interview, really broke her down. May I say, it tore her heart to pieces. In the end, counselling did patch up things to some extend, especially those created in the tumultuous early period of her life.

Considering Natrah's age was 13 at the time of the court judgement, it really amaze me on how people were more precocious in their life compared to those of today's generation. Try talking to a 13 year old today and you will get what I mean. The mental aptitude of an 8 year olds are not considerably different from a 13 year old. Well, it is not scientifically proven, but just a general stand. There are some, no doubt who are very into adulthood in such tender age of 13. What could be the missing X Factor here?

As often, the thing that puts me off in writing is the ending. Some people would summarize the whole issue. But, I do not wish to insult you, the inteligent reader. Go ahead, read up on Natrah and go watch the next play in IB!