Music lovers had a wonderful time at the UTAR Melodic Strides 2024: Melodic Nostalgia Musical Theatre, organised at Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, UTAR Kampar Campus on the evening of 25 February 2024. The night was young at the majestic hall as more than 500 visitors thronged the hall, donning diverse degrees of smiles, filled with scintillating expectations.

The musical theatre was organised by UTAR Sports Club and the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) of UTAR Kampar Campus. Inspired by the dazzling 80s to 90s era of Hong Kong musical theme, the musical theatre integrated modern musical theme with its classic counterpart to get the best out of both eras. It featured talents from the UTAR community as well as local artists, aiming primarily to highlight the artistic diversity and creativity within the UTAR community as well as provide a platform for performers to showcase their talents, which contributed to the cultural vibrancy of the university.

A lively atmosphere was immediately made known to the audience as the energetic lion dancers made their eye-catching entrance via the main doors with frolicsome gait. The booming beats and echoes from the Chinese drum and cymbals resonated with the sprightly nature of the lion dancers, prognosticated a vibrant evening to come, explicitly kicking off the show with rounds of applause and cheers.

Without much delay, the plot of the musical theatre was deftly put into rolling. An orderly woman was the first sight the audience caught their eyes on, speaking of her bittersweet memories to her grandchild, who wished to follow in the footsteps of her grandmother. As the time flashed backwards to the second half of the 20th century, the audience was finally introduced to the protagonist of the musical theatre, Pang Dee, a young girl who constantly dreamed of performing on the big stage in her future. The plot followed the story of Pang Dee, who persevered in the face of hardship and stereotypes against women in the 20th century to ultimately seize the opportunity to become a sensation among the masses.

Rounds of applause were heard, varying degrees of elation were stirred, and not to mention large numbers of heartstrings were tugged. Besides, the assortment of emotions brought out by Pang Dee and the student performers was aptly enriched with various song performances of diverse themes, ranging from the classics to the recent melodies such as “Ye Shang Hai” (夜上海), “Ye Lai Xiang” (夜来香), “Xi Yang Zhi Ge” (夕阳之歌), “Guang Hui Sui Yue” (光辉岁月), “Zeng Me Le” (怎么了), “Brightest Star in the Sky” (夜空中最亮的星), “Liang Shan Bo He Zhu Li Ye” (梁山伯和朱丽叶), and “Perfect”.

As though the marvellous groups of performances by the student performers were not enough to thoroughly satiate the voracious hearts of the music lovers, the musical theatre was also graced by the local internet celebrities K-Lao (K佬) and Da Hee (大Hee). The crowd of audience dived into yet another excitement fever as the comedic duo put on various sensational songs and dance performances as their trademark character personalities, Ah Beng and Maria Hee. The audience also had a blast when the duo interacted with the excited bunch off the stage.

Amidst the plethora of song and dance performances, several lucky music lovers were arbitrarily selected as the recipients of multiple prizes during the lucky draw session.

Emphasising the great potential of the Melodic Stride 2024 series, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong said, “The 10KM Run Challenge and the Melodic Nostalgia Musical Theatre of the ‘Melodic Strides 2024’ series are unique, not only for its fusion of sports and entertainment but also for being the pioneer of the first-ever 10KM run competition right here in the heart of Kampar. UTAR students have poured their hearts into creating a great experience, bringing to life the vibrant energy of the 80s to 90s era. Therefore, I encourage all the students here to fully engage with the event. Participate, cheer, and revel in the experience. Events like the ‘Melodic Strides 2024’ not only showcase our talents but also provide opportunities for personal growth, teamwork, and community building. Besides that, I also encourage all students to embrace the opportunities before you, to support and uplift your fellow students, and to contribute to the positive trajectory of UTAR.”

Highlighting the profound creativity and efforts outputted behind the event’s planning, the Organising Chairperson of UTAR Melodic Strides 2024: Melodic Nostalgia Musical Theatre, Ms Lam Yoke Kei remarked, “This musical theatre is not just a show; it is a journey through time, a celebration of creativity, and a testament to the unity within our community. We also celebrate the spirit of independent women. The performances within the musical theatre pay homage to the strength, grace, and resilience of the women who navigated the complexities of that era. It is an acknowledgement of the indomitable spirit that has shaped our history and continued to inspire us today. Our talented students have poured their hearts into this performance, not just as a display of artistic expression, but as a tribute to the rich traditions of old Hong Kong.”

As part of the Melodic Strides 2024 series, the Melodic Nostalgia Musical Theatre was preceded by the “Melodic Strides 2024: 10KM Run Challenge ─ The Sunrise Sprint” on the morning of the same day at UTAR Sports Complex, Kampar Campus. The 10KM Run Challenge was a cultural event similar to the musical theatre, but instead mainly aimed to promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle among the UTAR community. All in all, the two events jointly created a well-rounded and engaging experience for the UTAR community.

Also present at the musical theatre were UTAR Melodic Strides 2024: Melodic Nostalgia Musical Theatre Event Coordinator En Zulhanizam bin Zakaria, OPPO Malaysia Regional Manager Mr Tan Wooi Xiong, OPPO Malaysia Retail and Trainer Manager Ms Mou, Woody House Representative Mr Chin Shun Yao, representatives from the event sponsors, organising committee members, UTAR staff and students.