Name : Ni Luh Putu Sri Murdiani

NIM : 1712021127

Class : 5D

The Review of Drama Performance

“Kemerdekaan Perempuan: Nyata dan Tanya”

(Women’s Freedom: Real and Questionable)
This short writing is trying to describe and give a simple review on drama performance
entitled “Kemerdekaan Perempuan: Nyata dan Tanya” (Women’s Freedom: Real and
Questionable) which has been performed at Gor Bhuana Patra Field, Singaraja on Monday,
August 26th 2019. This drama is written by Kadek Sonia Piscayanti, the lecture of Drama class in
English Language Education, Undiksha.

This drama is depicted the women’s life and how they their path of life based on their
fate. There are several aspects that will be covered in this review. They are theme, characters,
setting, and music. Beside of that, there are also a few interesting things to be discussed in this
review such as the paintings that has been done by the narrator at the end of performance, the
song and narration throughout the performance, and how the audience could get involved during
the performance.

Firstly, the theme which is used in this drama is about “freedom”. This has accordance
with the month when the drama was performed. August 17th is Indonesia’s Independence Day.
Therefore, in harmony with the celebration of 74th Indonesia’s Independence Day, the writer
used “freedom” in women’s life as the theme. Towards this performance, the scriptwriter tried to
remind all women in Indonesia about their own life. She tries to make all Indonesian women to
review and assess how Indonesia’s independence affects their life. Is it true that they already free
over all their decision and desire? Or they are still living under control and fear? Are they can
live freely as what they want? Or they are just living their life according to social demand? It is
still questionable for Indonesian women whether they are already living in good atmosphere or
they are living in such strict environment which prevents them to grow as a fully developed
person.

Second are the characters. There are 9 actresses who were performed this play. And all of
them are women. The first one is Ni Kadek Sonia Piscayanti, who also acts as the narrator,
singer, and director of the play. Then there are, Eva Novita, Erni Rismayanti, Dewa Ayu Asri
Juliani, Nindi Andika, Indah Sriani, Widya Malini, Yogi Adnyani, and Dewi. There are 9 players
in this performance. According to the scriptwriter, number 9 is chosen since it is the biggest
number in the base-10 number system. In Bali, number 9 is a holy symbol which can be reflected
in the Dewata Nawa Sanga (Sanga means 9) belief system. This belief is the Hinduism belief
about the Gods who have control over 9 different direction. By emerging number 9 in the
amount of players, the scriptwriter tries to show how powerful the women are. In Indonesian
society, or even in Balinese society, often women are seen as the weak ones, controlees over
their life, and also used to be the obedient ones, even though actually women are powerful,
strong, and responsible over their life equally as men do. So, therefore through 9 women in this
performance, hopefully the audiences are understand the message that was conveyed by the
scriptwriter which is women are strong, powerful, and free over their life. Ms. Sonia as the
narrator narrates the script, direct the play through singing the poem, and also lead the scream
“Apakah aku sudah merdeka?” (Am I free already?”, Then, the rest of the players acted as a
woman and portrayed a woman’s daily life. The 8 players portrayed how women as the
housekeeper, babysat the babies, sweeping on the floor, goes to the market, cook the dishes,
praying, etc. There is no the protagonist, antagonist, or protagonist in this play.

Setting in this play is today’s era, Indonesian modern society. Particularly, this
performance depicted the condition of women who are living in Bali. This setting influences the
players to use such costumes in modern day’s society. The players used white T-shirt and black
pants. The actress also portrayed how Hinduism mom does her daily activities to do holy
offering as an obligation. In addition, the actresses depicted how Balinese women enjoy their
misery and the life beauty through dancing.

There are two times when the music were played during “The music which were used in
the “Kemerdekaan Perempuan: Nyata dan Tanya” (Women’s Freedom: Real and Questionable)
performance. Firstly, a singing opened the performance, here is some of the lyric which were
sung during the opening,

“Sang Hyang Surya,

Jang kabasa,

Rikala dipa,

Mama dangi,

Ring bumi mandala,

Sang Hyang Candra,

Parandana, rikala dipa,

Mama dangi rikala wengi”

Then it is followed by the soft music and sounds from bamboo musical instrument. And in the
middle of performance there were also a soft music were played to emphasize the situation of
how the women tried to convince themselves that they are worth living and worth to be loved by
themselves also their beloved ones.

Besides of those elements, this drama performance also has more interesting things to be
discussed. At the end of the performance, the narrator marked the end of performance by doing
abstract painting using many different colors in the actresses’ white T-shirt and some canvas.
She took some colors using her hands and made abstract paintings using her both hands. The
narrator narrated and sang some lines using English which tried to analyze women’s feeling
while doing her painting. Through those different colors, the narrator depicted how the different
feeling influence their heart, their deed in their life. They have different colors of feeling, they
are brave, but they are also afraid. They want to follow their desire, but they also have to
undergo their fate and obligation. Those feeling are such a mixed feeling which has influenced
every bit aspects in their life.

Another interesting thing in this drama performance is the song and the narration which
are appeared throughout this performance. The players in this drama performance did not use
many lines except “Apakah aku sudah merdeka?” (Am I free already?). Which is made this
performance is different and unique. The narrator sang and narrated the story throughout the
performance. There were a few songs which were sung during the performance. The first song is
sung in Balinese language, then the next one is using Indonesian, and the last one was sung in
English. This interesting part of its performance has made this drama special. This performance
could reach the audience’s heart towards its music, song, and lines. They are reflecting the real
situation of women’s life and could make the audience feel relate with it.

And lastly how this performance give the audience participating in during the
performance is interesting as well. There are some audiences who shout the same line with the
narrator and the players. It is “Apakah aku sudah merderka?” (Am I free already?). The audience
one by one and even could at the same time, shout the same line over and over again. This is also
the part which made the show feels closed with the audience, and strengthen the message which
conveyed by this drama.

This drama is unique and beautiful. At the end this drama is perfect to create a reminder
for all Indonesia women. Indonesia has been independence for 74 years. Every citizen has the
same opportunity to live their best life. Therefore, through this drama, let us see and reflect what
we have done in our life, how can we maximize our life, and ask back to ourselves, do we live
the life we want? Or do we live based on other opinion and perception? Even though this
performance only depicted specifically women’s life, but it does not mean that men are no
invited to do the same. Let us live happily and freely to celebrate Indonesia Independence Day.