Miss Tjitjih folk theater to perform

Miss Tjitjih folk theater to perform

JAKARTA (JP): Veri Harjono, a securities company employee will celebrate her birthday with a "Miss Tjitjih" performance for her friends.

Veri announced yesterday that the party performance is to promote public awareness of the Sundanese folk theater which is fading out.

Veri Harjono has sent 150 friends and The Jakarta Post a six- page printed invitation, which explains the history of the "Miss Tjitjih" form of theater.

Quoting various sources, she said the folk theater started in 1936 in West Java, survived several decades and reached its peak of popularity between 1950 and 1970 after the troupe presenting the performances moved to Jakarta. This theater troupe has been honored with the Wijaya Kusuma award by President Soekarno.

Since the 1970s, the fortunes of this form of folk theater have waned. The troupe was forced to move around to various different locations in the city, including one site the Angke railway station, where nobody was willing to watch them.

Out of concern, the city administration gave them a place to perform on Jl. Kabel Pendek, Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, in 1987. They put on put on performances there even now, but face financial difficulties due to a lack of viewers.

"They play every night, but nobody watches them except for on Saturdays, when the house is full," said Veri who lives nearby.

She said the troupe is wholly dependent on the folk for its livelihood.

Veri will celebrate her birthday from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday at the theater.

Veri will serve refreshments at the party, but guests will have to pay Rp 2,000 each for theater tickets, which is Veri's way of providing what support she can for the troupe. (jsk)