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.