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.