Nona Manis -- RI's David Copperfield

JAKARTA (JP): Children screamed while adults looked on in seriousness when a master of ceremony opened a screen, revealing a girl's head on a round table during an entertainment group's performance at the Jakarta fair.

The "miracle girl" is the only show performed by the Nona Manis group, which has appeared at the Jakarta Fair since its opening day.

Positioned on a table, the girl's head -- introduced as Monita -- answered spectators' questions, sang and read holy Koranic verses.

A voice from a loud speaker invited fair visitors: "Come see the miracle girl, Nona Manis. Amazing."

The show is performed in a plywood building measuring 5 by 10 meters. Half of the building has benches for spectators, while the other is for the show, which is separated by a screen.

As the show opened, the master of ceremony, E.M Januardi, announced that the girl came from West Sumatra.

Januardi, who is also the group's technical manager, then opened the screen, revealing the girl's head on a round, three- leg table.

The girl's head, wearing eye glasses, then mentioned her address in West Sumatra.

"Come on, you can ask her," the master ceremony said, encouraging the spectators.

The distance between spectators and the girl was about two meters.

A man from West Sumatra then asked the girl to name a street in Padang, West Sumatra. The girl answered the question correctly.

"Why don't we ask her to sing? Agree?" Januardi said.

Monita then sang a dangdut song.

The girl's head then recited some Koranic verses, ending the show.

The spectators left with mixed feelings. Some were satisfied, while others were astonished.

A woman from Klender, East Jakarta expressed her astonishment: "How? Is that true?".

"It's not magic. It's just a technical illusion like David Copperfield from the United States," Asmay Dona, the group's administrative manager said.

He said that an average of 40 people watch each show, which lasts between 10 to 15 minutes. Spectators pay Rp 2,000 (85 US cents) for adults and Rp 1,500 for children for each show.

"The number of spectators might reach 75 people a show on Saturdays and Sundays," he said, adding that the group may perform 10 shows every night, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Dona said the group was set up in 1994 in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra by Jaman St. Lelo, an army pensioner. The group has performed throughout the country.

The group's manager said that the group earns an average Rp 1.2 million a night and has 14 employees. Employees each receive Rp 20,000 a day.

Dona seemed proud when he said that his group performed in 1994 at an Information Office meeting attended by Minister of Information Harmoko in Bukittinggi. (jun)