Monolog highlights country's grim reality

Kartika Bagus C., The Jakarta Post, Solo, Central Java

A half-naked figure moves onto the stage, stepping up on top of a rock with only an undergarment covering his body. Next to the figure, a strange-looking umbrella, an earthenware water container and a flower are laid out on the stage.

The figure then depicts three different human characters in a row, a child, a mother and a guest. All of the three characters are complaining about the chaos around them, expressing hope and praying that the problems will stop.

In the background, a large white cloth works as a screen, displaying scenes of bloody chaos. In flashes, the scenes show the tragic clashes in Sambas, West Kalimantan; religious conflicts in Ambon; violence in conflict-torn Aceh, victims of interethnic conflicts in Poso, Central Sulawesi; the student protests in 1998, and other traumatic events that took place over recent years.

All these scenes were part of a monologue performance titled Monolog Satu Cinta (Monologue of One Love) by Surabaya-born artist Meimura, of the Teater Ragil theater troupe in Surabaya. The performance, which was part of the artist's tour, underway now for two years, was staged at Teater Arena hall, the Surakarta Cultural Center, in Surakarta.

The monologue, which took the artist four months to prepare, was first staged in Palu, Central Sulawesi. The Surakarta show was its 9th performance and the last show will be held in Pamekasan, Madura, in late April.

As actor and director of the monologue, Meimura, 39, said he brought the country's chaotic situation to the stage to show his anxiety and surprise at his countrymen's actions, something he never imagined could happen in this country.

And the impacts of these actions were directly felt by children who knew nothing of the problems, but their fears would last forever, nurturing hatred in their hearts. And maybe, in the next 10 years, such conflicts could erupt again among the upcoming generation.

Meimura said he was not jumping on the bandwagon by staging the monologue, but rather hoping to make theater serve as a window through which to view both the past and the future.

Through the performance, the artist also wanted to show that language was not the only means of expression. Instead, pure conscience was more important and dominant.

Teater Ragil was founded in 1985 by Imam Cb, Aries Machfud, Sutar Rian and Koesnaryo. The theater group first performed on state television TVRI in Surabaya, and has since performed regularly on TVRI and state radio RRI Surabaya.

Apart from staging its own productions, Teater Ragil also works with other artists. Now, it is initiating a children's theater troupe targeting children between seven and 15 years of age.