Ali Topan the Musical


First of all, I admit I'm a musical snob. I don't know the technicalities to produce a musical, but I am an avid audience of musical theater.

I have watched a number of Musicals - popular and off-broadway/ish. I went mostly those in Melbourne, but I've been to a couple of musicals in Las Vegas.

That above, was not a snob moment.
The next line onwards will be (snob moments).

Ali Topan the Musical is the first musical theater I saw in Jakarta.
It is produced by Artswara, owned (or lead?) by Ari Tulang. Famous Indonesian choreographer.
Ali Topan is not an original script for this musical. It came from an old novel, famous on the late 70s-80s.

Brief of story, please see here http://buku.infogue.com/ali_topan_anak_jalanan
Pardon, it's only in Bahasa Indonesia.

I watched Ali Topan the Musical with my mum. It's said R 18+, strictly adult only. I was not aware of what the scenario would be. Some friends know I will watch it with mum. They went to the show before me and warned me of some explicit scenes that may raise awkwardness. You know, some things that you should not share with your parents. Ali Topan, they thought, is one of them.

I'm told that for a theater in Indonesia, the act is quite wild, vulgar, and explicit. I was a nervous-wreck to watch this with mum. Thinking, how wild could it get for Indonesian theater? Sex? Nudity? My mind goes from Equus, to Chicago, then Rent. I was ready to leave after intermission if it's even close to Equus.

Luckily, it's close to Rent.
So we stayed.

For anything publicly showed in Jakarta, Ali Topan the Musical yes indeed very controversial. For bravery and being original, that I respect, Ari Tulang.
However, I have some bitter comments about the Musical itself, in terms of what me as audience saw - music, vocal, act, props.

The above category, need something more edgy. Sorry, not for music. Music is fantastic!
Music shows the energy and emotion on scene, however, the casts could not intertwined with the music and bring it onto the stage. I couldn't feel the emotion, the gesture.

The most spectacular casts on this musical are not the lead casts, or their friends. But small supporting roles, such as Mbok Yem, Bibi Seksi, Ibu Surya, and one of the genk perek. They outshines the leading casts, though they only have small part, they bring out the character. I can feel their characters.

Ali Topan and Anna Karenina, what to say..
They have good voice, but not enough for Musical. Kikan's vocal is too distinct as Cokelat's lead singer and difficult to see her otherwise. Dendy's vocal for Ali Topan is too flat, I couldnt feel the emotion, the anger, the disappointment, the heartbreak. When I see theater, I want to see emotions through movement, gesture, since I couldn't see very well of your face expression. That's how it differs from TV acting. I couldn't see this stage performance from Dendy.

Face wise, Dendy is too clean-cut as rebel boy Ali Topan. I expect someone rugged, more manly.

The transgenders characters on stage, I know what these characters are there for. However, in Ali Topan the Musical they do not make the performance more artistic or comical.

The script is vulgar. The speech, but it did not make me uneasy or disturbed. Because, they don't express it well. With exception to the Tante Girang and Gula-Gula dancers! They bring the scene oh too well! I can see and feel how hungry these horny cougars are!! Bravo. Only one thing bugs me, the gula-gula dancers are just. too. gay. Whilst, they should be cougar eaters! You boys should be thanking the Tante Girang. They saved your performance and make it believable.
This scene, i was quite awkward towards mum.

However, the most anticipated scene. Intercourse Ali Topan and Anna Karenina. Yeah, they did it on a motorbike. Honestly, by all warnings I gotten from friends, I was expecting a lot more than just dry hump. Even for dry hump, Kikan and Dendy are not believable. By the end of it, I was, what? THAT'S IT?!
This was, not at all awkward wif mum.

One thing I always anticipate when going to theater is that the stage props. I'm always amazed by how they put effort not just on performance, but also things that audience many not considered. That is, stage decor.

For a stage theater, Ali Topan the Musical sat in bottom three (stealing Idol words). They have very minimal props! They also count on projectors and screens to create the fantasy. That's not stage performance!!! If i thought this what Indonesia can present for its theater, I would be very tolerable. But I've been to Teater Koma and they have spectacular stage decor! They built every detail they need to create the imagination. I don't want you producers to built the image for me, let me create those on my own, by your decor, by your casts, by your music, by your lighting, by your performance.

I have to say, though, Ali Topan the Musical is good effort to raise public knowledge of Theater Musical. But to me, Ali Topan the Musical is just like watching SCTV Award on TV with better vocals.

I am a musical snob.
and I don't love Ali Topan the Musical.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia



CGK - SIN - PNH - SIN - CGK
The journey started 28 March and ends 2 April, 2011.

This was for US Education training, in short, work thing.
I won't say much about it, who would wanna make a journal about work?

Instead, I'll write about Phnom Penh, the city, the culture, the people.
There would be many missing out on this story, just because I only spent few hours out of 6 days there. But here is what I saw...

The city landscape is much more proper than Jakarta. They have many beautiful clean green gardens. Although traffic is crazier than Jakarta, but lacking population may yet endangered pedestrians (if any). Most of them are on wheels, be it cars, motorbikes, or tuk-tuks (or locals said rhenmo).

Don't get me started on cars. Cambodians (or locally said, Khmer) love to drive huge SUVs or Jeep, and they're not the cheap ones. On tourist areas, I saw many Hummer and Lexus (Toyota gak level ya bok?).



Whilst, on the commoners side, they don't have public transports as buses or train or anything like mikrolet. They have Tuk-Tuks. Even these Tuk-Tuks are not commonly ride by the locals. My colleague and I had this conversation, and we assume that locals who ride tuk-tuks are those mums or elderly, or those who goes to Pasar (market) often. Just as we, Indonesians, rode Becak. You won't see youngsters or even white-collars rode Becak as transport. This generation prefer to drive, on motorbikes or taxis. Although in Indonesia we still go by buses, train or mikrolet for transportation; of those Khmer doesn't have.

The tourist area in Phnom Penh are not many. I reckon you can explore the city in 1 day that would cover all. Out of those some, I can only cover: Sisowath Quay, russian market, sihanouk blvd, sothearos blvd, and diamond island.


(cityview from Nagaworld Hotel level 12)

Confused on what souvenir and traditional food we can bring home, I ask our local colleague for some tips. Surprisingly, they couldn't even think of what to buy. Except for Silk and handmade crafts.

One also wonders, what are their main food? is it rice, or noodle, or bread? Our local friends could not answer as well.
Although on street hawkers we saw many barbecue place, sandwiches place (with baguette!!), and sweetened fruits on jars (manisan buah). We didnt taste any of street hawkers food, just because I'm unaware of what the meat and what ingredients they put. They smell awful too sometimes, pardon, like urine.

We were surprised that they drive on the left (as American and French do?). I have to say, most of them. Because I saw some cars have right-side drivers. So, mix? This adds to no traffic lights at some tourist area, equals confusion. They, however, have lots and lots roundabouts! Crossing roads in Phnom Penh frustrates me, what's worse, we don't know which side to look! So that adds the adrenalin rush.

Walking can be an adventure itself in Phnom Penh. For farther area, we took Tuk-Tuk. It's almost like Delman but on motorbike. We went to Russian market by Tuk-Tuk from Nagaworld Hotel, took us $6 for 6 people! I'm not sure if it's cheap or not.

Oh right, they use twin currencies. You can mix your US$ currency with their local Riel. Say for example, you bought food for US$3.50, you can give your $3 and .50c in Riel (thats about 2000 Riel). For change smaller than $1, they will always give you in Riel. For Indonesian, having Riel would be easy. They don't have cents. Riel is only 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000.
I'm amazed by their cash registers! They have 2 currencies applied in the machine. But what's more mind-boggling is that the locals can calculate easy in their mind the mixes between US$ and Riel!! For someone lousy at math, this I find very amusing. :p

So Cambodia for me is very interesting in their on way. Pardon my conclusion, but I find it doesn't have a sense of direction, given everything of twos (the currencies, the roads). Culturally speaking, they have rich culture, but they don't explore and promote it. They only have their silk. Handcrafts and stones are also two most sought souvenirs, but as Indonesian, we have those too. Also, traditional food, what are theirs? Locals don't even know.

In such a way, Indonesian are more developed compared to Khmer. However, in other ways, in much more simplicity, Khmer are "nicer" than Indonesian. Places are moderately clean (at least for tourists area). So just because they have very clean and green gardens, Phnom Penh has more pluses than Jakarta in my checklist. Oh! and the way Khmer lives. I find most amusing was that they all (by all I meant, youngsters, kids, parents, elderly, everyone!) still hangout doing nothing at riverfront, or garden, or empty field. They play sports, they run around, they dance, they chat. They still socialize in simple ways! Blimey. I have extreme appreciation to Khmer in this manner. I mean, to compare to Indonesian, Jakartans specifically, people won't socialize unless there are cafes, restaurants, or movie event nearby! Especially families. Where would you see mom, dad and tots or babies play on gardens, run around? Not in jakarta they don't!



I'm already planning to go back for a real holiday this time.
and not forgetting SIEM REAP! :)

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