[ad_1]
Boow Dwell and Indonesia Kaya’s musical collection #MusikalDiRumahAja (Musical at House) first debuted in 2020 through the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Searching for to carry musicals to the tens of millions of Indonesians cooped at dwelling, the collection received tens of millions of views from its six episodes. Now the collection returned with two brand-new episodes: GATOT, an acrobatic adaptation of the Gatotkaca mythos, and BATU GANTUNG, a dramatic retelling of a Batak legend by the identical identify.
On this 2022 rendition, each episodes had been filmed on an actual theater stage (at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta) by the identical cinematic director as effectively (Robin Moran, of Pendekar Tongkat Emas fame), making a extra unified feel and appear to them. Moreover, the filmed-on-stage strategy allowed the theatricality to shine by, the results of shut collaboration with the respective theatrical administrators of GATOT (Rama Soeprapto, who helmed Malin Kundang within the 2020 version of #MusikalDiRumahAja) and BATU GANTUNG (Rio Silaen, who wrote and directed one other Batak musical titled SINAMOT again in 2017).
GATOT is a contemporary adaptation of Gatot Kaca, a folks hero initially hailing from the Indian epic of Mahabarata however who has grow to be a nationwide favourite of Indonesia by the standard shadow puppet custom of wayang. He is a half-giant warrior well-known for his mighty power, or ‘otot kawat tulang besi’ (muscle groups of wires, bones of metal).
This time round, Gatot (Sandhidea Cahyo) is a younger actor in a wayang orang – a type of conventional theatrical artwork – troupe led by his stern grandfather (Teguh Kenthus Ampiranto). He wishes to play the position of Gatotkaca on the troupe to observe the footsteps of his father (Galih Rangga), to the purpose of daydreaming and drawing himself within the heroic position in his little sketchbook.
But he’s crammed with self-doubt, unwilling to step up, regardless of the help of his childhood good friend Giwa (Woro Mustiko). However after the actor taking part in Gatot Kaca did not take the stage as a result of his well being situation, and after some extra prodding by Giwa, Gatot donned the garb of Gatot Kaca and confronted his concern – symbolized by him taking over 4 phantom Gatot Kaca after which a rakshasa performed by the grandfather – lastly incomes him the proper to play the position.
Because the identify of Gatot Kaca itself conjures the picture of action-packed spectacle (thus making him a very fashionable determine to adapt in popular culture, with a giant finances Gatot Kaca film releasing just some months in the past), Rama Soeprapto leaned into this; he made use of battle choreographies, stunts, and even wires. GATOT is likely one of the most action-packed musicals in latest reminiscence, with unexpectedly satisfying and fierce battle scenes, all of that are superbly captured by the lens.
The script was written by Chriskevin Adefrid, one of the distinguished younger scriptwriters within the theatre scene, whose writing credit embrace RARA J, NURBAYA, and the upcoming USMAR ISMAIL. GATOT is one other testomony of his ability in adapting a folktale for the fashionable viewers. The framing gadget of the in-universe Gatot Kaca play saved issues contemporary but true to custom, a outstanding feat. The inner battle of Gatot’s indecisiveness is likewise one which’s prone to be accustomed to millennials and Gen Zs. The characters additionally felt actual and alive, significantly with the pure strains of dialogues written for them.
Nevertheless, maybe because of the restricted display time, some significantly intriguing components could not be expanded upon extra. The grandfather’s stubbornness wasn’t actually explored past being a essential impediment for the story; on the opposite facet of the coin, Giwa’s supportiveness was likewise one-tracked. These two, specifically, felt like shifting components as a substitute of totally realized characters, maybe because of the necessity to maintain the script brisk.
One other level of confusion arose when the grandfather had seemingly but to decide on an actor to play the lead position of Gatot Kaca even one week earlier than showtime, earlier than giving it to one of many ensemble forged. And even the climactic level within the narrative, when Gatot determined to step up when stated actor could not make it, felt moderately sudden with out a definitive set off that pushed him to battle his insecurities.
However these factors of rivalry are largely simply ignored when taking the present as an entire. It’s nonetheless an inspirational present, particularly with the good performing by the lead roles. Of specific observe is Teguh Kenthus Ampiranto, who performed the faultless strict grandfather determine with a lot aplomb and charisma.
The music, by composer and music director Ammir Gita (whose newest musical theater work was the horror musical IBU) introduced a vibrant and fashionable power to the story, even bringing synths to the combo. Ammir’s composition is, as soon as once more, superbly made and an excellent match to every scene. One factor to notice, nevertheless, is that the synth impact can come off as a bit of jarring to these anticipating a extra conventional musical sound.
Taken as an entire, GATOT is a refreshing tackle the Gatot Kaca mythos, with some stand out performances and nice battle choreography. It was additionally an excellent mix of various performing artwork disciplines, placing collectively musical, theatre, wayang orang, and even conventional wayang. Past its personal deserves, GATOT may grow to be a gateway to find different artwork kinds.
The opposite episode, BATU GANTUNG (“Hanging Rock”), is tailored from a legend of the Batak folks of Northern Sumatra. Seruni (Jennie Rebecca) is a younger lady who lives close to the Toba lake in North Sumatera along with her mother and father, Amongst (Haikal ‘AFI’ Baron Nasution) and Inong (Dhita Barus).
Seruni can be deeply in love along with her boyfriend Doli (Ricardo Simatupang). But, their love just isn’t meant to be, as Doli has to go away so as collect the dowry wanted to take Seruni’s hand in marriage, as custom dictates. Seizing the second, the wealthy Bonar (Joshua Panjaitan) presents to marry her as a substitute, a proposition that her mother and father rapidly conform to.
Not eager to spend her life with Bonar and betray her real love, Seruni steps off a cliff. As she falls, she shouts “parapat, parapat batu” (“come, oh rocks”); the rocks from the cliffside engulf her, creating a dangling effigy on the cliff that stays to today.
In comparison with GATOT, BATU GANTUNG is a extra easy adaptation of the legend. As legends wont to do, they function a morality play with black-and-white characters. Maybe it is this can to protect the authenticity of the story that led to a equally clear-cut story that is simple to observe however with out plenty of complexity.
The music is written by Nathanael P. Winarto, an award-nominated composer. His rating consists of not solely unique songs that take from the fashionable musical custom, but in addition preparations of acquainted Batak folks music. Whereas the unique songs had been good, as somebody from Batak descent, the fashionable and peppy association of Batak songs was a private spotlight.
The forged did a passable job bringing the story to life, though there wasn’t a lot to discover. It was moderately odd to see Seruni’s mother and father as largely one-dimensional antagonistic pressure, however Haikal Nasution and Dhita Barus nonetheless performed them wholeheartedly, because the stoic and stern father and cheery and theatrical mom, respectively. Their performing chops did depart me eager to see them discover extra advanced roles sooner or later.
Moreover, Jennie Rebecca performed the resolute and heartbroken facet of Seruni very well. She’s a assured actress with the charisma to play the lead character. If there’s one factor to notice, nevertheless, it is the moderately complicated resolution to have her so brazenly dour within the opening quantity, a giant group quantity the place the village is holding a celebration. Maybe it could have been extra highly effective to have her donning a cheerful masks to mix in with the tight-knit group solely to have her drop the facade as soon as it ends.
What few shortcomings the script had was greater than made up by the directing and cinematography. BATU GANTUNG is a beautiful manufacturing, each from the theatrical and cinematic lens (with Robin Moran because the movie director). The climactic scene of Seruni falling from the cliff was depicted with a humongous and completely spectacular set piece of cliffs and falling rocks, a really correct strategy to convey theatre magic.
BATU GANTUNG is a book-accurate adaptation of the legend of the identical identify. When you come to it anticipating to see a truthful adaptation that is accessible and available on YouTube, it is a fantastic murals that may protect the ages-old legend for a lot of extra years to return.
You may watch GATOT right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KOcEyBG0oA and BATU GANTUNG right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wChe7ajL-I
[ad_2]
Source link
