Musikal Laskar Pelangi

Musikal Laskar Pelangi 2 July 2011
Teater Jakarta, TIM, Jakarta.


Following the big success on last year's show, MILES and Riri Riza, collaborated with Edwin Gutawa and Jay Subiakto, present yet another most sought after Musikal Laskar Pelangi.

It started on a bright sunny Saturday arvo. Got the tix ready, then my friend and I head for a 2 hours lunch! :)
Our tix was at Class II, means no allocated seat number. 30mins before the show starts, the good seats are almost all taken. But we got the middle seat, which has pretty decent view to the stage below.

There was a slight glitch at the beginning of show. 15 minutes after the show began, it needed to stop for the next 30minute-ish due to technical difficulties. We heard banging and some loud noises behind the curtain. God knows what.

By 3 O'clock, the show continues.

No doubt this production is full-on. From the music, the props, the concept, the casts, the dances, the ensembles, everything.
One crucial point lacking from where I sat, it's the story.

Perhaps, knowing the story from original book and movie, you may not find the musical... satisfying.

The book and movie were so alive, so vibrant, so child-like colors. So pelangi (rainbow). However, this musical... I can feel the political agenda that some of these artisants may have intended to insert. This, ergo, not fun.

The originality of Laskar Pelangi's story, the kids from a simple Gantong Village, has been mucked around by 'too creative' Jakarta production. The prologue and epilogue of Ikal seems too deep for a Laskar Pelangi story. They seem to define the entire musical. The political sense of golden days PT Timah and the end of it.

The music! Another crucial segment of a musical. I wasn't sure whether it's because Edwin Gutawa on the orchestra, but the music seems quite monotone, and veeery slow. Few times I almost fell asleep due to boredom. I woke up only when my eyes were presented by cheerful music and energetic dances of the Laskar Pelangi kids.

Bu Muslimah, seems to be the lead character in this musical. Dira Sugandi as Bu Mus, someone who is supposed to be very humble, looks very Jakartan (if you know what i mean). Ikal (or the assumed character of Andrea Hirata) is too blah so he stuck in the background. Mahar and Kucai are surprisingly took the stardom on stage! Even Lintang, who had several solo performances, could not outshines Mahar or Kucai's single performance. The vocal performances, on the other hand, I think we all can agree they are splendidly done. Dira Sugandi, despite of her passable act, her voice is without doubt the star of the night.

I'm most amused by the ensemble performances and Mahar's solo performance. That kiddo surely has talent for spotlight!

And! The silhouette screen is very Jay Subiakto don't you think? It's almost as if I'm seeing a music video shoot. I don't say it's bad, I reckon the screens played nicely into this musical. They fit with the music and scenes. They subtly help creating the stage fantasy.

Overall, Musikal Laskar Pelangi is a concept that I think Miles and Riri Riza try to educate audience about Indonesia through Art. I don't complain about this, but it may be not be the piece I'm expecting to see at the moment.

I don't mind more of Musical productions from Miles though. I can see that whatever piece they produce, it will always be maximum effort. You can see it from the end result.

Musikal Laskar Pelangi, I like. But maybe not for a second time. :)