Lifeless reading undermines Sirikit's tales of women
By Achmad Nurhoeri
JAKARTA (JP): Men have their will -- but women have their ways. And females are the best to reveal these ways.
With a catch, of course. They have to do it with a good pinch of wit and a strong punch of will. Neglect these and the show is lost.
Last Friday night at a session of readings from Sirikit Syah's new book Harga Perempuan (Price of Women), the threat became real.
That night was a perfect chance to praise the everyday scent of Indonesian women. There was a dynamic female writer as the cook. Her short stories about women were the main dish. You had top female stage performers as waitresses. Then there were art lovers who trundled out to the distant venue as the audience.
All the goodies were there, but the stories did not take off due too much wit and too little will.
Do not expect regality or glamour in Sirikit despite being named after a Thai queen who visited Indonesia in 1960, the year this thin and fragile-looking Surabayan writer was born.
The stories tell us about every problem of life in simple, down-to-the-earth language.
Characters could be your mom, aunt, daughter, sister, or wife. She does not try to moralize, rather to shed light on the everyday. Sirikit's characters are realistic; the molested blue- collar worker, contented prostitute, confident paramour, energetic TV journalist, and understanding concubine.
Her journalistic background is obviously a major influence. She has been an editor at the Surabaya Post, a reporter at SCTV, a producer at RCTI, a student of journalism at Syracuse University, an intern at CNN and is currently a freelance-writer and a stringer for The Jakarta Post.
"When I am unable to write down specific issues as hard-news, I turn them into short stories," said Sirikit.
Despite being a thorough careerwoman she does not care about feminism in practice, although perhaps in spirit. In Harga Perempuan, you will not find the word feminism.
"I never think about feminism too much. The women in my stories are actually old-fashioned women. I myself never see the need of discussing it."
But on Friday night neither her flashing resume or frank thoughts helped very much.
The crowd came from your usual collection of less-famous art visitors. Would be artists and wannabe artists. And of course, their groupies ... the posse of this bohemian bunch.
Actor Farah Maulida, once in Rendra's Bengkel Teater, began the readings. She read Perempuan Suamiku (My husband's Woman), a story about a woman who tries to discover who is competing for her husband's affections.
Farah's reading was mediocre. The crowd made it worse, with people chatting throughout and making it hard to listen.
Actor Baby Jim Aditya from Teater Koma gave the best reading- of Perempuan Tua Bersepeda (Bicycling Old Woman) about an anonymous old woman Surabaya in frequents artistic happenings. Unfortunately, consistent nattering spoiled the mood.
The third reader was Rita Matu Mona from Teater Koma. She skimmed through Ibu Kandung (Rightful Mother) a story about a minister who faces three separate women who all claim to be his mother after he was appointed.
Rita tried to cover her inexperience with too much icing. She toyed with lines as if she was joking. First the audience giggled at her wit but after a while the jokes wore thin.
Finally Ratna, leader of Teater Satu Merah Panggung recited Supermarket, a story about a check out chick who risks her own job to save a female shoplifter from humiliation by security staff.
In her famous firm voice, she read the story at the pace of an express train with a definite lack of conviction.
Was Sirikit disappointed with the lack of will shown by the big name readers of her art? Surprisingly not.
"I am very honored. These famous people from Jakarta had been so kind to read out my stories." she told The Jakarta Post in her Javanese way. At least Sirikit has her own way.