This post is a part of the first day of my trip to Solo.
I watched this performance of Wayang Orang Sriwedari in Taman Sriwedari at Jalan Slamet Riyadi.
Why I said ‘a glimpse?’
Well that’s simply because I don’t understand the words that they said haha, so I would just posted some photos from the performance. And also I didn’t watch the entire show (only until Act Five) 🙂
I’ve said in my previous post about wayang orang performance, that they’re using Javanese language. And the Javanese language itself, has different levels, depends on the purpose when we’re using it. For example, if you’re talking to an older people, you need to use the highest level of Javanese language, called Krama Inggil; while if you’re using it just to talk with your friend, you can use the lowest level in Javanese language, called Ngaka. I can understand a bit of Ngaka, but during the performance of Wayang Orang Sriwedari they mostly used Krama Inggil, except in the intermezzo section. Hopefully in the future, they could prepare some slides explaining about the story in each acts. That would be very helpful 🙂 Anyway, it seemed that the others really enjoyed the show, even they brought their children to watch the show 😉
The show starts around 8:30PM everyday (except Sunday ~ Thanks to Sony for the info :)), and the entrance fee is IDR3,000.
So here are the photos from Wayang Orang Sriwedari performance …
Act One
Act Two
Act Three
Act Four
Intermezzo
Act Five
…
Though it does not dramatically change yet, but I am glad to see the current life of Wayang Orang Sriwedari. The government of Solo city or Surakarta has given more concern toward its existence through the renovation of physical thing (the building is more than 100 years) and the prosperity for the players.
My foreigner friends are also happy to watch it though they don’t know the language; just like you 🙂 It reminds me the concept like in Chinese Opera in Singapore (Mandarin language) and Kabuki in Japan, though people don’t know those languages, they can still enjoy it as part of art through the visual and music instruments.
Another thing that makes me happy is now the players are “brave” to perform everyday, except Sunday. Whatever the numbers of audiences, they go on. In fact, it gives a color for Solo, in the context that people who visit Solo has an option for regular daily cultural entertainment.
By the way, I have seen your post as well about Wayang Orang in Gedung Kesenian Jakarta. It is interesting. Recently, I often see the articles in newspapers about the spirit of young people, bureaucrats, and even socialites to innovate Wayang Orang performance to the modern audiences in Jakarta and surprisingly many people warmly welcome it. May it become inspiration for Wayang Orang Sriwedari as well and attract more people to watch it.
Nice post Timothy, keep waiting for your following stories.
Well, ahaha I don’t realize that I have written so long. Sorry and see you in Solo Batik Carnival 2012 🙂
Hey hey … no need to say sorry.
You’ve shared some info that I didn’t know.
I didn’t know that the building is already 100 years old, yikess!! 😀
And it’s good to see that they have given more concern about their prosperity, so they can play everyday … That’s nice 🙂
Thank you Timothy.
Yups, Wayang Orang Sriwedari until now (2012) has existed for 102 years.
Did you go to backstage? Some people go there to observe about “behind the scene” of Wayang Orang and take some photos when they do make up.
Terima kasih
No I didn’t 😛
I even didn’t watch until the end of the show …
Wow, that’s nice to allow people go backstage 🙂
And 102 yearrssss … ;o)))
I am proud to say that I am a Malaysian of Javanese descent! 🙂 Always proud of my heritage and my lineage. On my father’s side. My name is Khairul Idzwan bin Kamarudzaman bin Sanusi bin Ngariban. Can trace the Javanese in my name? Haha. Nways, quite sad coz’ I can’t speak in the language anymore 🙁
I know I know!! Ngariban 😛
Hey, didn’t know that ure half Javanese 🙂
Actually me too 🙂 -> Timothy Wirjo Pawiro … how about that?
But … I could speak a little bit of Javanese 😛
When my late grandmother was still alive [her name is Salimah binti Muprat btw], she used to teach me several words and simple sentence in Javanese language. So my vocabulary is very very limited. But when I ‘balik kampung’ for lebaran, normally the old folks will speak in the language. So, when we shake hands for forgiveness, I would just nod coz I don;t understand a word. The only word that I noticed is ‘gedi’ to say that I am big now. Haha.
I know numbers from 1-10 [siji, loro, telu, papat, limo, nenem, pitu, wolu, songo, seploh], wes mangan, wes madang, urung, ngompol, goblok, sa iki, bocah, gedi, cilik etc .. but I couldn’t make a proper sentence or start a conversation in that language except for: wes mangan/madang? wes/urung.. hehe.
but still I am a ‘bocah jowo’! haha
Ouw!! Didn’t know that you know some Javanese language!! 🙂 🙂
Can u imagine, when I moved to Semarang in my junior high school and there’s a Javanese lesson in the curriculum. Haha! My aunt gave me a Javanese 101 lesson, but hey, that’s not sufficient 😀
Haha. Wow! That’s great, u have Javanese lesson in the curriculum. Awesome! I can’t wait to go to Semarang this December! 🙂
Haha, it’s great but scarry at the same time, as I don’t have any basic for it 😀
Yeah, let me know ur travel dates, perhaps we will cross our path somewhere 😛
yezza! hehe. btw, bro can u suggest any places in semarang for us to visit? If possible, together with the estimated costs for entrance etc. I’ll forward you the draft itinerary and hope you can help out to make it better. hehe
Sure why not!
Send me ur itinerary, will help as much as I can, if not, will try to ask the others 🙂