It’s one thing to watch MAC makeup artists at work at MAC outlets and quite another to watch them doing backstage makeup for fashion shows or in my case, a stage performance. As can be expected, it was a flurry of activity backstage at KLPAC with all 6 of MAC’s Artistic Team busy with the actors of “Cabaret”.
There are 2 rooms backstage where the MAC Artistic Team were hard at work and space was quite cramped and constrained. Notwithstanding the limited confines, MAC’s Artistic Team worked efficiently and efficaciously on the performers. Stage makeup is time consuming and the Artistic Team had already arrived backstage by 10am to transform the actors for the 3pm matinee.
During the 10 days between 6-15 May when “Cabaret” was staged at Pentas 2, KLPAC, MAC’s Artistic Team came in 2 rotations of 6 makeup artists each time. The looks were created after much discussion among members of the Artistic Team led by Senior Makeup Artist, Haritha Shan and Nell Ng, Artistic Director of Pan Productions Sdn. Bhd.
Needless to say but I’ll say it anyway, stage makeup has to be strong and intense with long staying power. In a musical especially, the performers will be dancing energetically and so the makeup has to be sweat-proof, there cannot be any meltdowns as there probably isn’t time for any touch-ups in between their scenes.
Each and every member of MAC’s Artistic Team are capable of creating each and every look required but the looks for the principal actors on the afternoon that I was backstage were created by MAC’s Special Events Artists, Stev Chong and Shahrum Mohd Nor.
These are some of the looks that were created that afternoon:-
(1) Lulu the showgirl (Hunny Madu) – look created by Stev Chong
From where I was sitting watching the performance, Lulu a.k.a Hunny Madu’s look really stood out as the blue colour on her eyes was stunning (thanks to the use of pigments). I liked this look very much as it enhanced her naturally deep set eyes. The idea was to give her character a very dramatic look. Stev started off with the eyebrows which are “neat, dark and sharp.”
Some products that were used to create this look (not necessarily in order of usage)
(1) Freshwater eyeshadow (Veluxe Pearl).
(2) Nylon eyeshadow (Frost) on inner corner of eye and browbone as highlighter, mixed with Espresso & Carbon eyeshadows to create a deep-set effect.
(3) Fascinating Eye Kohl & Blacktrack Fluidline below the eyes.
(4) 36 Lash on upper eye (dancers/showgirls only have upper lashes).
(5) PRO Glitter Pigment Reflects Gold on inner corner of eyes.
(6) Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 Foundation & Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder – 2 shades of Studio Fix and a minimum of 3 shades of Careblend are used for heavy contouring, highlighting and shading. Skin is given a 3-D tone. Foundation is kept matte with perfect coverage.
(7) Russian Red lipstick. Concealer used around lips to define the outline.
(8) Strobe Cream on body to give a healthy effect.
(2) Emcee (Peter Ong) – look created by Stev Chong (makeup by Irena Adam)
Out of all the characters’ makeup, I liked the emcee’s makeup the most. I think it’s partly because the look reminded me of one of my favourite singers from the 80s, Boy George. The makeup for the Emcee isn’t as feminine as Boy George’s look but I just loved the silver tones and heavy eyeliner sported by the Emcee.
Some products that were used to create this look (not necessarily in order of usage)
(1) Fascinating Eye Kohl all over eyelids.
(2) Gesso eyeshadow (Matte) all over eyelids, Nylon eyeshadow to highlight.
(3) Liquid Eyeliner in Boot Black from outer to inner of eyes blended with Carbon eyeshadow and Espresso eyeshadow
(4) 33 Lash for lower eye and 44 Lash for upper eye.
(5) Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 NC25 & NW30 mixed together.
(6) Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 NC50 mixed with Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Dark for contour shading.
(7) Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NC25 for setting foundation.
(8) Mahogany lipstick with Prep+Prime Lip.
(3) Sally Bowles (Stephanie Van Driesen) – look created by Shahrum Mohd Nor
According to Shahrum, Sally Bowles’ look is the most dramatic compared to the other cast and with good reason of course since she is the main protagonist of the show. You can see the copious amount of eyeliner used all around her eyes and the shocking red of her lips. Sally Bowles, after all, is the diva of the show. As Shahrum pointed out, “she is elegant and cheeky at the same time”.
Some products that were used to create this look (not necessarily in order of usage)
(1) Apply a base of Studio Moisture Fix SPF15 & Fix+. This helps makeup stay put as the actor will be sweating a lot.
(2) Studio Finish SPF35 Concealer as a base all over the face.
(3) Studio Sculpt SPF15 Foundation all over the face for a natural look.
Note : Strong makeup is required because of the blue and red lighting of the Kit Kat Club. Makeup fades under such lighting.
(4) Select Sheer/Loose Powder & Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder to reduce pores and minimise apperance of fine lines. It reflects light and gives a 3-D effect and glow.
(5) Eyeshadows : Rice Paper, Espresso, Carbon, Wedge & Orange (PRO Product). These give a matte and satin finishing but blended with Rice Paper, you get a solid finishing with 1 texture (flat effect).
(6) Woodwinked eyeshadow is used on the inner corner of eyes and Rice Paper on the inner rim.
Note : 3-4 layers of the same colour are used for intensity, all blended together.
(7) 2 layers of Blacktrack Fluidline are applied on the top and bottom of lashline.
(8) Splashproof Lash (Mascara) – waterproof and smudge resistant.
(9) Painterly Paint Pot under eyeshadows.
(10) Glitter all over eyes.
(11) Mineralize Skin Finish to sculpt cheeks. Blend colour over cheeks as a blusher for a frosty effect.
(12) 3 shades of Studio Fix Foundation, light under the eyes and T-zone, medium + a pinkish tone mixed to get a perfect skin tone.
(13) To get a Cupid’s Bow effect on the lips, apply red EDD (PRO product).
(14) Lipsticks : Diva and Russian Red.
(15) Only Sally Bowles’ character has transparent lip gloss applied.
Note : Use 212 Flat Brush for a defined look.
(4) Fraulein Schneider (Zalina Lee) – look created by Stev Chong
Zalina Lee does not look middle-aged, not at all. She has had years put on her face thanks to the magic of stage makeup, the same way Charlize Theron was made to look horrible and aged in the 2003 movie “Monster”. It looks like there is minimal makeup on Zalina but it takes a lot of skill to create the lines on her face. Stev said, “she looks old but still maintains a kind of glamour, it’s not a tired look”.
Some products that were used to create this look (not necessarily in order of usage)
(1) Studio Fix Fluid (3 shades).
(2) Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder (3 shades).
(3) Eyebrow Pencil in Spiked.
(4) Eyeshadows : Rice Paper & Amber Lights for a soft glow. Cork & Espresso for intensity and deep set effect.
Note : Cork & Espresso were also used to create lines and wrinkles using 212 brush. Laugh lines were created with same colours using 275 brush.
(5) Graphblack Technakohl Liner for upper eyes.
(6) Fascinating Eye Kohl for bottom eyes.
(7) 33 Lash for upper eyes.
(8) Peachykeen Blusher for plump effect.
(9) Cosmo and Fast Play lipsticks.
(5) Herr Schultz (Alizakri Alias) – look created by Stev
Basically, the products used on Herr Schultz were more or less similar to the products used to create Fraulein Schneider’s look. Foundations and powders used were also in 3 shades each. The same eyeshadow colours were used to create the lines and wrinkles on Herr Schultz’s face.
Instead of Cosmo and Fast Play lipsticks, Taupe lipstick was used here. Taupe lipstick is a brown lipstick which can be seen by all in the audience. It’s not a nude brown. Careblend powder was used to set the lipstick and tone it down a little.
Although the makeup on Herr Schultz may look simple, it does take time to produce the lines and wrinkles required of the character. That’s the “beauty” of stage makeup, so to speak, to be able to transform people into something vastly different from their off-stage persona.
(6) Ernst Ludwig (Aaron Khaled) – look created by Stev
For this character, the focal point is the stubble under his lips and his moustache. Stev used eyebrow pencil in Spiked to draw a guide where the facial hair would be and after that, he used Lushlash mascara to dab on the lines so that natural looking facial hair would be created. On the lips, Taupe lipstick was used in the same way as described above (see Herr Schultz’s look).
Note : All images were provided by MAC Malaysia’s PR other than the photo of Fraulein Schneider (Zalina Lee).
