Umar Kayam's short story impresses Jakartans

Umar Kayam's short story impresses Jakartans

By Yenni Kwok

JAKARTA (JP): If a success was measured by the author's
blessing, the music and story reading by brothers Djaduk Ferianto
and Butet Kertaredjasa had been a big accomplishment.

Author Umar Kayam, whose short story "Drs. Citraksa and Drs.
Citraksi" was read last Tuesday, shared the night of laughter
with the audience of Graha Bhakti Budaya.

He smiled and laughed as Butet, the fifth son of renown
choreographer Bagong Kussudiardjo, made alive the pathetic
characters from his piece. Djaduk, Butet's more famous youngest
brother, composed the music.

The music and short story reading was originally performed
last June in Yogyakarta. Then titled Pak Kayam Pamit Pensiun (Pak
Kayam Says Good Bye to Retire), it was to honor Kayam's
retirement from Gadjah Mada University.

"The story is a portrayal of our time," Kayam said after the
performance. "The story became better. They had a good and creative
approach."

Although their Jakarta performance was no longer associated
with Kayam's retirement event, the content was still relevant to
any occasion.

Witty humor and satires dominated the two-part performance.

The two brothers took turn to carry the weight. The first part
highlighted Djaduk's musical and theatrical talent.

His music score, "Kursi Goyang Pak Ageng" (Pak Ageng's Rocking
Chair), revolved around the concept of "seat" and power.

Djaduk also made fun of a leader, who still ruled in
feudalistic tradition. Pak Ageng, acted by a man with a round
face and a safari shirt, enjoyed Djaduk's music in his rocking
chair.

The soothing music soon turned to be disturbing. Rebana
players surrounded the leader, waking him up from his peaceful
rest. He jumped from his chair and shouted, "Shut up! If it's
time to step down, I will step down!"

Djaduk was a maestro. Or, a chef. He knew how to mix the
ingredients of music, theater and literature to make it appealing
to the audience.

Even his music was a combination of jazz, gamelan and gambus
music. His band combined gamelan instruments, electronic organs,
rebanas and a clarinet.

Nothing was new in this performance. It still showcased the
same elements: Djaduk's music, humor and satires. Yet, it was
something the audience were never tired of.

After all, the Maestro was not blind to the current
situation. On stage, he gave opportunities for people to laugh
and relieve their oppressed concerns.

Nonetheless, Djaduk off stage was not as naughty. "We are only
being playful," said the 33-year-old artist.

The show climaxed at the second part, featuring Kayam's piece.
It was a ridiculing portrayal of nepotism, a common practice of
the powerful here.

Regent Beragalrebo was once asked by his beloved uncle to
accommodate his twin cousins, Citraksi and Citraksa, into his
bureaucratic machinery. (The twins' names are taken from
Mahabharata epic; they are the always lost Kurawa twin brothers.)

If the twins were smart and intelligent, it would be no
problem. But they always stuttered whenever they had to carry
important tasks.

Butet, still active at Teater Gandrik, showed off his
theatrical talent in enlivening Kayam's story.

The serious-looking bespectacled man personified different
characters. He was the bewildered Regent Beragalrebo,
the toothless old dukun (medicine man), the stuttering twins
Citraksi and Citraksa. The 46-year-old artist was the star of
the night.

The brothers have worked before in a musical performance,
Musik Humor (Musical Humor) between 1970 and 1979.

Their work has impressed another literary figure. Writer
Danarto has asked them to read his short story, possibly in
October.