Lenong

By Adhie Pahlawan
 What is Lenong?
• Lenong is a Betawi folk theater or play accompanied by gambang
Kromong music. The characteristic of lenong is that in every scene,
dialogue, dance, and humor are performed improvisation. Lenong was
originally a formation of the role theater, the development of various
theater arts that had appeared before.
 The history of lenong

lenong history has 2 versions:

The first version mentions lenong is closely related to the theater arts in
China, which in Betawi was developed by the Chinese in plantation areas
owned by Chinese people.
And the second version says, lenong comes from Persia. The way of
performance and literature carried is the same as the Persian Comedy
theater.

Persian comedy spread to Sumatra brought by Persian merchants, until in

1886 a theater like lenong appeared in Riau called Abdul Muluk. From Riau,
Abdul Muluk ventured to Batavia.
Video Footage of Lenong Modern
Youtube account : VIVA.CO.ID