2.29.2012

Everything Regarding Malaysian Theater Arts

By Karri Owens


In the land of Malaysia, theater arts coded in the east Javanese kingdoms. During the eleventh century the administrative centre of Javanese kingdom was shifted from Prambanan positioned in central Java to Jenggla located in eastern Java. This kingdom was divided into four parts namely Jenggala, Kediri, Ngurawan and Singasari . The 4 sons of the King Airlangga named King Lembu Amiluhur, King Lembu Amerdadu, King Lembu Mangarang and King Amijaya, respectively, ruled each one. There are three forms of Malaysian theater arts namely Wayang Orang or performance by human actors, Wayang kulit or shadow puppetry, Wayang golek or three dimensional puppetry and classical court dance called Karaton. And they flourished separately in each kingdom.

Another name for Wayang Orang is Wayang Wong that involves human actors performing continue to exist stage in a musical dance drama. "Wong" or "Orang" means a man or a woman respectively. It turned out nurtured in the Kingdom of King Lembu Amiluhur. His son Raden Panji Asmarabangun would have been a renowned artist in himself. He taught this art to any or all his relatives. The storyline with the play revolved around the Jenggala Kingdom and Hindu mythologies Mahabharata and Ramayana. Another number of Wayang Orang is Wayang Topeng or Wayang Gedog where the artists wear mask in the performance. Majapahit Kingdom was another kingdom that played a vital role in the recognition of Wayang wong because the King Hayam Wuruk was a performer with this art himself. There are five groups of the pattern of dance in accordance with build and movements. Alus, involving graceful and soft movements required performers to have a light physique. Gagah had more sportive moves and the artists were expected to have a slim and tall physique. Kasar was intended for actors with huge build and also the movements were rough. Gecul had subcategories Ponokawan and Cantrik. Dengklik involved actors playing the role of monkey warrior. The dresses differ with some other gods, kings, ksatrias, princesses, begawans and warriors. In line with the role being played forty-five accessories are used.

There were separate dance movements for the female actors. The movements made by the females are known as Nggruda which had nine basic movements called Joged Pokok and additional twelve movements referred to as Joged Gubahan. These art forms at first were meant just for the royal families. Many kings and their relatives used to perform plays written on their ancestors in order to honor them. The indegent had no access to these plays.

Under reign of King Airlangga, great encouragement was handed to various arts forms that is certainly when puppet art began evolving. Wayang purwa or Wayang kulit involves two-dimensional puppets made from the skin of goat or buffalo. They're flat and usually round healthy. The shadow of these puppets is cast on the translucent cloth screen by making use of lighted lamps. They are controlled by bamboo sticks mounted on their body that are planted in banana stems located beneath the screen.

Wayang golek involves three-dimensional puppets that are controlled by the puppeteers from the top. These puppets are generally made out of wood or leather with many kind of stuffing. UNESCO honored the Wayang puppets that year 2003 as "The Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" proclaiming that it is one of the unique forms of theater arts and thus should be protected.

Karaton is the classical court dance. Karaton can be performed either in-group known as Yogyakarta or it may be also performed as solo. Some of the dances were performed on a daily basis problem and some were meant simply for special occasions like festivals and processes.

Prambanan Ramayana ballet is the special dance involving around two hundred dancers who dance for two whole hours. It is held with a full moon during the spring season. The eight-century Prambanan temple is painted without anyone's knowledge and gamelan music is played.




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