2012
I’ve no idea what this guy was singing about but he was going at it all-in. You can see the sweat on his brow – but then this is semi-tropical Malaysia. I was struck by this guy’s gold jacket and the way it’s reflecting some of the red stage lighting. Clearly, from the shadow on the rear wall, the main light here is a spotlight out front.
I don’t know if I just happened to be in Penang during a ‘fringe’ style event or if this sort of thing just goes on all the time but with a one-day break, the street theater stage than had hosted the Chinese Opera was now hosting a variety show – singing, dancing and comedy. I have to say, I didn’t really get the comedy but the locals seemed to find it funny.
Back in October I posted a series of images from a street theater that I happened across while wandering the streets at night. I came back around the following day, later in the afternoon to find the stage abandoned. The players had moved on and taken their sets with them.
I’m guessing the movie was called ‘Club Girls’ but I’m not really sure as the poster refers to ‘Clu Girls’. There were several things that drew me to this poster. Chief among them was the hand-drawn nature of it. Having been used to the slick, Hollywood style of movie poster this almost home-made poster was quite extraordinary in my experience.
These tricycle rickshaws were a common sight in Georgetown back in 1989. I don’t know if they still are. I don’t recall ever riding on one. If my memory serves I rented a Honda 90 to get around when I wanted to go further afield. But most of the time I just wandered the streets.
Here’s another image of the roof detail on this Chinese Temple in Georgetown, Penang. Again we have figures in some form of scene or story. The structure behind them looks to be some form of elaborate ship. At right is the prow and in the middle appears to be a sail. I’m left wondering if these were pre-assembled before being mounted on the roof or if they were constructed in-situ.