\u201cHelmi reminds us that \u2018old\u2019 isn\u2019t \u2018dead\u2019,\u201d says Remesh Panicker, who plays Raju \u2013 an air-con repairman whose relationship with Maggie scandalises her friends and family. \u201cHe\u2019s written a funny yet serious play about prejudices, stereotypes and judgements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The play goes beyond enlightening younger audiences about the power and possibilities that remain after the bloom of youth has faded. There\u2019s an element of empowerment, too, in how Maggie breaks out of her comfort zone to go after what she wants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of the time, people box themselves in \u2013 because of societal pressure, family expectations, or their own desire to stick with the comfortable and familiar,\u201d Meng Chue points out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Believing that your best days are behind you, as Maggie initially does in the play, can be just as limiting as what other people think of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaggie\u2019s liberation in the play is not just a sexual one, but a very human one,\u201d explains Meng Chue. Meeting and falling in love with Raju forces her to re-evaluate her life and whether she truly is content with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both actors share quite a lot in common with their characters. Meng Chue and Maggie are both 60, and share a love of reading. Remesh notes that he, like Raju, is a Malaysian-born Indian, and they are both optimists and romantics at heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Playing the differences, however, has proved challenging. \u201cI’ve never played a character of such limited formal education,\u201d muses Remesh. He\u2019s still working out a believable speech pattern for Raju, who can neither read nor write in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Meng Chue, a key challenge lies in taking on the lead role. \u201cWhen you\u2019re a supporting actor, it\u2019s very fun,\u201d she laughs. \u201cYou come in, you make your point, and then you leave!\u201d But carrying most of a show can be \u201cfrightening\u201d and \u201cdraining\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nonetheless, she was eager to take the role because she firmly believes in encouraging and championing new artists. \u201cI have always looked forward to working on new plays,\u201d she enthuses. \u201cIt\u2019s good to have new playwrights: people who want to write and share their thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Audiences are the crucial final ingredient in theatre-making. Meng Chue and Remesh are both keen to ensure that the play\u2019s message of love, understanding and tolerance comes through loud and clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was very important for me to make this person real,\u201d stresses Meng Chue. \u201cTo convince people that this can happen to anybody you meet on the bus or in the shopping centre.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Remesh, the play doesn\u2019t just advocate the use of condoms as prophylactics. \u201cIt matters because it is essentially about keeping everyone \u2013 regardless of age, gender, race, social standing, beliefs or sexual orientation \u2013 safe and protected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/newsletter\/NL34\/05B.jpg\")
who starts getting lessons in how to read from Maggie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/newsletter\/NL34\/05C.jpg\")
when she thought those days were long gone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/newsletter\/NL34\/05D.jpg\")