Teater Koma to stage Brecht work at TIM

JAKARTA (JP): The country's most prolific theater group, Teater Koma, will present an adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera starting on Saturday evening in conjunction with its 22nd anniversary.

Stage director N. Riantiarno said on Wednesday he adapted the play for local audiences under the title Opera Ikan Asin, but maintained the original themes of the great German dramatist. Brecht's work depicts social injustice, corruption and political conspiracy in a down-to-earth yet comical way.

Audiences warmly welcomed Teater Koma's debut performance of Opera Ikan Asin in 1983. Asked why the group was performing the opera again, Riantiarno replied that drama contained universal artistic values which withstood the test of time.

"Besides, the problems that Brecht depicted in his drama have some similarities with the problems Indonesians are facing now." He cited the country's current banking problems as one part of the play depicts how a group of bandits sets up a bank to cheat clients.

Teater Koma has also performed Brecht's The Good Woman of Sechzwan, which many theater buffs considered one of the best theatrical performances of 1992.

The semi-operatic performance will be performed by the group's acting mainstays including Ratna Riantiarno, Idries Pulungan, Salim Bungsu, Dudung Hadi, Sari Madjid and Rita Matu Mona. They have appeared in most of Teater Koma's 85 productions since its establishment. Music is provided by Idrus Madani and Totom Kodrat and Jim Bary Aditya is in charge of stage decor and lighting.

Opera Ikan Asin will be performed at Graha Bhakti Budaya theater building in Taman Ismail Marzuki Cultural Center, Central Jakarta, through April 24. (ego)