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Friday October 17, 2008

Musical is just the thing to lift spirits amid global economic gloom


Mamma Mia! cast members in KL
Photo Gallery

KUALA LUMPUR: The staging of the smash hit musical Mamma Mia! in Malaysia this December could not have come at a better time, said Datin Linda Ngiam, group managing director and CEO of Star Publications (M) Bhd.

“At a time when all around us is bad news and more bad news, I think Mamma Mia! fits the bill as being exactly what we need to lift our spirits.

“It is the world’s top selling musical which has been watched by more than 30 million people worldwide, and soon, 26,000 Malaysians will have the chance to experience the magic of Mamma Mia! too,” she said in her speech at the official launch of Mamma Mia at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel.

Ngiam surprised the audience when she opened her speech by singing the first two lines of the Abba hit song I Have a Dream.

“It actually did start with a dream ... the dream of Datuk Steven Tan (deputy chairman of Star Publications (M) Bhd) for The Star and Star Foundation and we are very happy that we have achieved the dream now,” said Ngiam.

At the press conference held later, Tan explained that he first envisioned bringing Mamma Mia! to Malaysia when he caught the musical in London about 10 years ago.

“After watching Mamma Mia! I dreamt of bringing it to Malaysia and I am happy that the dream has come to fruition. Since the 1980s, we’ve been bringing in musicals from Broadway and the West End.

“We’ve always been promoting healthy and family pursuits and we want Malaysians to share the same passion we have for such performances,” he said.

The Star has brought in some great musicals like My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music and Peter Pan.

The arrival of Mamma Mia! also coincides with the setting up of the Star Foundation, the charity arm of the media group which will largely focus on education, health and general welfare. Proceeds from the Charity Night (Dec 17) of the musical will go to various needs to be identified by the foundation.

The foundation was inspired by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the country’s first Prime Minister and former chairman of The Star.

Present at the launch were Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, group managing director and CEO of SP Setia; Irene Dorner, deputy chairman and CEO of HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad; Gerry Power, managing director of TNT Malaysia; and Paul M. Cannings, resident manager of the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel.

Also present were four principal cast members from the West End musical: Helen Hobson, Hannah Robertson, Lucy Miller and Claire Cassidy who thrilled all present with a sneak preview of the musical.

They managed to get the crowd — VIPs included — singing, clapping and tapping their feet along to the songs that they sang.

Ngiam said that the response from Malaysians to the musical has been phenomenal.

“Within the first week, 60% of the tickets were snapped up.

“Our ticketing agent, ticket AXCESS said that they have never seen such an overwhelming response (for tickets),” she said.

Thanking all the official and media partners for their support and their commitment to the endeavour, Ngiam said: “You and I both know that no show can be truly successful without our partners.”

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