Kabayan meets Moliere in play

BANDUNG (JP): Keroncong-style music enlivened the air in Rumentang Siang, a building erected in the colonial era near Kosambi market here.

The room in the building was not a full house. Only two-thirds of the 400 seats were booked, which is not bad for the premiere night of Moliere's Tabib Gadungan (Fake Medicine Man) play.

Based on the famous Sundanese's folk figure Kabayan -- known for his free, devil-may-care character -- director Suyatna Anirun adapted Moliere's script to meet the taste of Bandung viewers.

Suyatna is a veteran of adaption. He adapted Badak-badak -- The Rhinoceroses of Ionesco, the Japanese Samadi and Moliere's Akal Bulus Scapin -- The Cheats of Scapin. What he did was "view" the script as a universal folk theater.

Tabib Gadungan, which was staged at Rumentang Siang in Bandung and at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta last week, will be staged at CCF Bandung on March 30 and March 31.

Highlighting people's foolishness, jealousy and greediness, the play featured Bini, who was terribly upset with her husband Laki and wanted to take revenge. She met two guards who were looking for Tabib, the medicine man. Bini made the guards beat up Laki, who then claimed to be the medicine man to escape.

Laki was then taken to Tuan (the master), whose daughter Santi refused to marry Raden Hardjo and wanted to marry Jaka instead. Tabib learned the young couple's secret and helped Jaka escape with Santi.

The play was enjoyable regardless of the first 25 minutes being a slow start. Applause should go to Yati S. as Bini and Deden Rengga as Laki, who played their roles well.

Deden's role as a lazy husband was one of the main characters in the play. The depressed Tabib was the other.

Other actors worth mentioning might be Yati. Her "monotonous" acts in the play provided more space for Laki to show all his skills. If Yati overacted, Deden's role might go unnoticed.

Music was an essential part of the 90-minute play and it bridged and accentuated the scenes. Iwan D. Camus was undoubtedly successful coordinating his musicians and created a solid team for the proper interpretation of the play.

-- Wawan S. Husin