Teater Koma cast members rehearse a scene for the upcoming Semar Gugat play. The three-hour play was first staged over two weeks in 1995 at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Central Jakarta. The troupe's director and scriptwriter Nano Riantiarno won the Southeast Asian Writers Award for the work three years after it was first staged. (thejakartapost.com/Novani Nugrahani) " height="426" border="0" width="639">Teater Koma cast members rehearse a scene for the upcoming Semar Gugat play. The three-hour play was first staged over two weeks in 1995 at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Central Jakarta. The troupe's director and scriptwriter Nano Riantiarno won the Southeast Asian Writers Award for the work three years after it was first staged. (thejakartapost.com/Novani Nugrahani)

Renowned theater troupe Teater Koma is set to revive the story of Semar Gugat (Semar Accuses), which criticizes social realities in Indonesia, at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (Jakarta Playhouse) on March 3-10.

The three-hour play was first staged in 1995 at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Central Jakarta for two weeks, for which the troupe's director and scriptwriter Nano Riantiarno received the Southeast Asian Writers Award three years later.

“It is ironic for me to find that Semar Gugat is still relevant to our situation today despite the fact that it was written two decades ago. Maybe the country hasn't really changed that much,” said Nano on Wednesday.

Semar Gugat tells the story of the uproar that occurs in the kingdom of Amarta as protagonist Semar attempts to take revenge against Arjuna, who cut off a tuft of Semar's hair and presented it as a wedding gift for Srikandi, an act that brings great dishonor to Semar and his family. Although Srikandi is said to be the one who asked for the gift, it is actually a ploy conducted by Betari Permoni so that she can posses Srikandi's body and spend her nights with Arjuna.

Under Arjuna's rule, the people of Amarta live miserably. And Semar, who represents the common people, is the one challenging the  powers that be. Written over 20 years ago, some parts of the dialogue were intended to criticize social realities under the New Order regime, including business practices, educational policies, nepotism and inequality.

Renowned theater troupe Teater Koma is set to revive the story of Semar Gugat (Semar Accuses), which criticizes social realities in Indonesia, at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (Jakarta Playhouse) on March 3-10.

The three-hour play was first staged in 1995 at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Central Jakarta for two weeks, for which the troupe's director and scriptwriter Nano Riantiarno received the Southeast Asian Writers Award three years later.

'€œIt is ironic for me to find that Semar Gugat is still relevant to our situation today despite the fact that it was written two decades ago. Maybe the country hasn't really changed that much,'€ said Nano on Wednesday.

Semar Gugat tells the story of the uproar that occurs in the kingdom of Amarta as protagonist Semar attempts to take revenge against Arjuna, who cut off a tuft of Semar's hair and presented it as a wedding gift for Srikandi, an act that brings great dishonor to Semar and his family. Although Srikandi is said to be the one who asked for the gift, it is actually a ploy conducted by Betari Permoni so that she can posses Srikandi's body and spend her nights with Arjuna.

Under Arjuna's rule, the people of Amarta live miserably. And Semar, who represents the common people, is the one challenging the  powers that be. Written over 20 years ago, some parts of the dialogue were intended to criticize social realities under the New Order regime, including business practices, educational policies, nepotism and inequality.

Design sketches for costumes that will be worn by the characters in Semar Gugat. Costume designer Rima Ananda said on Wednesday that the team needed over two months to make all the play's costumes. (thejakartapost.com/Novani Nugrahani)

During a press tour at the troupe's modest and homey studio in South Jakarta, costume designer Rima Ananda said that it took the team over two months to make all the costumes for Semar Gugat.

'€œWe made all the costumes from scratch. They will be more contemporary than the ones worn in the 1995 play, while staying true to the  wayang [puppet] essence,'€ said Rima.

Several hair accessories that will be worn in the upcoming play can be seen at one corner of the studio. In one room, there is a tall bookshelf full of Nano's wide collection, ranging from wayang and silat (traditional martial arts) stories to original scripts he has written for Teater Koma including those that were banned by the New Order government, such as the comical Opera Kecoa (Cockroach Opera). As the title suggests, the play is about the lives of Jakarta's lowest of the low -- those who are constantly pushed aside but keeps coming back, in short, the cockroaches of society.

Many of the initial crew are returning for this year's production including choreographer Sentot S., music director Idrus Madani, production head Ratna Riantiarno and Budi Ros as Semar. (kes)(+)