TWENTY years after ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical’ first charmed audiences, its grand return has sparked an extraordinary rush at the box office.
A staggering 23,000 tickets were sold out in just two hours, leaving thousands of eager fans praying for another chance to see the iconic love story live.
For producer and director Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina, however, this overwhelming success brings mixed feelings.
While she is deeply touched by the public’s enthusiasm, she also feels guilty that around 22,000 people missed out on tickets for the run at The Grand Theatre, Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) in Sunway Square from today (Oct 31) to Nov 15.
“Some pleaded with us, saying they were willing to stand or even sit on the stairs, as long as they could watch the show,” she says.
“Honestly, I feel very guilty and sorry for the 22,000 people who were still queuing online. If the theatre belonged to us, we would certainly want to let everyone in. Unfortunately, another production is scheduled immediately after PGL.”
Demand was so intense that even Tiara only managed to buy a single ticket for her husband, Tan Sri Effendi Norwawi, when online sales opened.
“I bought that one ticket just to try when the line opened. I never expected that I would not have time to buy the others,” she recalls.
Yet, this milestone reinforces her belief that a quality show stands the test of time.
“If something is good, it will last. This is proof, with 23,000 tickets sold in two hours. That has never happened in Malaysia for any show. It proves that people still want to watch PGL,” she says.
The massive demand has also led to early talks about bringing the musical back to Singapore, though Tiara cautions that moving a production of this size across borders is no easy feat.
RECORD DEMAND AT BOX OFFICE
Adapted from the 2004 film, the musical originally opened at Istana Budaya in 2006.
This time, Tiara is determined to protect its emotional heart while raising the bar for technical and artistic quality in a multi-million-ringgit production.
“Not a single performer on stage is just a background dancer or simply standing idle at the back. All 50 cast members have been given names, specific roles and individual character backgrounds so that every scene feels genuinely alive,” she says.
SHARING THE LEADING ROLES
At the heart of the revival are Aisha Retno and Mila Mohsin, who share the leading role of Gusti Puteri Raden Adjeng Retno Dumilah.
While their casting has drawn comparisons online, Aisha urged fans to appreciate what each actress brings to the stage.
“On one hand, there is no question of who is more popular, whose dancing is more graceful or whose singing is more melodious. Everyone chosen for ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang’ is deserving and has their own strengths,” she says, adding that audiences should avoid harsh comparisons because “at the end of the day, we are both only human”.
The role of Bayan, the princess’s loyal companion, is shared by Mimi Fly and Nadia Aqilah.
Mimi, preparing for her first large-scale stage role, travelled to Indonesia with Nadia to study Javanese language, mannerisms, and customs.
“I studied and observed the people so that I could truly understand the origins of the character and portray what the character would do,” Mimi shares.
“There is definitely pressure because many people love this character, but Nadia and I truly want to do our best. I want to ensure the character truly feels alive and that it is not just ‘MimiFly’ on stage.”
Nadia, who was part of the original ensemble in 2006, bridges the gap between generations by returning as Bayan.
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY
Meanwhile, Aqasha’s casting as Hang Tuah completes a 20-year journey of his own. Having played the Bendahara of Melaka and served as the understudy for Hang Tuah in 2006, he now steps fully into the lead role.
“Since August, I have had to focus on Hang Tuah because the role requires so much,” says Aqasha, who turned down other acting jobs to focus on intense training.
Yusof Hashim takes on Gusti Adipati, the princess’s elder brother, after winning the role through auditions.
“I know many people, including great theatre practitioners, have wanted to play Gusti Adipati for a long time,” he shares.
Before learning his lines, Yusof studied traditional Javanese etiquette and court hierarchy, reflecting a cast-wide commitment that even saw several performers travel to Solo, Indonesia, for research.
AN ENDURING STAGE LEGACY
As excitement reaches fever pitch with the opening of the production’s latest run tonight, this sold-out season proves that ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang’ still holds a permanent place in the hearts of Malaysian theatregoers.