Kabayan meets Moliere in play
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