Wayang losing out to TV?

Wayang losing out to TV?

From Jayakarta

The number of wayang, or shadow play, fans seems to be decreasing, with fewer spectators attending performances. This could be caused by TV, so maybe shadow plays should follow with technological advances.

The key to a successful shadow play performance lies with the skills of the puppeteer. Puppeteers Ki Narto Sabdo, Hadiprajitno, Manteb Sudharsono, Sugito, and Gino were among the most popular and well-known puppeteers in the 1980s. Then, every show had a large audience. But 1990s are a different story.

However, in his performance last month at Taman Mini, puppeteer Manteb Sudharsono caught the attention of about six thousand spectators. To reward his 20 years of service in this traditional art, the President presented him with the Cultural Award.

I hope the shadow play art, inherited from our ancestors, will be perpetuated and developed by the younger generations in this era of modernization.

DIMAS

Bogor, West Java