Sat, 25 Oct 1997

Theater Ketjil returns with play on forest fires

JAKARTA (JP): Thick haze from brush and forest fires has inspired Theater Ketjil, a theater group founded by the late Arifin C. Noer, to create a play which marks the group's comeback, after a long absence from theater performances.

The play, Kok Bisa-bisanya Sih Kau Bakar Hutan Itu? (How Could You Burn The Forests?), will feature leading theater actors Ikranagara, Dorman Borisman, Arifin's widow Jajang C. Noer and Yuyun Wahyudi.

"I hope the play will become the theater's resurrection, following Mas Fin (Arifin) death about 1,000 days ago," Jajang said.

Arifin, a noted theater and film director, died in May 1995 due to a malfunctioning liver.

The play, written by Ikranagara and directed by Amoroso Katamsi, will be performed on Nov. 5. The play is one of many performances scheduled to commemorate Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Arts Center's 29th anniversary on Nov. 10.

The performances, which include musical performances, dances, poetry reading, a short drama, a puppet play and a two-day seminar on literature, will be held from Nov. 1 through Nov. 12.

Theater Ketjil is not the only theater group to perform in the celebration. Theater Koma will perform Kala, a play about a greedy creature who only has one wish: To eat everything, including a human.

Unlike its previous performances, which run for days, Theater Koma's Kala, written by N. Riantiarno, will only be staged for one night, Nov. 3.

"This is the first time this has happened in Theater Koma's history," said Riantiarno, who is better known as Nano.

The play will feature among its players Nano and his wife Ratna Riantiarno and actor Salim Bungsu. The play is directed by Idries Pulungan.

Putu Wijaya's Theater Mandiri will also participate in the celebration by performing Dar Der Dor, a play which was staged at the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta in early October.

Dar Der Dor, written in 1991 by Putu in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, centers on people's socioeconomic problems. The players include Wendy Nasution and Ucok Hutagaol. Music arrangement is by Harry Roesly.

TIM's anniversary is also being used by Rendra to perform a short play, Kereta Kencana, with his former wife, Ken Zuraida. It is an adaptation of Eugene Ionesco's The Chairs.

Kereta Kencana will be performed on Nov. 2, and will feature Rendra, Ken and Sudibyanto.

Wayang

In addition to performing a short play, Rendra will also give a cultural speech on Nov. 10, TIM's anniversary.

A shadow puppet play, Hanoman Obong (Hanoman's Burning), will be performed by Ki Hadi Sujiwo Tejo on Nov. 8.

Unlike a traditional puppet play, Tejo will use the Hanoman SEA Games white monkey mascot doll instead of the usual white monkey shadow puppet used in the epic Ramayana play.

In the play, Hanoman, who is caught and burned after his attack on the Alengka Kingdom to rescue Sinta, kidnapped by King Rahwana, burns down the palace and the forests surrounding it. Thick haze from the forest fires makes some of Alengka's residents complain.

Plays and puppetry are not the only activities planned for the celebration of TIM's anniversary. The organizer will also hold a two-day seminar on literature.

The seminar, to discuss the roles of two prominent figures in Indonesian literature -- Asrul Sani and H.B. Jassin -- will be held on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9.

Speakers include Afrizal Malna, Putu Wijaya, M. Sobari and Sapardi Djoko Damono. During the seminar, there will also be an exhibition of literature books and H.B. Jassin's works. (ste)