• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
Miss Tjitjih theater group fights for survivalAgnes Winarti, The Jakarta Post, JakartaOnce the talk of the town, traditional Sundanese play group Miss Tjitjih isstruggling to survive.Named after its legendary lead actress back in the 1920s, the group is known forits horror comedy theatrical productions — some of them adapted into films suchas Beranak dalam Kubur (Giving Birth in the Grave) and Si Manis Jembatan Ancol(The Pretty Girl of Ancol Bridge).The group also performs Sundanese tales like Sangkuriang and Lutung Kasarung, aswell as Betawi stories like Macan Kemayoran, Golok Ciomas, Jawara Tak Dikenal,and Banjir Getih di Rawa Bangke."We used to have more than 200 people coming to our show every night. Now, we arealready very grateful to see some 50 people in the audience," senior cast memberImas Darsih, 45 said."In the 1970s, we could even perform twice a night."Since July 2007, the group has been performing only twice a month, at the most.Imas, mother of two, said it had become harder to pass Sundanese traditionalculture on to the younger generation, because young people nowadays were moreinterested in what the television stations had to offer."Traditional programs on television, if there is any, are always broadcast verylate at night. I doubt there are any youngsters watching them."Maman Sutarman, who said he joined Miss Tjitjih the day he was born in 1956, said"If you can sit at home and have the TV remote control, why should you deal witha traffic jam just for a traditional Miss Tjitjih play?"People prefer practicality."Maman, whose actress and singer mother and musician father were cast members, isnow the director of the group.The group has been trying to attract larger audiences by shortening the durationof the play to a maximum of two hours from four to six hours, as well as mixingIndonesian and Betawi into the usually pure Sundanese language script."Sometimes, there are only 16 people watching the performance," said anotheractor, Edy Hidayat or "Mang Ujang", 55.All cast and crew earn between Rp 25,000 and Rp 50,000 for every performance.To make ends meet, most actors usually do scratch work as well.Mang Ujang work as a driver, while Mang Essek has been taking side jobs as anemcee at wedding receptions, narrating other theatrical productions, and evenplaying extras in TV film production over the last five years.Another member of the cast, Karta or "Mang Cimung", who has been part of MissTjitjih for 35 years, works as an ojek driver, earning some Rp 20,000 to Rp30,000 a day.
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...