Local, foreign artists show wares in Performance Arts Market

By Yenni Kwok

JAKARTA (JP): A single day or just one performance would probably not do justice to Teater Koma's colorful 20-year history.

"We are a bit selfish," said Ratna Riantiarno, the lead actress and wife of the group's director Nano Riantiarno.

As a fitting anniversary tribute, Ratna and her fellow Teater Koma members are organizing the month-long cultural event, Pastojak (Jakarta Performing Arts Market), at their group's birthplace, Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center on Jl. Cikini Raya, Central Jakarta. It will be held throughout this month.

Who could resist such self-indulgence? After all, 24 groups from different parts of Indonesia and the world, both traditional and modern, are taking part in the jubilant celebration. Plenty to keep the cultural calendar in Jakarta busy.

Pastojak is short for Pasar Tontonan Jakarta, and Teater Koma members said the concept of the market (pasar) is inspired by their particular characteristics. Teater Koma is a cultural hodgepodge of Western theater, opera, cartoon films, East Javanese ludruk theater, Jakartan lenong, the Srimulat comedy troupe and others.

The hubbub of the market scene, merry, spontaneous and none too formal, describes the workings of the group, as does tontonan as a kind of performing art. They are also inviting other performing artists for theater, music, dance and literature reading during the festival.

"Pastojak reminds me of Art Summit 1995," said musician Tony Prabowo, who will participate with his New Jakarta Ensemble.

Ratna acknowledged similarities between Pastojak and the Art Summit.

"But we depart from the Art Summit idea. The difference is the Art Summit was more international. Our Pastojak includes many Indonesian traditional performances."

Diverse and unique are two salient characteristics of Pastojak, which set back its organizer at least Rp 500 million.

Four foreign countries are represented -- Le Cirque Baroque from France, Bharata Natyam dance from India, The Theater Practice from Singapore and Ensemble for Intuitive Music Weimar from Germany.

Le Cirque Baroque is street theater which combines elements of acrobatics and music into its act. This will be its first visit in Indonesia since 1989. It is scheduled for Aug. 16 and 24.

Bharata Natyam is a two-part dance, based on India's treasured Mahabharata epic. The first part depicts the humiliation of the Pandava family after their eldest son, Yudhistira, loses a dice game to the Kauravas.

His wife, Panchali (known to most Indonesians as Drupadi), is publicly humiliated. She vows that she will only tie her hair again after she has washed it with the blood of her tormentors.

The second act is derived from the Bhagavad Gita, the most acclaimed part of the Mahabharata epic. Arjuna, the second son of Pandava, is uncertain as he prepares to fight his cousins, the evil Kauravas. Lord Khrisna, who acts as his charioteer, explains that it is his duty to join the forces of good. Bharata Natyam is scheduled for Aug. 16.

Singapore is represented by a modern theater group, The Theater Practice, on Aug. 24 in a performance which may well be described as minimalist, with a cast of just one.

The Eagle and the Cat is about a deeply frustrated foreigner lost in a surrealist Singapore and transformed into a cat. My Mother's Chest tells of a woman who relives sad and happy memories as she picks through bizarre items from her deceased stepmother's wooden chest.

Ensemble for Intuitive Music Weimar will close the festival on Sept. 1 with its spontaneous act; music is composed at the moment of performance. Composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, with whom the ensemble frequently collaborates, initiated this "intuitive music" about 30 years ago.

Traditional

Pastojak showcases many local talents, from traditional artists to those who break the conventional mode.

Several of the traditional performances are also unusual.

"There are a lot of traditional performances in Jakarta. Why don't we try the ones we hardly ever hear about?" said Ratna.

Pastojak may be the pioneer in introducing Jakartans to the Kamoro tribal dance from Irian Jaya, Pacul Goang comedy theater from Banyuwangi and Sike music from Jambi.

In keeping with its espoused claims to roots in traditional theater, Teater Koma has invited Lenong Subur Jaya from Jakarta to perform on Aug. 8, West Java's Ronggeng Gunung traditional theater on Aug. 23, and Malang traditional mask theater on Aug. 14.

Teater RSPD Tegal, another group with ties to traditional theater, shows its critical satire, Langit Berkarat 2: Sang Koruptor (The Corrosive Sky 2: The Corruptor) on Aug. 10.

Tony Prabowo, who mostly performs overseas, has finally found a local venue. He will use the chance to introduce his newly established percussion ensemble, New Jakarta Ensemble. They are scheduled to perform on Aug. 26 and 27.

Pastojak is also a chance to catch up on missed performances.

Composer Djaduk Ferianto and artist Butet Kertaredjasa held their first collaborative effort in music and short story reading in Yogyakarta last month. As with their debut, Butet will read Umar Kayam's short stories, Drs. Citraksa dan Citraksi (Drs. Citraksa and Citraksi).

After a successful performance in June, choreographer Retno Maruti's version of the tale of the tragic priest warrior, Dewabrata, will take the stage on Aug. 7.

A discussion on Indonesian theater featuring Asrul Sani, Nirwan Dewanto, Goenawan Mohamad, Putu Wijaya, Afrizal Malna and Norca M. Massardi, will be held Aug. 9. Anto Lupus and Arswendo Atmowiloto will discuss theater and youth on Aug. 16, while Sujiwo Tejo and Endo Suanda will discuss theater and tradition on Aug. 23.

Hasan Alwi, a man of literature, is scheduled to give a lecture on the role of language center in the development of literature on Aug. 27.

Teater Koma itself isn't missing a chance to capitalize on past success. Its perennially popular parody of a Chinese love tragedy, Sampek-Engtay, will play for the second time this year from Aug. 19 to 22.