Yati capitalizes on natural strengths for fame

By Jusuf Susilo Hartono

JAKARTA (JP): Despite what many say, a flat nose doesn't always bring bad luck. Yati is among the lucky ones. This Yogyakarta born artist -- a long-time practitioner of Javanese ketoprak (history-based drama), wayang orang (Hindu epic-based dance-drama), sinden (female singing backed by traditional orchestra) and witty comedy -- has emerged as a stage and screen celebrity primarily because of her flat nose. Out of ingenuity, she has even unhesitatingly popularized the word pesek (flat- nosed) as her nickname to boost her fame: Yati Pesek, aged 49.

In modern management language, perhaps Yati is applying a shrewd strategy. She's capable of changing what could be perceived as a physical flaw into a strength so as to enable her to make get ahead. But don't ever ask her about modern management. She does it all naturally instead of consciously planning her moves. She's an entertainer whose face is already considered by many to be amusing even if she doesn't speak a word. She's no university graduate, or even secondary school graduate.

"I've been on the stage since I was eight, joining the wayang and ketoprak troupes of Jati Mulyo, Panca Murti, Suryo Ndadari and Siswo Budoyo. It meant that I had to change schools frequently. I was therefore unable to follow classes properly, and in the end I quit," she said in Javanese while laughing without a hint of regret.

Yati's schooling therefore consisted of her struggle for survival, with experience being her teacher, and on-stage and off-stage realities her lessons. To her it's not modern management that matters. It's the flat nose that she's grateful for. Why not just have plastic surgery to make it "better"? She answers this humorously, saying "an operation like that could take away my bread and butter."

So, for instance, when Yati's face is ridiculed by her stage partner, comedian Marwoto, she doesn't get offended. In turn, she makes fun of Marwoto's protruding teeth. This causes the audience to go into virtual paroxysms of laughter. To maintain friendly relations, comedians usually apologize to each other for their rudeness. Thereafter, they have no hard feelings.

"For me, it's simple. If any of my fellow artists jeer at me on stage, I'll mock their weak points as well. Yet, my flat nose is very much an easy target for cheeky jokes, ha ha!" she remarked when interviewed during a break in shooting for a TVRI wayang orang show some time ago. There now follows excerpts from the interview:

Question: What do you think of ketoprak humor and wayang orang humor (comedy versions of both dramas)?

Answer: The former is a bit loose in presenting the manners of monarchs and their subjects. The latter is strict in formal conduct: different figures, like Pandawa and Kurawa, behave in different ways. How they should walk and sit, what costumes they should wear and so forth have their own standards.

Which troupe did you stay with for the longest?

Siswo Budoyo, a new style ketoprak group under the late Pak Sis. I was a troupe member for 12 years from 1970 to 1982, performing in one city after another. Only thereafter did I begin to settle in Yogya. I learned a lot from Pak Sis. And I was better off with Siswo Budoyo because it had big audiences. I was no longer so poor then. But I've been no stranger to the hard life. I spent my earlier years with Jati Mulyo and Panca Murti in the 1960s, followed by eight years' work with Suryo Ndadari (owned by the brother of renowned comedian Timbul). The whole experience helped form my personality and my current artistic expression.

Your programs on TV are so varied, covering ketoprak humor, wayang orang humor and wayang kulit (shadow puppet), while you remain based in Yogya? How do you fit it all in

No problem. Everything can be arranged with airplanes. And my schedules is actually a lot busier than that. For instance, I also participate in wayang kulit for non-broadcasting purposes besides performing in my own drama shows, Suka Humor and Bancak Doyok, with campur sari (traditional and modern orchestral) accompaniment. The principle is: be smart in preparing your time and your jobs. One evening I'm in Jakarta and the next morning I'll be back home. Later in the day I'll be in still other places -- so my hectic life goes.

Under such conditions, how do you contrive to keep your jokes amusing, and how do you compete against the farcical behavior of politicians?

Wherever I happen to be, such as at an airport, in a supermarket, hotel, or mall, or while watching TV or teenagers gossiping, I always closely observe what is going on. They are the sources of my jokes. Lots of simple, funny things can be entertaining without having any political nuances. I don't want to mix my job with politics so as to avoid any rivalry with the politicians (laughing). Let me appeal to all politicians to unite and be reconciled for the sake of peace and security in Indonesia. It's now a hard time for most people.

How did you feel when President Wahid went to see Ketoprak humor at Taman Ismail Marzuki?

I was happy. But I wasn't there at the time because I had an invitation to perform in Surabaya.

What's your strategy for survival, especially in facing tight competition in the entertainment world?

First, never get involved in a family dispute. Family harmony is thus first and foremost. If I get angry at home, my husband, children and grandchildren will only laugh at me. So I'll just hurl a pan on the floor to startle them and then go to bed, ha ha! Second, we're accustomed to fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, and on three successive days with the person's birthday in between: if you're born on Sunday, you fast from Saturday through Monday. In this way we can get closer to God, asking Him to forgive all our sins and those of our ancestors.

Do you use susuk (magic implants) so as to achieve even greater success?

No, I don't use charms, except hair pins.

What have you earned over your decades of toil as an artist and comedian?

A whole lot. I've bought a house, cars, married three children off and so forth, for which I must praise the Lord. I feel grateful as it turned out that I could really rely on this profession.

For all that, they say you're taking good care of your mouth?

Yes, indeed. I've got to pay special attention to my mouth, as its through my mouth that my jokes and melodies emerge. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to joke or sing. So I avoid ice, as it makes me dizzy and sick. And I avoid eating hot or salty food. ***