Review of Wayang Scotlandia (Edinburgh Guide)

Wayang Skotlandia: Bima meets Cuchulain

Puppeteers - Joko Susilo and Matthew Isaac Cohen
Musical accompaniment by - Gamelan Naga Mas
Dates - 5th and 6th April
Venue - Arches Argylle St Glasgow
Run Time - 2 hours
Reviewer - Nicholas Whyte

Fascinating and relaxing

The farthest arch in the Arches theatre contains a bar which is open throughout the performance of Wayang Skotlandia. In the centre of the room are a dozen or so musicians playing a variety of xylophones, gongs, sound kettles and drums, and somewhat unconventionally, a trumpet. This break from Javanese convention also occurs in the puppet show itself, which synthesises the legend of Cuchulain, the Celtic world's culture hero, and Bima - of the Mahabharata epic - in his search for mastery of self.

The puppet show may be watched from near the bar area, over the heads of the musicians, from where the puppeteers are in full view, sitting cross-legged and holding beautifully painted wooden puppets aloft, against the screen. There is a seated area on the other side of the screen, in the far corner of the room, if you prefer to watch your puppets in shadow. In another corner, two men in shades are sitting at a card table playing some kind of game with counters, and smoking clove cigarettes. Nearby, delicious traditional Javanese food is served at a stall.

This is more of an occasion than a performance. From the start, we are instructed to walk about, talk amongst ourselves, buy drinks and food. The numerous children present seemed to find this most natural, running from one side of the screen to the other. I was fortunate enough to be sitting next to Esmie Wallace, the organiser of Durham University's Gamelan musicians. She told me that these events last all night in Java, and it's a great social gathering where the legend being played on the screen is well-known, and little attention is paid to it until the clown-puppets appear. Well, everybody likes a laugh, don't they? It's rtainly entertaining listening to two cannibal-clowns discussing the relative merits of the human flesh of different nations. Apparently, the Scottish aren't so enticing, as they smell of Scot.

It's a light hearted approach more whimsical than a direct attempt to appeal to local people. It's appropriate to the Javanese's' own attitude to this form of art and makes for a fascinating and relaxing couple of hours, where a colourful, musically mesmerising and meditative culture is gently eased into an archway in Glasgow, with no friction and to great effect.

© Nicholas Whyte 6 April 2002