'Anoman Opera' on stage now

JAKARTA (JP): For any fine opera house production, it usually takes months and even years for conductors, directors, the cast and technicians to adjust to the facilities in a hall and to utilize it to its full potential.

Not so for Anoman Opera.

"It took only a few months to prepare this opera," said Ratna Riantiarno, the producer. In such a short time they also had to acclimatize the cast to perform in such a modern theater -- something they have never experienced.

Anoman Opera was rehearsed on this stage just two days before the building was opened, said Ratna after the performance preview last Sunday.

The opera was created by Ratna's husband, Nano Riantiarno of Teater Koma.

The more than 90 cast members from Teater Koma and a pack of prominent artists, including Twilite Orchestra's conductor Addie M.S., contemporary music composer G. Djaduk Ferianto and choreographer A. Sentot Sudhiharto, have made Nano's Broadway- like creation an extravaganza.

Anoman Opera, a portion of classical Ramayana epic, centers on the early life of Anoman, the commander of monkey troops who help King Rama of Ayodya defeat the devilish king of Alengka, Rahwana.

A son of the respected Dewi Anjani, who lives in heaven, Anoman never knew his father. He continuously urges his mother to disclose this secret but, for her own reasons, Anjani remains tightlipped.

Anoman leaves Nirvana and wanders the earth in search of his father but nobody on earth recognizes him. Anoman's desperation turns to anger. With his tremendous super natural power, he swallows the moon, the earth and the sun and destroys everything in the universe. (raw)