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Megawati hosts play to mark 70th birthday
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Cak Lontong (left), Akbar (center) and Arie Kriting perform during 'Tripikala: Tertawa bersama Ibu Mega (07 tahun)'. (JP/Ni Nyoman Wira)
M
egawati Soekarnoputri, the matriarch of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), invited friends to share some laughs with her by hosting a satirical performance at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) in Jakarta on Monday.
Entitled Tripikala: Tertawa bersama Ibu Mega (07 tahun), (Tripikala, Laughing with Ibu Mega), the play was held in conjunction with Megawati’s 70th birthday celebration.
“Why did I hold this [performance]? Perhaps it’s because there have been so many things that I’ve done during the nation's struggle. I just join in to give my thoughts,” Megawati said during an opening speech prior to the show.
“When people asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I thought: I’ve had the political stage for a long time, but not a cultural stage.”
Directed by Agus Noor, the performance began with a monologue from renowned performance artist Sujiwo Tejo. Set in a palace, the play tells the story of a sick king who needs the holy water “Tripikala” to heal.
Two of the kingdom’s princes, alongside their guards, are asked to find the holy water in three different locations in Indonesia.
With each quest, they find new friends and are separated from old ones, but they do not stop from continuing on the journey.
However, when the Tripikala water has been gathered and they are ready to return to their homes, two of the kingdom’s dukes try to stop them because they want to let the king die and then take over the kingdom.
The performance featured famous names in the local comedy and theater scene including Butet Kertaradjasa, Cak Lontong, Insan Nur Akbar, Arie Kriting, and Happy Salma.
(Read also: Many people ask about Cabinet positions, says Megawati)
Comedy duo Cak Lontong and Insan Nur Akbar stole the show and garnered the most laughs, especially in the scene where they were challenged to think up poetic quatrains by locals in West Sumatra. Papuan singer Edo Kondologit also took to the stage and gave a memorable performance alongside Djaduk Ferianto's brilliant music arrangements.
The invitation-only event managed to fill up the venue with distinguished guests, including President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who praised the performance.
“Everything was funny, from the beginning until the end,” he said after the play ended.
“I think so many important messages were conveyed during the performance, particularly the importance of unity," he added.
Meanwhile, Megawati’s daughter, Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani, expressed the hope that similar such cultural events could be held regularly in the future.
“It doesn't have to be a monthly event, but it could at least be an annual event with different stories that are funny so they can inspire us to keep protecting pluralism and Pancasila in this country,” she explained.
Tripikala: Tertawa bersama Ibu Mega (07 tahun) was also attended by government officials and several Cabinet ministers, including Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo and Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.
Diah Permata Megawati Setiawati Soekarnoputri was born in Yogyakarta on Jan. 23, 1947. She was one of the daughters of Indonesia’s founding father Sukarno.
Megawati became the country’s first female president in 2001. (asw)
