Bottom Top

*Tuesday, 2nd December 2008*

When GC asked me whether I'm interested to watch Bottom Top, a local comedic stage play two weeks ago, I agreed immediately. I even sent out invitations to both the brother and sisterhood. The brotherhood however, doesn't seem interested or they already have their own plans for that date. But anyway, we manage to stormed the theatre in a group of 14 people (13 gays and one lady, my fag hag :p )



Braving, WMW, Sinner, LTS and me arrived, just before the show begins. As expected, the hall were almost full with gays, with some foreigners.

Bottom Top is a story about a 52-year-old mother, Bertha (Datuk Faridah Merican), who is about to get remarried after her husband left. She, however, is not exactly the typical type of mother, but an open character who doesn't shy away from discussing cringesome topics, including the men in her life, with her single gay son, Melvin (Mark Beau de Silva).

One night, as she prepares her wedding guest list with her son, they ventured into deeper, heart-to-heart conversations. Melvin is unaware that Bertha is also secretly trying to find a life partner for him by arranging her butcher's son, and his distant, unmarried uncle (who is suspected to be gay) to sit beside him at the wedding dinner. The play follows the two characters as Bertha reminisces about her past flings and Melvin educates her on the social construct of his alternative 'world', while audiences get to see a unique relationship between a mother and son.

The stage was full with props that depicts the usual household; a piano, large picture frames, dining table, chairs, couch, book shelves and mat. However, there's no introduction or early prologue. The play started where Melvin appear from the backstage and sat at the dining table, scribbling something, while Bertha was walking around, humming and applying hand lotion.



I would say I really like Bertha for her "angelic but wicked" personality/speech and her natural gesture/face expressions that induce laughters once a while to the audience, yet still exudes a warmth of motherly love, such as:

Melvin: So, tell me, which neighbour you wanna invite? How about next door auntie?
Bertha: *whisper* Haiye, the next door auntie has walking difficulties, if you invite her, later we have to pick her up.

Melvin: You know, we meet thru internet chatrooms. Online profile dating sites. But most of the time, what you see and what you get in real are different. *nods head*
Bertha: That's why I don't trust online shopping!

Bertha: Why can't you bring me along to your "picnic" activities? So I can meet and understand more about you, your lifestyle and your friends.
Melvin: Ma, our "picnic" is not suitable for you.
Bertha: Why not? But I also don't get it la, why would you wanna go "picnic" at night and let those nyamuk to suck you dry!
Melvin: Ma! We're not really going there for picnic la...
Bertha: Then? What you guys do there, in the dark?

Melvin: I've been dumped thousand times.
Bertha: Melvin, don't be ridiculous.
Melvin: It's true Ma. Well, maybe not thousands but hundreds.
Bertha: But why would they dump you? What is wrong with my son?
Melvin: It's like tat Ma. I'm not exactly their type I guess.
Bertha: Aw... come, son. Give me a hug.

Bertha try to show Melvin how to flirt with a guy, physically...

Bertha: *put one hand around Melvin's waist and another hand rubbing his thigh.* Abang....~~~
Melvin: Ma! Don't use that voice please! I'm not a girl!
Bertha: Ok ok... *redo the previous actions again*
Melvin: Just don't say anything.
Bertha: Ok ok.. *continues to rub and put her chin on Melvin's shoulder as if she's smelling him*
Bertha: Are you getting a hard on yet?
Melvin: Maa!! *jumps away*

*Some words in the conversations have been changed as I can't remembered all, so I replace them with the words that I think describes to the situation :p

I think the show was a little too short (60 minutes). It would be good if they extend it for another 30 minutes.

The 13 of us then adjourned to Naili's at Sentul for drinks (LTS gave it a miss) where I had a better view of the rest of GC's friends. Being the only female who present among us, WMW became the centre of attention that night. I guess she had a better view and understanding on the nature of homosexuals (when did you first realize you're different, how did you know the guys you hooked up with is top or bottom and how to see whether that guy is gay or straight).

She then was asked to guess everyone of us whether we're top, bottom or versatile! I'm sure the other patrons must have heard our loud conversations. What a chaotic night we had!

She ended up with a phrase, quoting "had an "eventful" Saturday night - still digesting the facts!" on the next day in Facebook!

*Hey guys, in case you missed the KL show, here's another chance for you to catch it. Bottom Top will be staged at The Actors Studio at Greenhall, 32 Lebuh Light, Georgetown, Penang, on Dec 12 and 13 (8.30pm). Tickets are priced at RM25 (adults) or RM15 (students, seniors and the disabled). Call 04-263 5400 for more info.