RAHWANA’S CONFESSION

Exploration of human’s dark side through personification of Rahwana in Rama and Sita story

Sujiwo Tejo performed a musical drama about the abduction of Dewi Sita by Rahwana. This story is taken from Dalang edan (2002) book. Tejo added some interpretasonalition of Rahwana’s action, who has a super selfish personality, as described by Sigmund Freud. This musical Drama called, “pengakuan Rahwana” or Rahwana’s Confession was performed in Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, Dec 2008.

Rahwana’s rote in Rama and Sita story is not so new. This wayang story is often unfolded and performed in many versions. Garin Nugroho, Martinus Miroto, and Eko Supriayanto showed a musical drama titled the Iron Bed in the 9^th Indonesia Dance Festival (IDF). (28/10).

Story of this performance is more focused on Rahwana, as a giant Tejo assumed that Rahwana’s death was not only because of losing his figh against Rama. “He wanted to commit suicide. In my logical belied, we have dark side in our life. This dark side is always needed,” he said after concluding his Rahwana show.

He said Dewi Sita might fall in love with Rahwana. In freud’s opinion, a father tends to fall in love with his daughter and a mother tends to fall in love with her son.

Preparation for this musical drama took a week and it took nearly a month to improve the story line. This show involved master Kris-maker Kiki Lilik Glendoh Wahyudi, guest musician Marusya Nainggolan, and dozens of traditional actors.

Tejo sold his paintings to hatta radjasa adan ftangky welirang so as to finance this musical drama. Radjasa is the state secretary in current cabinet while welirang is the chief executive officer of PT Indofood Sukses Makmur, Tbk.

Limited fund affected publication of this show. Not many banners or pamphlets were distributed before the show. Therefore, not many people came to IKJ hall.”In March, I will be more serious in promotion, ticketing and organizing committee,” he said.

In addition to performing a theater, Tejo occasionally interacted with his audiances. He used  this trick to restore memory disorientation  back to the original script. Audiences laughed when Tejo mentioned  a name of a political party for 2009 General Election and  two sponsors of his musical drama, an improvisation that makes this musical drama more interesting.

When he lost his concentration  due to a child’s cry, Tejo sang a children’s song called, lihat kebunku composed by Pak Kasur.

Lihat kebunku penuh dengan uang, ada yang uang dan buakn yang uang..(see my garden, it is full with money. Some are (real) money. But some are not (real) money..), diverting some texts from its original lyric, which says lihat kebunku penuh dengan bunga. Ada yang merah dan ada yang hijau…(see my garden. It is full with flowers, some are red, and some are green).

Due to his ability to control the stage, Tejo could easily improvise. Beside performing as the main actor, he also wrote the script, and worked as puppeteer, and director of the show. He was freed to control the dialog line and story script.

Scenes of this musical drama were designed to appear through the second party i.e., story broadcest through a community radio. The radio fans asked the broadcaster  to play their favorite songs. Rahwana story was then requested in every session.

Tejo also tried to bring audience to laughter through radio listener’s request for Rahwana story such as a request made by Mrs. Nainggolan who liked to hear  Sukesi and Rahwana play in Rama and Sita story.

Tejo inserted radio broadcasting elements in his drama, based on his experience when studying in the bandung institute of technology (ITB). He was a campus radio broadcaster in 1981. “some said art must become part of the artist,s autobiography. I broadcasted in campus radio for my living, “ ‘he said.

Sruti respati, a singer with gamelan orchestra, in the rahwana’s confresion show, said  she enjoyed her collaboration with Sujiwo Tejo. For her, tejo is an artist with many ideas. This musical drama combined various music instruments such as saxophone, gamelan, and sadow play. Respati and Tejo have been collaborating in art performances since 2003.

Repati said she has more refreshed idea in her performance after she collaborated with Tejo, particularly in using various types of ethnical music instruments. “Mas Tejo inserted Malay and Batak musical characteristics. (Therepore,) now, I have a new way oh thinking with this kind of music,” she said.

Derector of GKJ, Marusya Nainggolan, is of the opinion that Rahwana show is an effort to preserve traditional arts. He does not want to see traditional arts claimed by neighboring country. “ I like this drama because it develops dancing. Otherwise, it will be claimed by another country.” He concluded.