“The Frankincense” is one of the titles in a collection of four plays by National Laureate Datuk Noordin Hassan. The three other plays are “Touched by the Moon,” “Umi’s Shawl” and “Tonight the Turtles Cry.” These four dramas carry a variety of themes that touch on man in his relationship with God, with other human beings and his patience in facing the tests of God. Noordin Hassan spreads the word of God subtly, he comments and throws forth social criticism for us to reflect together and ponder about our existence and responsibility for our society, community and country. Noordin writes modern drama, but the results of his writing are not disconnected from the roots of Malay culture. This is clear not only in the background, songs, form of utterances and plot, but more importantly from the aspect of intellectualism which summarises the world of thought, philosophy, belief and faith of the Muslim and Malay community.
