Semar Gugat
| Semar Gugat | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Nano Riantiarno |
| Characters | |
| Date premiered | November 25, 1995 |
| Place premiered | Graha Bakti Budaya , Jakarta |
| Original language | Indonesian |
Semar Gugat (Indonesian for Semar Accuses) is a 1995 stage play by Nano Riantiarno.
Plot
The kingdom of Amarta is preparing for the wedding of Arjuna and Srikandi. The Punakawans—Semar, his wife Sutiragen, and their children Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong—prepare to attend the ceremony.
However, the bride-to-be is fraught with doubt. Arjuna is already well-known as a womanizer and has already wed an untold number of women. She decides to test Arjuna's love by giving him a test. At this moment, Durga, the queen of demons, chooses to possess her body and, controlling Srikandi's voice, demands to see Arjuna even though tradition forbids it. With the support of Arjuna's two other wives, Sumbadra and Larasasti, she succeeds in meeting Arjuna and tells him to provide a lock of Semar's hair as proof of his devotion. Arjuna reluctantly does the deed and the ceremony goes as scheduled. However, Semar is unable to accept the humiliation, stating that not even gods dare touch his head. The family does not attend Arjuna's wedding, despite being palace servants, and Semar cries at home for the remainder of the day. Meanwhile, Arjuna's brothers, including King Yudhistira, leave the kingdom to meditate; Arjuna is left to rule over Amarta.
Semar decides that he has had enough humiliation; although he is very powerful, he feels constantly abused by humans and gods. With his favourite son Bagong he goes to the palace of the gods in Kayangan. However, only Semar is admitted; Bagong is chased off by two guards. Semar speaks to the gods Batara Guru and Batara Narada and asks to regain the handsome face he had once had. This they give him, using plastic surgery. Semar is made human and given his own kingdom, Simpang Bawana Nuranitis Asri. Semar changes his name to Prabu Sanggadonya Lukanurani. Although he has become leader of his own kingdom, Semar is unable to find happiness. His wife, not believing that he is Semar, leaves him; only his sons Petruk and Gareng join him. They begin building the kingdom, but are displeased to find that all of its riches are not enough to ensure harmony.
Meanwhile, in Amarta, Arjuna's leadership is causing the populace to feel miserable. Under the influence of Srikandi (who remains possessed by Durga), Arjuna focuses on economic development and increases the number of imports. He establishes monopolies on common commodities hoping to control the population and uses popular culture to promote a sense of selfless nationalism. Much of the disillusioned populace emigrates from Amarta, while others send extensive letters of protest to the palace. Those who remain are later possessed by demons under Durga's leadership, becoming prisoners in their own bodies.
In Simpang Bawana Nuranitis Asri, Larasati and Sumbadra—who have lost favour in Amarta—arrive. They meet with two warriors from Amarta, Sumbadra's son Abimanyu and his cousin Gatotkaca, who have come to tell Semar of Amarta's suffering. Unable to accept the people's suffering, Semar goes to his former homeland and challenges Arjuna and Srikandi, whom he realises has been possessed. When Semar tries to use his sacred flatulence known as "Ajian The White Kentuts", said to be capable of causing "whirlwinds, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, [and] volcanic eruptions",[a][1] it has no effect. Durga laughs at Semar's impotence and lets him live, considering it the greatest humiliation possible. Petruk and Gareng join Durga, leaving Semar alone.
Themes and style
Semar, a character in traditional Javanese puppetry (wayang) is generally considered representative of the common people.[2]
H. Sujiwo Tejo of Kompas writes that the performance used more modern story telling techniques, noting that changes between scenes were more stylised and quicker than in traditional wayang. He also notes influences of modern dance, another departure from traditional theatre.[2]
Performance
After Riantiarno completed writing Semar Gugat, the New Order government—which required stage plays to receive formal permission before performances could be held— held up production. Generally this was straightforward, but some playwrights reportedly faced more stringent criteria.[3] Riantiarno, who had previously been highly critical of the government in depicting prostitutes, transsexuals, and corrupt officials in Opera Kecoa (The Cockroach Opera),[4] was one such writer; others included Rendra and Guruh Sukarnoputra.[3] The government only formally granted permission for the play to be performed on 24 November 1995.[2] Owing to debate over the censorship of stage plays by the government, including Semar Gugat, in 1996 the government formally rescinded the requirement; social commentators, however, remained skeptical.[5]
Semar Gugat was first performed at 800-seat Graha Bakti Budaya in Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, the day after permission was granted. Tickets for the first two performances, each running three hours, sold out in advance; Tejo noted that most of the audience were not regular theatre-goers. The initial two-week run was produced by Nano's wife Ratna, with its choreography handled by Sentot S and music directed by Idrus Madani. All characters, both male and female, were portrayed by men. Semar was portrayed by Budi Ros.[2]
For his work on Semar Gugat, in 1998 Nano Riantiarno received the SEA Write Award from the government of Thailand.[6]
Explanatory notes
- ^ Original: "... lesus, angin puyuh, banjir bandang, gempa bumi, [dan] gunung-gunung meletus."
References
- ^ Riantiarno 1995, p. 99.
- ^ a b c d Tejo 1995, Angin Litsus dari Semar.
- ^ a b Bodden 2010, p. 50.
- ^ Brown 2007, p. 1136.
- ^ Bodden 2010, p. 305.
- ^ JCG, Nano Riantiarno.
Works cited
- {{cite news
|title=Angin Litsus dari Semar |trans_title=Whirlwind from Semar |language=Indonesian |work=Kompas |date=26 November 1995 |first=H Sujiwo |last=Tejo |ref=CITEREFTejo_1995,_Angin_Litsus_dari_Semar