Renny Djajoesman returns to theater in 'Tumirah, The Pimp'
By Helly Minarti
JAKARTA (JP): Theater people have found inspiration in the country's turbulent times during the past 20 months. Another entry in the line is Tumirah, Sang Mucikari (Tumirah, The Pimp), starring and directed by Renny Djajoesman.
The play, to be performed by her Teater Yuka company at 8 p.m. at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta on Friday, marks Renny's comeback to the theater.
An expressive actress, she performed in the past for Teater Mandiri, led by ex-husband Putu Wijaya. Renny's last stage performance was in 1983, "just before my divorce in early 1984".
She became a noted rock singer and occasionally acted in TV films. Renny received best actress honors for her role in Cermin (Mirror) in last year's Festival Sinetron Indonesia.
"I have long wanted to make it (the comeback), but you have to wait for the right moment," Renny explained.
Personal and other reasons are driving her return. "I'm turning 40 this year and Yuka, my eldest daughter, turns 17. It's like a birthday present for her." A single mother, she is also raising Growong, her son from her second marriage.
Other concerns are involved.
"It is also my intention to work on something meaningful at this stage of life. I've been deeply restless following the news in the papers and on TV, all those violent things and the crisis."
She shared her feelings with Seno Gumira Ajidarma -- "my only writer friend" -- which started the ball rolling for her return.
"First I wanted to do a monolog, but then why not a drama?" said Renny, who retains her eccentric dressing style, complete with colorful bandana and ethnic accessories.
Seno promised to write a script for her. In mid December, he finished it and Renny quickly did the rest, raising funds and casting the show.
On Seno's advice, she hired Dindon WS to assist in her first directing job. Dindon once played for Teater Ketjil and assisted late director Arifin C. Noer before he founded Teater Kubur in the late 1980s.
Renny also recruited musician Fariz RM, her frequent collaborator. Also in her troupe are senior artistic director Roedjito and a lineup of actors drawn from Teater Yuka, Teater Mandiri, Teater Kubur and a few from her TV circle.
Seno wrapped a story on confronting violence. It tells about a brothel in a military operation area which is burned by a ninja- like gang. The prostitutes are raped and assaulted and have to live in the continuing terror of the return of the ninjas, who cannot be identified.
Despite it all, Tumirah the pimp chooses not to face violence with violence.
"I think that is my message. In this troubled situation let us go back to what we are, doing what we're always good at. Be professional," said Renny.
In saying so, she distanced herself from the example of Ratna Sarumpaet, the female theater director who is now also a political activist.
Although she once led and directed Teater Adinda, a children's theater group, in the 1980s, this is Renny's first directing work in serious theater.
She is nonplused when asked about her style.
"Nothing like Putu's, I hope," she laughed. Aware that her strong acting grew under Putu's direction as a member of Teater Mandiri, she persistently intends to explore her own touch.
"Dindon is very helpful in the process," Renny said.
Her assistant said Renny's effort to divorce her style from Putu was apparent, "but if there is a bit of similarity, it's quite understandable".
Dindon also said he respected Renny's ideals and tried his best not to inject his Teater Kubur background into her style. "I like her energy -- we need more women directors."
Renny has also dared to take some of young talents from her TV circle, most of whom do not share her solid theater background.
"Ow, yes, it's very, very different," she shrieked of the approach. "We are from quite different acting disciplines. But so far they're OK. I had to disqualify some of them though who failed to meet my standard."
It is not a vanity exercise in which she is seeking to stand out from her less experienced costars. "I would have failed then. It's not theater if only one person gets the spotlight."
Fariz RM is making his theatrical debut as music director in the play.
"I love Seno's works and read most of his short stories. For me they're kind of filmist. So what I do is trying to interact with everything on stage and apply some experience I've got from my years doing the music for films and TV series."
Due to the time limitations, he works with his computerized MIDI set. "But everything still develops, I change things whenever I feel the need to."
Renny forgot when exactly she founded Teater Yuka, but it was "not long after my divorce". The cast rehearsed for the play during the fasting month and continued only few days after Lebaran last week. Renny used her father's home in South Jakarta, turning its spacious front yard into a rehearsal area.
After the premiere, there is a planned three-day run in Jakarta in March. Renny hoped it would mark a revival in Indonesia's lagging theater fortunes.
"I'm longing to see Indonesia's theater pick up again like during its heyday in the 1970s. It has become one of my main drives, too."