Teater Sae's 'Hamlet' depicts country's tragic downfall

Teater Sae's 'Hamlet' depicts country's tragic downfall

By Rita A. Widiadana

JAKARTA (JP): After a five-year absence from the local theater
stage, Teater Sae decided to present its newest production, a
tragedy of politics, out of concern for the country's chaotic
social, economical and political conditions.

The play Hamlet Menjelang Pemilu: Petunjuk Petunjuk Menjadi
Presiden (Hamlet Prior to the Elections: a Guide to Become a
President) will be staged in the middle of the campaigning period
at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta from May 28 through May 30.

Eko D. Zenah, Teater Sae's production manager, said through
theater work, the group's members wanted to share feelings of
agony, their contribution to shape a brighter future of the
country which is now facing complicated problems.

He said it was difficult to stage a play during the crisis in
which people's attentions were averted to political and economic
issues.

"But, we think that this is the right time for us to show our
deep concern, to remind people of what is really happening in our
country," he explained.

Hamlet , written by Afrizal Malna, tells the story of Hamlet
alias Achmad who is desperately struggling to fight a devilish
monarch.

The 90-minute play, directed by Busro Yoga, is inspired by
Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Afrizal uses only a few of Shakespeare's characters like
Hamlet (played by Wahyu), Horatio (Syaeful, a member of Teater
Kubur) and Ophelia.

"This is a tragic play but not in the Shakespearean
tradition," Afrizal explained.

Teater Sae's Hamlet, he said, mostly focuses on tragedy which
befalls a country and its people because of a ruthless,
incompetent and blood-thirsty regime.

"The play is rich in social and political nuances. It portrays
the real situation in our country," explained poet Afrizal, who
is now active in a non-governmental organization called the Urban
Poor Consortium (UPC).

Hamlet deals with topical issues like mass violence,
abduction, serial killings, corruption, campaign and the general
election.

Afrizal went on to say that the play was written particularly
to welcome the campaigning period and the coming general election
in June.

"We consider this period very important. It might be a climax
or an anti-climax of the nation's tragedy," he noted.

Today, political parties are mushrooming and are fighting each
other to seize power. Power means money and full control of the
people, he said.

"There are a lot of political clowns, corrupt and greedy
leaders. They are just like theatrical characters on a real
political stage," Afrizal said.

He said that he and probably a lot more people are now
confused and pessimistic over the future of the country.

The coming election is expected to become a tool to change the
fate of our people and to get rid of the present illegitimate and
oppressive regime.

"But how can people elect leaders coming from unknown and
absurd parties. We call them partai jadi-jadian," invisible
parties," Afrizal said.

Teater Sae's Hamlet represents the confused generation. The
generation which has always been repressed and cheated by the
authority.

Afrizal deliberately creates a dark and gloomy atmosphere in
this play, a trademark of Teater Sae.

Since its establishment in l983, Teater Sae is known as an
experimental theater group. The group presented several noted
works like Biografi (Biography), Migrasi Ruang Tamu (Migration in
the Living Room) and Pertumbuhan di atas Meja Makan (Growth on a
Dinner Table).

"This play resembles our own situation. We are now living in a
dark tunnel. There is still no ray of hope," he said.

The coming performance will involve 30 people from Teater Sae
and other groups.

Eko said that this time, Teater Sae invited theater people to
take part in Hamlet. "It is collaborative theater work among
talented artists," he said.

Among the Hamlet' crews are Dianto, an artist from the Bandung
Institute of Technology, dance choreographer Benny, Sonny
Sumarsono and Alex Iskandar who are responsible for stage and
lighting. The play also involves artists from Teater Bandar
Jakarta and Teater Kubur.

Afrizal said that theater people must join forces to create
quality and continuous work.

There are a number of problems that have been hampering the
development of theater in Indonesia, he said.

A lack of secure financial support, infrastructure facilities
and new talent are among the crucial obstacles, he added.

"In the past, we had a lot of theater venues like Teater Arena
and Teater Tertutup at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center. They are
closed now," he said.

Money is another problem. "It is difficult to find sponsors
who can finance our productions. So far, Teater Sae relies on
individuals who are willing to spend their own money to support
us," Eko added.

Despite all the problems, Teater Sae and other theater groups
in Indonesia must keep on working in voicing people's
consciences, he said.