TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A script of theatrical play written by Indonesian artist Arifin C. Noer, entitled ‘Kocak Kacik’ was staged in the Helateater Salihara, an event dedicated to stage scripts by Arifin. Uniquely, the script, at Salihara Gallery, South Jakarta, was performed in pantomime play by Bengkel Mima Theatre from Yogyakarta.

“I chose the script because at first I thought that it’s gonna be easy to adapt into pantomime,” said the pantomime director Andreas Ari Dwianto when met after the rehearsal.

But it turned out not as easy as she had thought. She had to dig out deeper into the script and made points from it. Then she decided to focus on one of the characters named Darim. Ari studied Darim’s existence and life purpose, amid the tug-of-war happening around him.

The absence of narration forced Ari to prepare symbols to be used in the performance such as the suitcase that is often brought by Darim everywhere he goes. She prepared the symbols for three months.

“I interpret Darim’s suitcase as a something that makes him anxious,” said Ari.

Nearing the end of the play, Darim is depicted as carrying the case on his shoulder and it looks like the case getting heavier until he could not bear it. Sometime Darim appears as a figure with mask and cape just like a superhero.

Although many pantomime performance uses narration in the development, Ari choses to stick without it.

“I believe that the body language has a huge potential to communicate things that are intended to be delivered,” Ari explained, adding that body language would also open the space of audience imagination.

Regarding the pantomime performance that are often depicting humors, Ari believes that it is more than a comedy show.

Bengkel Mime Theatre is a pantomime group based in Yogayakarta and was founded in 2004. Before ‘Kocak Kacik’ , the group had staged several pantomime performances including ‘Menunggu Godot’ by Samuel Beckett. They often insert theatrical elements in their performances.

RATNANING ASIH