Gedung Kesenian Jakarta’s parking area was full that evening, February 27, 2009. A theatrical performance was about to start. The stage had been scheduled for a famous art community called Puspo Budoyo. It was their 32^nd show, a special one. Not only the members, but also “big guys” from big companies would present. Those gentlemen are public figures, but what would it be like if they act on stage??

The drama titled “Penobatan Raja Airlangga” (”The Coronation of King Airliangga”) then began.  It was a ketoprak, traditional Javanese theatrical performance with comedy attached. Those public figures turned out to be the “victims” of Puspo Budoyo members. Some of them were well blended but some were just too stiff for a comedy. But it even made the show funnier. The fully occupied hall was full of laughter. “You look very tired, what’s happening, dear wife? Let me tell you something, sometimes you have to take those medicines for yourself, not just selling them to others,” said Dharmawangsa, the King of Medang, which role-played by Luluk Sumiarso-the leader of Puspo Budoyo, talking to his wife, Dyah Ardhaniwijayadewi, role-played by Yuliarti Merati, the Production Director of Indo Farma (pharmacy). Yuliarti tried not to laugh but failed.

“This drama is getting away far from the original scenario, now I’m not sure what to say!” one of them innocently ended up complaining when he got his turn to speak. The audience, again, laughed.

The Coronation of King Airlangga was supported by other leaders in several big companies. To name a few, there were Sumarwoto, SH. MPH (the Deputy of State Secretary Minister), Aviliani (Commissary of BRI Bank), Didie Tedjasumirat (Managing Director of Surveyor Indonesia), Soelasno Lasmono (Managing Director of SMB Synergy), Hermien R. Sarengat (President Director of GE Technology Indonesia), Rowin Mangkoesoebroto (Chief Business Development Officer IMCM), Eko B. Suprijanto (Managing Director of InfoBank), Anif Punto Utomo (Senior Editor of Republika), Ida Parwati (senior reporter), Indah Permatasari (actress), Tasman Gultom (advocate), Indah Soraya (Editor of Dewi Magazine), and Ari Darmawan (Managing Director of Andika Energindo).  To add some punches into the show, Puspo Budoyo also invited Marwoto and Topan, famous comedians in Indonesia.

The idea of involving business public figures in ketoprak is aimed to popularize the show among wider public. As well as other traditional theatrical shows, such as ludruk, wayang orang and wayang kulit, ketoprak have been losing their enthusiasts. Puspo Budoyo, as an art community focusing on traditional culture revitalization, is striving to expose those traditional heritages as wide as possible. They even performed in Spain and Netherlands.

To know more about Puspo Budoyo, check their website Puspobudoyo.org.