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span class="caption" style="width: 398px;">Stereotypes: Actress Happy Salma (left) performs in a rehearsal of Legenda Opera Roro Mendut which will be staged on Saturday at Teater Jakarta in Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta. JP/Dina IndrasafitriRoro Mendut, a young woman famed for her beauty, is devastated. The land she lived in has been conquered as part of Mataram kingdom’s ambition to extend its authority to the entire island of Java.

Moreover, her attractiveness has triggered Tumenggung Wiraguna, Mataram’s august war commander who conquered her land, to request her as his concubine. Countering the stereotypical submissive nature of women at that time, she refuses to obey.

Wiraguna’s wrath at this rejection has led to him to impose cumbersome taxes for Mendut to remain in Mataram.

She is forbidden from exposing her identity and her face to the common people to prevent bringing shame to Wiraguna.

Once again, Mendut displays her perseverance. Hiding behind a thin sheet, she sold cigarettes she had smoked herself.

Despite the veil, men were mesmerized by the visible silhouette of her figure and full lips, thus her business thrives.

She also falls in love with a handsome man named Pronocitro and the two begin to form a relationship. The young man even begins to work in the palace to be closer to her.

The legend of Roro Mendut, which takes place during the 17th century as part of the “Babad Tanah Jawa”, an assortment of legends and stories surrounding the island of Java, is set to be told through contemporary theater this Saturday at Teater Jakarta in Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta.

Banyumili Production, a group composed of local socialites who have a common interest in Indonesian art and culture, is working with artists from the Wayang Orang Bharata dance group and the Indonesian Art Institute (ISI), to produce the show, which is supported by Djarum Apresiasi Budaya, part of the Djarum Foundation.

Art Director Ida Soeseno, who is known for her works involving traditional Javanese arts, is directing the production, and Wardoyo, from Surakarta’s ISI is in charge of the show’s choreography.

Legenda Opera Roro Mendut will feature longtime actor Ray Sahetapy as Wiraguna and actress Happy Salma as Roro Mendut.

Another longtime actor, Tio Pakusadewo, as well as actress Debby Sahertian, will also share the same stage.

Costume designs for the show involve noted designers Carmanita and Ramli.

Banyumili was previously involved in the production of Roro Djonggrang, another show based on a Javanese legend centering around a woman’s fate and wit.

Ida said that Legenda Opera Roro Mendut would feature around a dozen stage settings, unlike Roro Djonggrang, which was performed in an already dramatic setting in Jakarta’s National Museum in 2009. The music in Roro Mendut will feature modern touches in addition to traditional Javanese ones.

Happy Salma said that the role required her to study Javanese dance moves, which she was previously unfamiliar with.

“Roro Mendut is not a professional dancer in the story, she is just learning, but because I am [playing with] people who are so skilled at dancing, I saw it as a challenge … there are of course professional dancers here [in the play] but there are also housewives, business people and doctors, but they are taking it very seriously and they dance so well…” she said.

Happy added that she had been practicing and learning about the role for a month.

“This is a legend that is hundreds of years old, but it is still applicable nowadays. The problems are the same. [It’s about] Wrath, greed, arrogance, lust and that wealth cannot buy everything,” she said.

Enny Sukamto, the chair of Banyumili, said that there are actually many versions of the Roro Mendut story, some of which were tragedies.

The show’s tickets range from Rp 150,000 (US$16) to Rp 750,000, with tickets available at ticket boxes such as Ibu Dibyo and Rajakarcis. The show is slated to play twice this Saturday.