Teater Shakespeare returns to TIM

JAKARTA (JP): Teater Shakespeare, which won praise for its previous two plays, returns to the stage with Tidak Ada Jalan Keluar (No Way Out) at Taman Ismail Marzuki cultural center here from Oct. 8 and Oct. 10.

Founded in 1992 by students and alumni of the Jakarta Arts Institute, the group is scheduled to perform the play in Bandung from Oct. 14 to Oct. 15.

The Jakarta run of Tidak Ada Jalan Keluar, which is adapted from Jean-Paul Sartre's 1943 production, follows the enthusiastic response of drama lovers in Surakarta where the play was previewed last month.

Tidak Ada Jalan Keluar is about three strangers who have died and gone to hell. Hell is portrayed as resembling the living room of the second empire in the Hitler era.

Estelle, a nymphomaniac, has lost her husband who committed suicide after she murdered their child. Inez is a lesbian who tried to seduce her nephew's wife, who killed herself while Inez was asleep. Garcin is a pacifist who betrays his own ideology and is killed when he tries to escape.

All three quickly become aware of the machinations in hell, where each must torture the other. Estelle's strong sexual drive leads her to desire Garcin. He, who tried to ensure that he would die for heroic principles, has fallen for the clever Inez. She, in turn, is dismayed to discover Estelle's passion for Garcin.

Once they all realize the "hell" is the actions of the people around them, they try to shut out the others. But they come to understand that they depend on each other to understand who they are, which means they have no choice but to communicate. Garcin's inability to win Inez's heart tempts him to have sex with Estelle.

When the door is open, they do not have the courage to run out of hell. Aware that the situation is hopeless, they laugh hysterically until they are hoarse. They then begin to enter the vicious circle of their destiny. (pan)