'Kereta Api Bumel' whistles at Jakarta students<\/p>\n
By Yusuf Susilo Hartono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At a time when theatrical performances for
\nchildren are rare, Teater Esok is working hard at introducing
\nchildren and the general public to the arts.<\/p>\n
Between June 22 and June 30, 2001, the group staged seven
\nperformances of the classic play Kereta Api Bumel (Bumel Train)
\nin the capital. Directed by Priyo S. Winardi, the play was
\nperformed at the regional art centers of East Jakarta, South
\nJakarta, West Jakarta and continued at Gambir Station and
\nBulungan Youth Center.<\/p>\n
It was a continuation of the troupe's whirlwind performances
\ntouring some provinces in and outside of Java between 1986 and
\n1997, supported by financial assistance from the Ministry of
\nCulture and Education. The shows, staged in towns like Ambon,
\nSurabaya, Malang, Purwokerto, Semarang and Kupang, were meant as
\na pilot project for children's theater.<\/p>\n
In general, the shows received enthusiastic responses from the
\nlocal public, especially children and their parents. They could
\neasily understand the play, which Priyo freely interpreted from
\nthe original drama created by German playwrights Rainer Hachfeir
\nand Volker Ludwich.<\/p>\n
Priyo has managed to relax the theatrical rigidity and make
\nthe piece entertaining and accessible for children and adults
\nalike. When Theater Esok performed Kereta Api Bumel at Gambir
\nStation, Central Jakarta, for example, the \"stage\" and audience
\nwere separated by plastic string and children were involved in
\nthe play. The audience were mostly people waiting for trains and
\nthose who had just arrived at the station.<\/p>\n
The kids sat in their parents' laps or lay down on the floor.
\nMany of them watched the play while they were eating, drinking or
\nrunning around. They came and went continuously.<\/p>\n
The play began with a song about traveling on a train through
\nbreathtaking mountains and valleys. The music was created using
\nsimple instruments and sound equipment.<\/p>\n
Mat Jes Jos (Bumel's engineer played alternately by Priyo S.
\nWinardi and Riyanto R. Asim) and a little girl named Trindil (Ar
\nAnggayasti) wander far and wide in search of Bumel's missing
\nparts.<\/p>\n
The villain is a wicked man named Pak Jail who does not want
\nto see Bumel rebuilt. He has stolen any parts he can detach from
\nthe train and scattered them far and wide throughout the
\nIndonesian archipelago.<\/p>\n
The train's missing parts are rediscovered one by one and
\nreassembled. An amusing scene involves the rediscovery of four
\nwheels which have been used as a teaching aid by a teacher
\nwearing a civil servant's uniform.<\/p>\n
Later a locomotive part is found after a professor has failed
\nto convert it into a satellite. The professor had in fact planned
\nto have Mat Jes Jos and Trindil placed inside the satellite and
\nsent into space.<\/p>\n
The scene that drew the most laughter from the children
\ninvolves Mat Jes Jos and Trindil being chased by a fat man after
\nthey give him bitter jamu (herbal medicine). But, to his
\nsurprise, the fat man becomes slim thanks to the jamu. Then it
\nturns out that the jamu has been contained in a can made from the
\ntrain's chimney.<\/p>\n
Mat Jes Jos and Trindil asked the children to tell them if the
\nthief tried to steal the wheels. When Pak Jail was seen walking
\nsuspiciously beside the locomotive, the children stood and
\nscreamed as loud as they could, allowing Mat Jes Jos and Trindil
\nto catch him. The wheels are soon installed.<\/p>\n
After all the parts are installed, the children helped push
\nBumel and cheerfully sang Always happy \/ often funny \/ my Bumel
\nTrain \/ take us around the world \/ my funny Bumel.<\/p>\n
Music blares amid the real announcements from the upper floors
\nof Gambir Station broadcasting the arrival and departure of
\ntrains from and to all destinations. The thundering noise of the
\nreal train wheels could also be heard overhead.<\/p>\n
The story's moral is the urgency to keep Indonesia intact. Are
\nchildren able to understand the message? Probably not, but they
\ncertainly enjoy the play.<\/p>\n
Besides being entertaining, the play also conveys educational
\nmessages that the director presents in a subtle and entertaining
\nway, suitable for children.<\/p>\n
Props and the stage have been designed so that they can be
\neasily assembled and reassembled.<\/p>\n
Teater Esok, the only group producing theater for children in
\nIndonesia, will be visiting elementary schools in Jakarta
\nthroughout the year. Priyo is hoping for financial assistance
\nfrom donors.<\/p>\n
Lack of funds is not the only problem for the group. It is
\nalso in dire need of good scripts suitable for younger audiences.
\nOne well-known playwright for younger audiences is Saini KM, from
\nBandung, a former Art Director of the Ministry for Culture and
\nEducation. His most famous play is Kalpataru.<\/p>\n
So far, Priyo has only performed Bumel on the grounds that he
\nhas yet to find other stories which are equally, or more,
\nentertaining and educational, without being too didactic and
\nmoralistic.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kereta-api-bumel-whistles-at-jakarta-students-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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