Theater hits malls to find youth talent

By Yenni Kwok

JAKARTA (JP): "Mom, I want to be a thespian" is not something most parents are likely to hear from their teenage children.

Compared with other performing professions, such as television acting or modeling, theater is a far less glamorous field.

Scriptwriters Anto Lupus and Arswendo Atmowiloto, who, in their performances, often include sketches about teenager life, talked last Saturday about the discussion Theater and Youth, held at Galeri Cipta II.

"Teenagers now are obsessed with becoming part of a musical group, a magazine-cover model or a television actress," said Anto Lupus, who admitted that he learned about the theater after becoming dissatisfied with his acting in one of the Lupus films.

The obsession is well-reflected in Anto's own recent experience in television. For his television series, he needed 25 young actors. Around 8,000 would-be actors applied.

Modeling and television careers appeal to many teenagers because they help teenagers get their foot in showbiz door.

Indeed, gone are the days when actors, like Septian Dwi Cahyo or Sylvana Herman, made their names in theater before switching to a movie or television career.

Now, it is the other way around. A television actor now joins a theater production, proving that he or she does have some acting skills.

Some believe the theatrical experience can do actors good. A young television actress once told Anto that her fee would be higher if she performed in a theater play.

"Theater has become an alternative choice," said Anto, who is now active in writing television scripts.

This concept applies to both celebrities and common folks. The 30-year-old scriptwriter argued that theater is becoming a choice for those who cannot make their way on to basketball teams, into sports clubs, or music bands.

He reasons that theater has lost its appeal because of its distance from teenagers' shopping and cafe culture preferences.

Anto has even taken a more pragmatic step to popularize theater among the young crowd. "The best thing is to follow the trend," he said.

That includes opening channels to other media of expression (such as movies or television), learning theater while in malls (looking at different people's characteristics and attitudes, he said), or at Studio 21 movie theaters (from badly acted Hollywood blockbuster movies?).

While Anto is concerned with the theater's popularity, Arswendo takes a more relaxed attitude when addressing teenagers' interest.

Draw

He likens a teenager's joining a theater group to participating in a lucky draw.

"Teenagers like to explore and try things," Arswendo said. "They will participate in whatever succeeds to interest them."

Thus, their initial motives do not matter. "If they are committed, that is good," he added.

Arswendo advised that teenagers should not be concerned about restricting themselves to television acting. Once an actor shows talent, opportunities would follow.

A simplification? Perhaps. In fact, both speakers failed to address where aspired teenage actors can try out their talents.

Very few theater groups are still putting on regular performances. Moreover, theaters are not common extracurricular activities in most schools.

Sometimes, the determined ones need to do more than just rehearse lines. Ferry Juliano and Andri Lolo, both 16-year-old students of a pesantren (Moslem boarding school), had to sneak out of their dormitory to attend the discussion.

"The school authorities think that going to theater discussions is not productive," Andri said.

Despite the school's lack of support, their theater group, Teater Tropis, still managed to stage some performances.

"I find my true identity in the theater," Ferry said.

Andri agreed. Going against his parents' consent, he has vowed to keep on acting. "I can't leave the theater," he said.

It would be shameful if people still complained about lack of interest while genuine enthusiasm like theirs goes unnoticed.