JitFest 2025 - Entourage: Murder Amongst Friends

A last, and a lost play? Whuttt....??

Set over the course of one fateful night in late-1990s Kuala Lumpur, the play draws us into a world of secrets, lies, and shifting loyalties among a tight circle of friends and their acquaintances. With Jit’s signature wit and psychological insight, Entourage blends dark comedy with suspense in a way that’s both entertaining and unsettlingly familiar.

Now, as we celebrate Jit’s life and work through JitFest 2025, we believe Entourage deserves its long-awaited premiere. This rediscovered play offers audiences a rare glimpse into Jit’s sharp imagination and storytelling craft.

Want to go, but deciding when to go wasn't easy for me because it's being staged all the way in Robert's Theatre at The Campus in Ampang. All I know is that I'm not crazy enough to make the drive to Ampang on a weeknight. (Although it probably won't be so bad? Idk). Long story short, I ended up going on the (only) Sunday night performance of the run, to cap off the crazy weekend I had. 

I've only been to The Campus once before, but that was during the day and quite awhile ago. Still got a bit sesat driving there, regardless.

Parking was a bit annoying because of the ongoing weekend event there, so had to park quite a bit further than I would've liked. But I think it was RM2 an hour, or something to that effect? Also not exactly accessible by public transport... 

I didn't give myself enough time to be honest cos I was in SS2 getting a foot massage to recover from the past 2 days until 6-ish, so I literally only had time to get home, shower, get dressed before leaving, have dinner there and go for the show...

I had wanted to try one of Qra's holiday specials, the chicken cordon bleu for dinner. Also managed to find the Somersby Shandy to wash everything down with. But I was waiting for about 15, 20 minutes? I dunno if I thought it tasted okay because it objectively was, or because I was that hungry. What was mildly amusing (?) was that me and Bernice Chauly (seated the next table over, also there for the show) were giving the staff the "where's the food, we gots to go" looks. It was almost 8.30 p.m. by the time we got there (it's not that far, just across the courtyard or whatever). 

Found the Somersby Shandy 

Bernice wasn't the only somewhat famous person in attendance that night - Mia Sara's parents were also there (#iykyk). 

Once we checked in, the theatre itself gave me 2000s-era HELP lecture hall vibes. It also wasn't exactly a full house, so I was sat in the back row with some people I recognise, particularly a local comic I won't name here, freezing my tits off cos I was sat not far from where the AC vents were blowing. 

So I moved a row down after intermission, with a cup of instant hot chocolate drink from MyNEWS to warm my hands. 

Note to self: Theatre toilets are abhorrent. Stick to outside toilets, way nicer. 

FWIW, I give them props for starting before 8.35 p.m., which is rare, but given how long the play is, I get it now. 

It's about a famous artist Ghani Majid (played by Ghafir Akbar, perhaps the biggest name in this company) and his friends/hangers-on/entourage, set during the late 1990s. Dude dies within the first 15 minutes of the play (batu giling to the back of the head), so the rest of the show is just recapping what went on before, and the aftermath of his death. Basically, Jit's take on a murder mystery. 

Pre-intermission was the recap, post-intermission was how the group dealt with the death. 

The rest of the group have their reasons for wanting him dead. Mia Sara's character Ade was the outsider, the audience proxy, there to ask the questions we the audience might have. 

NGL, it was pretty amusing the way they decided to use the black and white silk pyjamas to signal to the audience when it was dead or living Ghani talking, or if it was past or present Ghani.. 

To be honest, I have my theories as to what happened, and who could've done it most of the group, but I would have to (someday) confirm it with someone who would know the story best... short of just asking Dato' Zahim outright who did it next time I see him somewhere LOL 

If nothing else, it's definitely one way to end JitFest 2025.