Event shows flexible art of monologue

Event shows flexible art of monologue

By Kartika Bagus C. and Sulistyo Budi N.

SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): The much-talked about art of
monologue was the subject of the Central Java Inter-Theater
Monologue Festival, held earlier this month at Teater Jajak on
the campus of the Indonesian College of Art.

Its aim was to develop the art of monologue as a treasury of
the art of acting, as well as giving theater students the chance
to get together and share ideas.

Sulisno, a member of the festival's organizing committee, said
the campus community played an important role in stimulating the
development of the arts, including theater. And many of the
burgeoning theater groups on campuses are focusing on monologues
as their form of expression.

The monologue is arguably the most demanding of all theater
arts. Its mission, as in all theater, is to evince a character or
scenario, but the difference is that it is all left in the hands
of one person. It is this person's responsibility to control the
flow of the presentation and interact with the audience -- props
are just that.

Some of the groups participating in the festival were Kidung
Theater, Ngirirt Theater and Wejang Theater from Muhammadiyah
University in Surakarta, and Tesa Theater, Peron Theater, Sopo
Theater and Gadhang Theater from Sebelas Maret University in
Surakarta. Tidar University in Magelang was represented by the
Tidar Art Workshop, and General Sudirman University in Purwokerto
was represented by Asal Theater, Margin Theater, Pojok Theater
and The Child Theater. Mimbar Theater from IAIN Walisongo in
Semarang also took part in the festival.

Among the country's noted monologists are Putu Wijaya, Adi
Kurdi, Ratna Sarumpaet, Willem, Iman Sholeh and Butet
Kartarajasa. The latter is probably the best-known and is
considered a pioneer in the art form. He is famous for his
uncanny ability to imitate former presidents Soeharto and Habibie
and his sardonic take on political situations.

Speaking in Yogyakarta after the festival, Butet said the
monologue was a cheap and efficient way to perform one's art,
without the additional presence of other actors.

His formula for winning over his audience is to establish a
rapport with them, playing on those commonalities all of them are
familiar with.

All of the participants in the festival employed the same
technique of holding a dialog with the audience, but some of
their statements and movements were obviously rehearsed. This
went against the essence of monologue, which is to take the
spontaneity of the situation and go with it. Otherwise, there is
the danger the show will be stale and boring.

Butet said the festival was a reflection of the increasing
appreciation of monologue in society.

"Actually, monologue has been a small part of the process of
theater. We should be thankful that now people are interested in
it and in fact are also performing it in the form of festivals."

He said a good monologue did not have to be connected to
political issues or involve imitating a famous figure's speech or
mannerisms. There are many styles to choose from.

"Never be trapped in a single way of thinking. There are
various forms and ways of expression in monologues. I don't want
what I am doing to become a stereotype and for people to have the
misunderstanding that a monologue is only like that," he said.