Sehimpun Naskah Teater Anak Anak

THE MOON, TREES, and an UNHAPPY WIND

Little girl: (walking to and fro near the window) What is taking the moon so
long?

(HER OLDER SISTERS WATCH HER, STILL PLAYING WITH THEIR PHONES)

Little girl: (a faint light enters the room, little girl runs to meet it) Hi Moon!

Moon: (stood at the “Moon” installation) Hi Fasha!

Little girl: Moon, don’t you know that nobody believes me? Nobody believes
what I have to say about you, Wind, the stars, trees, rain, Sun, and everything
else in nature? Nobody believes that you guys can grow and speak and move,
just like me.

Moon: It’s because their smartphones have completely taken control of their
eyes. Just like their televisions and videogames. They no longer have time to
think about us, to think about the universe. They’re blind to our existence and
deaf to our music. Now they’re only fixated on virtual things.

Little girl: So, what can I do?

Moon: Remember what I told you; ask them to close their eyes, let their mind
wander and conjure impossible things, and really try to listen to the sound, the
sound that comes from the universe. It encompasses the sound made by Wind
as it flies around, the sound of rain, the sound of everything.

Little girl: I did what you told me and they still wouldn’t believe me. They even
said I was letting my imagination run too freely…

Moonlight 1: (while sitting down, legs stretched out) It’s because they never
really tried it. Ask them to put their phones down, close their eyes, and think
about the sea, mountains, Sun, rain, forest, butterflies, and me, just like how
you would think about numbers and letters and memories.

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THE MOON, TREES, and an UNHAPPY WIND

Little girl: And?

Moonlight 2: They will see all of those things clearly once they’ve closed their
eyes and really pictured them. If not, they should try again and again and again
until they succeed, until we hear and answer their calls.

Little girl: Could you sing for me? I want to hear your voice one more time
before I go to bed, and when I’m asleep, I don’t want you to stop singing. I’m
sure your voice will be heard by every child who opens their ears to the
universe. Don’t you know, Moon, it is because of your voice that I’m not scared
of ghosts haunting me or entering my dreams.

Older sister 1: Stop talking to yourself, just go to sleep…close the curtain.

Little girl: I want to sleep with the curtain opened so that Moon could see me
and protect me.

(OLDER SISTER 1 AND 2 ARE STILL ON THEIR PHONES WHILE LITTLE GIRL IS
FALLING ASLEEP. BEFORE CLOSING HER EYES, LITTLE GIRL SPEAKS AGAIN)

Little girl: My sisters, listen to the Moon sing. Listen to her voice as she puts us
to sleep. All you have to do is open your ears and close your eyes. (starts to
close her eyes)

Moon: (singing)

MOON’S SONG

Before the night creates a dream
I sing for you
About remnants of rain on leaves
About bird wings buffeted by Wind
About the blinking of stars
Reff: Go ahead and sleep with a smile

Let the arms of night embrace you
Until the morning comes
The first Sun, the first day
Everyday is like the first time

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THE MOON, TREES, and an UNHAPPY WIND

I will come again the next night
With twin threads of love
One for you and one for me
Before the night creates a dream I will watch over you always….always...always

(OLDER SISTERS FALL ASLEEP WITH PHONES IN HAND, AND DREAM ABOUT
TREES, WIND, AND MOON. THIS DREAM IS SEEN ON STAGE. A LOUD WIND
IS HEARD)

Sukun tree: Wind, I’m feeling sad. So many children are still glued to their
phones. Those things are like their only friends. They no longer like to play
outside, not even just to glance at me.

Wind: Sukun tree, your grief is my grief. When I dance on their hairs, they don’t
even feel it anymore.

Moon: Yes, you are both right. I’ve seen it with my own eyes! They don’t listen
when I sing anymore, even though I’ve trained my voice so that it sounds better
and they get attracted to me.

Sukun tree: Don’t you know that the Sun and I work together to create new
colors every opportunity we get? From a shade of green that is soft to a shade
of green that is thick, then their mothers pick the fruits that grow out of me and
turn them into snacks, but they still won’t ask where those snacks come from.

Moon: The sky and I also work together to create beautiful shapes. From a
simple line to a half-circle to a whole circle whose light shines on their pajamas
at night though the windows of their rooms, and yet they still won’t notice it.

Wind: If I wanted to I could simply blow their phones out of their hands and
vanish them forever so that they may feel our presence.

Moonlight: I could also work together with the night and ask the Sun to not rise
in the morning, so they realize that life stops without us. No signal would reach
their phones.

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THE MOON, TREES, and an UNHAPPY WIND

Wind: It’s not that I’m banning them from using their phones entirely, it’s just
that this hour is not the best time for it. At this hour, they should make me into a
poem or a dance or a song instead. A phone can’t do anything besides trap you.

Sukun tree: When they’re fast alseep, I want to read them a poem, as a prayer,
a hope, and an outpouring of my emotions.

Sukun tree’s poem:

When you get older
Please remember me, if only as a fond memory
That I danced for you at noon to calm you down
And yet you never looked at me
Even when you’re asleep, I kept my body still
I stayed away from Wind
So that I wouldn’t wake you
I made you the best air
So you could grow healthily and happily
As I grew more unhappy

(DIM LIGHTS, SUKUN TREE AND WIND EXIT THE STAGE SLOWLY, BOTH
SISTERS ARE AWAKE AND LOOKING AT EACH OTHER WITH SAD EYES. LITTLE
GIRL WAKES UP)

Older sister 1: Sis, sis, please wake up. I now believe that trees, Wind, and the
Moon are talking to each other. They came to me in my dreams.

Older sister 2: You dreamt about them? I feel like I did, too. The Sukun tree in
front of our hose was reading me a poem. I pity him. I want to go meet him right
now and apologize. (runs out of the stage)

(OLDER SISTER 2 EXITS THE STAGE, RUNNING TO MEET SUKUN TREE. OLDER
SISTER 1 TIDIES UP THE BEDROOM, FOLDS THE BED COVER, FLIPS

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THE MOON, TREES, and an UNHAPPY WIND

THE PICTURE FRAMES, AND AWAKENS HER LITTLE SISTER. LIGHTS DIM. SMART-
PHONE USERS FORM A CROWD ON STAGE LIKE IN THE FIRST SCENE. OLDER SISTER
1 AND 2, IN SCHOOL UNIFORMS, SEEM TO FEEL ALIENATED AMONG THEM)
Little girl: Don’t you want to join them and play with your phones?
Older sister 1: No, sis! You were right, we don’t have to be anyone else. Let’s close
our eyes, picture the trees, Wind, sea, rain, Sun, Moon, mountains, and the whole
universe so we could feel their presence. (dragging along Older sister 2 and Little
girl and holding hands amid the crowd of smartphone users)
Older sister 2: I’m starting to feel Wind dancing at the ends of my hair, aaah I’m so
happy.
Older sister 1: I’m starting to hear the Moon’s song from last night.
Older sister 2: I promise never to hurt their feelings again.
Little girl: Alhamdulillaaaah
(LIGHTS SLOWLY DIM, THE THREE SISTERS STILL HOLDING HANDS, AND THEN
FADE TO BLACK)
THE END
BANDUNG- DEPOK
MARCH-APRIL 2015
ADINDA LUTHVIANTI

56







ILALANG

Sinopsis:

Memperkenalkan moralitas dan budi pekerti pada anak-anak tentu bukan
masalah sederhana. Banyak hal yang harus dipahami terlebih dahulu. Bukan
hanya cara berpikir anak, namun juga bagaimana membuat konsep-konsep
moral dan budi pekerti yang abstrak, menjadi sesuatu yang nyata dan mudah
dipahami anak.

Ilalang merupakan sebuah ikhtiar untuk menggambarkan suatu pesan moral
yang abstrak menjadi sesuatu yang nyata dan mudah dipahami untuk
anak-anak. Pesan moral tersebut adalah bahwa manusia harus memiliki rasa
kasih sayang terhadap alam dan mahluk hidup lain sebagai penghuni planet
bumi, tinggal bersama, setara, dan tidak ada yang lebih menguasai satu sama
lainnya

Cerita ini dimulai dengan dongeng sebelum tidur yang dibacakan oleh
seorang narator, dan adegan demi adegan dari dongeng tersebut akan
digambarkan dengan gerak, lagu, dan unsur artistik sebagai jembatan pema-
haman.

Pada suatu pagi, Ilalang dan mahluk lainnya (kambing, kerbau, sapi dan
burung-burung) riang gembira, pada sebuah hamparan padang, bersebelah-
an dengan sungai Pesanggrahan. Mereka menari dan bernyanyi.
Semua kebahagiaan itu disaksikan oleh seorang Malaikat Pelindung Ilalang
yang terlambat pulang. Ia mendengar keluh kesah Ilalang tentang bagaimana
hewan ternak yang menjadi kawan-kawannya tidak suka dikurung di kandang
karena mereka berkaki empat dan seharusnya berlari bebas. Juga karena
leher mereka panjang seharusnya makan sambil menggerakan kepalanya.
Dan Ilalang lebih suka menyerahkan dirinya untuk dimakan oleh hewan ternak
secara langsung, bertemu dan saling membantu, daripada dipotong manusia
dengan arit yang tajam.

Di tengah kemesraan Ilalang dan hewan ternak, siang itu, bahkan hari belum
lagi sore, datanglah penggembala yang memaksa hewan ternak untuk pulang
dan seorang pemotong rumput mulai menyabit ilalang.
Tidak lama kemudian, datang pula bulldozer yang siap meratakan padang
ilalang tempat mereka bermain. Maka suasana menjadi gaduh, ricuh, dan
terlihat panik.

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ILALANG

Usai kegaduhan itu, Malaikat Pelindung Ilalalang yang sejak awal menyaksikan
semua itu turun dari ayunan dan mulai menenangkan Ilalang. Malaikat
mengatakan bahwa, Sejak saat ini, Ia akan berdo’a pada Tuhan, agar Ilalang
boleh tumbuh di mana saja, bahkan di halaman rumah manusia. Dan
Malaikat berpesan agar jangan putus asa, karena ilalang adalah tumbuhan
yang paling tabah dan mereka akan hidup terus menerus walaupun dibabat
habis. Tumbuh lagi, dan lagi, dan lagi!

Malaikat Pelindung Ilalang juga mengatakan bahwa kejadian itu merupakan
akibat dari keserakahan manusia yang selalu merasa kekurangan setiap
waktu, sehingga melupakan mahluk lain penghuni alam semesta ini.

Para Pemeran:

Ilalang-ilalang: Anak-anak periang yang dikepalanya tumbuh ilalang yang
panjang.

Kambing: Anak-anak yang tubuhnya kecil dengan topi serupa kepala kambing,
melakukan adegan menari dan melompat.

Kerbau: Anak- anak yang bertubuh besar, bertopi kepala kerbau, dan cend-
erung lebih lambat geraknya namun tetap menari ringan.

Sapi: Anak-anak yang bertubuh tinggi, bertopi kepala sapi, pandai melompat,
menari, dan bernyanyi.

Burung: Anak-anak yang pandai menyanyi dan menari, bertopi burung.

Malaikat Pelindung Ilalang: Seorang anak yang memakai kostum putih dan
bersayap lebar, tinggal di ayunan, dan memperhatikan seluruh cerita yang
sedang terjadi.

Narator: yang membacakan kisah (dibalik panggung)

Penggembala: anak yang mengenangkan selempang sarung

Pemotong rumput Ilalang: anak yang mengenakan topi lebar petani.

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ILALANG

(SELURUH PEMAIN BERPEGANGAN TANGAN DI ATAS PANGGUNG, CAHAYA
TEMARAM UNTUK MEREPRESENTASIKAN WAKTU MALAM (WARNA
MONOKROMATIK) SEBELUM PERLAHAN BERUBAH MENJADI BIRU-PUTIH,
PARA PEMERAN ILALANG BERPOSISI SETENGAH BERDIRI, DAN PARA TERNAK
MENUNDUK. TERDENGAR SUARA NARATOR.)

Narator: (seperti sedang menyampaikan dongeng sebelum tidur) Pada suatu
hari di padang ilalang, Malaikat Pelindung Ilalang sedang dalam perjalanan
pulang menuju Surga, namun beliau terlambat dan pintu Surga telah dikunci.
Akhirnya, ia asyik memandang ilalang, layaknya seorang ibu yang sedang
memandang anaknya; penuh kasih sayang. Malaikat itu juga mendengar
segala keluh kesah dan kesedihan ilalang yang seringkali merasa kehilangan
teman-temannya yaitu hewan ternak (kambing, kerbau, sapi) dan burung-bu-
rung. Mereka biasa bermain bersama dan tertawa sepanjang pagi. Matahari
pun cemburu terhadap persahabatan mereka.

(ILALANG, TERNAK, DAN BURUNG-BURUNG MENYANYI SAMBIL MENARI.)

Waktu Seluas Padang

Pagi…dan bunga matahari
Pagi mekar dan senyum segar

Menari..menari…menari
Bernyanyi..bernyanyi,,,

Sepanjang tepiii

Reff: Waktu seluas padang
Kita menjelma ilalang
Waktu seluas padang

Riang senang tra la la la

Waktu seluas padang
Jangan diam sebelum petang

Waktu seluas padang
Kita berdendang

Waktu seluas padanhg
Jika marah…waktu terbuang!

59

ILALANG

(CAHAYA MULAI AGAK TERANG.)

Para kerbau: Terima kasih Ilalang, kamu membuatku kenyang (PARA KERBAU
MEMERAGAKAN GERAKAN KEKENYANGAN)

Ilalang 1: Aku senang kau menyantapku. Dengan begitu, pertumbuhanku
tambah baik.

Ilalang 2: Dan aku merasa nyaman tinggal di perutmu yang hangat.

Ilalang 3: Kalian juga baik. Setelah aku dicerna dalam perut, kalian mengelu-
arkan kotoran yang bertindak sebagai pupuk organik bagiku sehingga aku
bertambah tinggi.

Para burung: Dan kaki-kakiku yang kecil ini telah kau beri sandaran yang
empuk, sehingga aku selalu ingin terbang mengitarimu.

Burung paling kecil: Dan kulit tubuhmu renyah, membuat mulutku sibuk
mengunyahnya. Aku selalu ingin tambah dan tambah lagi…

Ialalang–ilalang: Kami bahagia bisa menari denganmu.

Kambing 1: Aku juga senang bisa bermain denganmu, tapi aku juga sedih.
Aku dan teman-teman selalu dikandangkan. Aku lebih senang disini bersama
kalian.

Kambing 2: Padahal kami binatang berkaki empat yang seharusnya berlari
bebas.

Kambing 3: Dan kami berleher panjang. Seharusnya kami meraih makanan
dengan kepala yang bergoyang-goyang; bergerak ke kiri dan ke kanan
mengikuti gerak tubuhmu.

Para kambing: Kenapa manusia tidak paham akan itu semua sama sekali…

Ilalang-ilalang: Kami juga tidak suka tubuh kami disabit dengan benda tajam,
sakit sekali…

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ILALANG

Sapi 1: Aku tidak suka ketika berada di kandang. Aku disediakan makanan,
leherku menjadi kaku.

Sapi 2: Dan leher kami dikalungi tambang, agar kami tidak berlari-lari. Aneh
sekali!

(SELURUH PEMERAN PERPEGANGAN TANGAN, NARATOR MELANJUTKAN
CERITA.)

Narator: Hewan ternak dan Ilalang-ilalang saling menyayangi. Siang itu,
ketika Matahari membuat bayangan pada lengkung pepohonan dan juga
ilalang, datanglah penggembala yang menarik paksa hewan ternak dan
seorang pemotong rumput yang menyabit ilalang dengan semangat.
Burung-burung terbang menjauh, seluruh hewan ternak menjerit, dan ilalang
merintih kesakitan. Suasana menjadi kacau, penuh duka lara. Semuanya
memuncak ketika sebuah bulldozer datang dan meratakan padang ilalang.

(BINATANG DAN ILALANG MELAKUKAN KOREOGRAFI YANG MENEGANG-
KAN; SALING TARIK-MENARIK DAN BERTERIAK KEPADA PENGGEMBALA DAN
PEMOTONG RUMPUT.)

Hewan ternak: Tolong! Kami tidak mau kembali ke kandang!

Ilalang-ilalang: (GEMETERAN) Sakit…sakit…jangan disabit…sakiiit.

(SETELAH ADEGAN KEKACAUAN ITU TERJADI, SUASANA MENJADI SEPI,
SEDIH, DAN DIAM. CAHAYA TERLIHAT SEPERTI MALAM.
MALAIKAT PELINDUNG ILALANG BERAYUN-AYUN PELAN.)

Malaikat Pelindung Ilalang: Wahai ilalang-ilalang kekasihku, mulai saat ini kau
akan tumbuh di mana saja. Kau akan merayap pada setiap tanah kosong, di
bibir sungai, di tubuh gunung, di semak-semak di dekat hutan, di pesisir
pantai, di sela- sela pemakaman, bahkan di pekarangan rumah manusia. Kau
akan tumbuh dan seluruh alam raya akan melihatmu tumbuh. Kau dibutuhkan
banyak manusia. Kau adalah tumbuhan yang paling tabah; ditumpas…
tumbuh lagi, digilas hidup lagi, diambil…datang lagi. Terus dan terus tumbuh!

61

ILALANG

(MALAIKAT PELINDUNG ILALANG TURUN DARI AYUNANNYA, BERJONGKOK,
DAN MEMBELAI ILALANG YANG HABIS DAN HANYA MENYISAKAN
AKAR-AKARNYA.)

Malaikat: Tumbuhlan….tumbuhlah…bangunlah wahai ilalang…

(ILALANG BANGUN PELAN-PELAN DARI POSISI TERLENTANG KE POSISI
BERDIRI, DUDUK, MASING-MASING MEMEGANG SATU BATANG ILALANG.)

Ilalang 4: Aku tak akan pernah lelah untuk tumbuh.

Ilalang-ilalang: Kami akan mematuhimu.

Ilalang 5: Tetapi kenapa di padang yang indah ini kami dimatikan?

Malaikat Pelindung Ilalang: Karena manusia serakah, mereka tidak pernah
puas, selalu ingin memenambah jumlahnya, padahal mereka sudah memilik-
inya, tapi ingin lagi, dan lagi.
Sedangkan kalian memiliki ketabahan, kesetiaan pada tanah, dan kebaikan
untuk memberi. Kalian bukanlah pemilih; kalian bisa tumbuh di manapun.
Sejak saat ini, aku bersumpah, kalian tidak akan pernah bisa mati. Seribu kali
kematian adalah dua ribu kali pertumbuhan. Jangan bersedih, Surga tak akan
melupakanmu.

(MALAIKAT PELINDUNG ILALANG MEMELUK SELURUH ILALANG DENGAN
SAYAPNYA YANG LEBAR., SUASANA DIAM DAN DAMAI.)

Narator: Sejak saat itu, ilalang terus tumbuh di mana-mana, tidak pernah lelah
dan tidak akan pernah berhenti. Karena Malaikat Pelindung Ilalang selalu
memanjatkan doa kepada Tuhan agar hal itu terwujud, seperti malam ini ketika
beliau menidurkan dengan sebuah nyanyian.

(PARA PEMERAN ILALANG REBAH SATU DEMI SATU DAN MALAIKAT PELIND-
UNG ILALANG MENDORONG AYUNAN PELAN-PELAN SAMBIL BERDOA
DALAM NYANYIAN.)

Tuhan

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ILALANG

Tuhan….Tuhan…Tuhanku titipkan ilalang
Jangan runtuh, jangan rapuh, terus tumbuh

Bantulah ilalang lewat apa saja
Walau hanya lewat embun pagi
Akan kusemai menjadi butiran tasbih
Sebanyak hitungan do’a
Tuhan…Tuhan…Tuhan…

Nyalakan cahaya disetiap kegelapan jalannya
Teruslah menyala
Teruslah menyala
Tuhan….

(SELURUH PEMAIN MASUK PANGGUNG, TURUT MENYANYIKAN LAGU
TUHAN.)

SELESAI.

Depok, 7 Juni 2014
Adinda Luthvianti

63

ILALANG
64

THE WEEDS

Synopsis:

Introducing morality to children is no simple task. Not only will you have to under-
stand how a child’s mind works, you will also have to figure out how to concretize
abstract moral concepts so that children could digest them more easily.

The Weeds is an attempt at visualizing said abstract moral concepts and turn them
into something that children could understand. The aim is to communicate how
humans need to have compassion for nature and every living thing within it, or,
how humans are inseparable from nature and so our capacity for compassion
should extend beyond words.

The performance begins with a narrator telling a bedtime story the parts of which
are acted out on stage through dances, songs, and artistic elements that act as
teaching devices.

Weeds, who were happily playing on a field with their friends the Livestock (goats,
buffaloes, and cows), were singing and dancing one early morning. All of this was
witnessed by their Angel-protector who was on his way home. He heard their
complaints about how livestock shouldn’t be confined in a cage because they’re
meant to roam the wild; they needed more freedom of movement. Weeds were
more willing to give themselves over to be eaten by roaming livestock than to live
at the mercy of the Groundskeeper.

During the scene between Weeds and Livestock, the Shepherd came and forced
the latter to return to their cages, as the Groundskeeper started hacking away at
the former. Then the Bulldozer came, ready to flatten the field. Chaos ensued, and
the scene turned into that of a panic.

In the aftermath of the chaos, the Angel-protector, who had been observing the
whole thing, came down from his celestial swing and tried to comfort the Weeds.
He told them that, due to this chaos, they could now grow anywhere they wanted;
even people’s homes, and he told them not to give up, for weeds are the most
patient of all the plants. They will find a way to grow again even after being cut
down, and then again, and again, and again!

The Angel-protector also said that the day’s events were due to the greed of
humans which knew no bounds. Humans were now becoming the opposite of
nature.

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THE WEEDS

Characters:
Weeds: Kids wearing headresses fashioned as weeds.
Goats: Small kids wearing headresses fasioned as a goat’s head.
Buffaloes: Large kids wearing headresses fasioned as a buffalo’s head.
Cows: Tall kids wearing headresses fashioned as a cow’s head.
Birds: Kids with a good form and a beautiful singing voice wearing headresses
fashioned as a bird’s head.
Angel-protector: A kid wearing a majestic white costume fitted with wings,
observing from up above on a celestial swing.
The Shepherd & the Groundskeeper

Directing scheme:
Using a realist approach, emphasis on movement and song, and making use of
beautiful language. Pendekatan realis, lebih mengedepankan gerak dan lagu
dengan bahasa penyampaian yang indah.
Scenes do not follow a linear structure but reinforce children’s tendency for
surrealism instead.

66

THE WEEDS

(ON STAGE THE LIGHTS ARE DIMMED TO REPRESENT THE EARLY MORNING
AND EVERY PERFORMER IS HOLDING HANDS, THOSE PLAYING THE WEEDS
ARE SLIGHTLY STOOPED, THOSE PLAYING LIVESTOCK ARE CROUCHED.
LIGHTS GO FROM BLUE TO WHITE, ILLUMINATING THE ANGEL-PROTEC-
TOR WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IS STILL BATHED IN RELATIVE DARKNESS. THE
NARRATOR SPEAKS.)

Narrator: (as if telling a bedtime story) Once upon a time on an early
morning, an angel-protector was on his way home, yet he arrived at Heaven’s
gate too late and it was already closed. He ended up enjoying the view of a
field of weeds, gazing upon it the way a mother looks at her child. He listened
to the Weeds’ every complaint and how much they missed their friends. Those
friends were goats, buffaloes, cows, and birds who liked to dance and sing
while tapping their feet on the field of weeds. They would laugh and play
together all morning. The Weeds and Livestock would often imitate the Birds’
dance, full of joy. Even the Sun was jealous of their time together.

(EVERY PERFORMER SINGS WHILE DANCING)

Time, Wide as the Field
Good morning to the sunflower
The morning blooms and smiles brightly

Dancing, dancing, dancing
Singing, singing, singing
All across the field

Reff:
Time, wide as the field
We become like weeds
Time, Wide as the Field
So full of joy, tra la la la

Time, wide as the field
Don’t stand still before the evening comes

Time, wide as the field
We sing together

Time, wide as the field
If you’re angry, your time is wasted!

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THE WEEDS

(LIGHTS BEGIN TO GLOW BRIGHTER)

Buffaloes: Thank you, Weeds. You nourish me (Buffaloes consume the Weeds).

Weeds 1: You’re welcome. We’re glad you consume us, for we grow even more
because of it.

Weeds 2: And I feel comfortable inside your warm belly.

Weeds 3: We would also like to thank you, you’re just as good as us. After
you’ve consumed us, you discharge a substance that acts as a natural soil which
will make us grow taller.

Birds: And you, my dear Weeds, give my small feet a soft place to rest, which is
why I always like to fly around you.

Smallest bird: And your skin is pleasant to chew on, I could never get enough…

Weeds: We’re delighted to be dancing with you.

Goats 1: I like playing with you, but on the other hand I’m sad. They keep me
and my friends in cages, while I much prefer to be here with all of you.

Goats 2: We’re four-legged animals, we should be roaming free instead of
being locked up.

Goats 3: Our necks are long, too. We should be extending our necks to reach
our food, swaying from left to right in concert with your rhtyhm in the wind.

Goats: Why don’t humans understand this at all…

Weeds: We also hate it when humans cut us down with their sharp blades, it
hurts…

Cows 1: I hate it when I’m in a cage. I don’t find my own food because they give
me food. My neck grows stiff.

Cows 2: They put collars around necks so we won’t run away—it’s so strange!

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THE WEEDS

(EVERY PERFORMER HOLDS HANDS, THE NARRATOR SPEAKS.)

Narrator: All those livestock and Weeds love each other. Later, at noon, the
shepherd came and forcibly drove all the animals back to their cages, followed
by the groundskeeper who started hacking away at the weeds. The Birds flew off
and the rest screamed while the Weeds groaned in pain. Chaos ensued along
with great sadness. It all reached a peak when the bulldozers came and
proceeded to flatten the field of Weeds.

(THE LIVESTOCK AND WEEDS DO A CHAOTIC CHOREOGRAPHY, PUSHING
AND PULLING AGAINST THE SHEPHERD AND THE GROUNDSKEEPER)

Livestock (Cows and Goats): Please, please, we do not want to be caged!

Weeds: (shaking in pain) It hurts…it hurts…don’t cut us…

(AFTER THE CHAOS, THE ATMOSPHERE TURNS COLD AND DESPONDENT.
LIGHTS ARE DIMMED TO REPRESENT NIGHTTIME.)
Angel-protector: (sways slowly on his celestial swing) Dear Weeds, from now on
you will grow out of every soil; the mouths of rivers, on mountains, in between
the bushes near the forest, along the coast, in graveyards, even in people’s
homes. You are the most patient plant of all. They cut you down and yet you
persevere. You grow and grow and grow again!

(ANGEL-PROTECTOR FLOATS DOWN FROM HIS SWING, SOFTLY CARESSES
THE NOW-EXHAUSTED WEEDS WHOSE ROOT IS THE ONLY THING THAT’S
LEFT)

Angel-protector: Grow…grow…grow now, my dear Weeds.

(WEEDS SLOWLY RISE UP, MOVE AROUND, CROUCH, THEN SIT DOWN,
EACH HOLDING AN ACTUAL STEM OF WEED)

Weeds 4: I will never stop growing.

Weeds: We will do as you say.

Weeds 5: But, I still wonder why they want to kill us on this beautiful field.

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THE WEEDS

Malaikat: Because humans are greedy. They’re never satisfied, always wanting
something new that they don’t already have. But you Weeds are patient, loyal to
the soil, and always keen to share. You can grow anywhere. From this moment
on, I promise I will never let you die. A thousand deaths mean two thousand
growths. Don’t feel sad, for Heaven will not forget you.
(ANGEL-PROTECTOR HUGS THE WEEDS AND COVERS THEM WITH HIS
WINGS.)
Narrator: Ever since this moment, the Weeds have been growing everywhere
without ceasing. Because the Angel-protector never stopped praying to God to
let them grow. That night, he sends them to sleep with a song.
(WEEDS LAY DOWN ONE BY ONE ON THE CELESTIAL SWING WHILE THE
ANGEL-PROTECTOR GENTLY SWAYS IT BACK AND FORTH WHILE PRAYING.)
God
God…God…I pray that you protect them
Don’t let them collapse or wither, let them keep growing
Help them any way you can
Even just with the morning dew
I will weave it into prayer beads
Beads whose amount are equal to my many prayers
God…God…God

70

THE WEEDS

Illuminate their journey with your divine light
Keep on illuminating
Keep on shining
God…
(EVERY PERFORMER ENTERS THE STAGE, SINGING THE ABOVE SONG ONCE
AGAIN.)

THE END
Depok, June 7 2014
Adinda Luthvianti

71







HUJAN MENCARI KALI

Sinopsis:

Suatu kali, seorang pendongeng anak-anak yang membawa karung berisi
berbagai properti panggung, mendatangi sebuah tempat bermain anak-anak.
Pendongeng ini selalu mengawali ceritanya dengan sebuah pertanyaan, dan
menguraikan jalannya cerita dengan gerak dan lagu. Anak-anak sangat
menyukainya, karena mereka bisa memahami banyak hal dengan cara yang
menyenangkan.

Dan inilah cerita dari sang pendongeng, yang diawali oleh pertanyaan:
KENAPA ADA BANJIR DI JAKARTA? Lantas anak-anak menjawabnya dengan
berbagai pendapat, dan semuanya dituliskan oleh si Penulis.

Maka dimulailah dongeng ini dengan Hujan. Ia sedih dan sengsara karena
kehilangan ibunya yaitu Kali. “Kali-kali raib…kali-kali senyap,” katanya. Hujan
pun terus mencari dan bertanya mengapa Kali menghilang? Lalu Sampah
mengakui perannya dalam menghilangkan Kali, Pepohonan menolong Hujan
agar tidak selalu bersedih, dan Raksasa Gedung dengan sombong mengakui
bahwa dirinyalah yang telah memakan kali.

Hujan sedih dan Pepohonan juga menjadi sedih memikirkan nasib Hujan,
maka Pepohonan, dengan dibantu Angin, membuat jalan keluar yang menar-
ik.

Lalu, bagaimana kesudahan cerita Hujan yang mencari Kali ini? Apa
sebenarnya yang akan terjadi pada Kali dan bagaimana pohon membantu
Kali? Ikuti cerita anak “Hujan Mencari Kali”.

72

THUJAN MENCARI KALI

Para Pemeran:
Pendongeng: Anak berumur 10-12 tahun yang senang mendongeng, nampak
cerdas dan sedikit berlebihan.
Penulis: Anak-anak yang senang bertanya dan terkesan sok tahu. Ia senang
menulis dan menambahkan cerita Pendongeng.
Hujan: Anak-anak yang bersuara merdu, cengeng, dan terkesan baik sekali.
Mereka kehilangan ibunya, yaitu Kali, dan berusaha mencarinya kemana-ma-
na.
Pepohonan: Anak-anak yang pandai menari, bernada serius, dan agak bijak-
sana, Pepohonan adalah sosok yang baik, penolong, ramah, dan bijaksana.
Dia menolong hujan menemukan jalan keluarnya dengan membuat Kali baru
di antara Bumi dan langit.
Raksasa Gedung: Anak-anak bersuara berat, serak, terkesan jahat, serakah,
dan sombong.
Sampah: Anak-anak yang nakal, periang, suka pamer, dan bersuara keras.
Sam

73

Hujan Mencari Kali

(LAMPU TERANG, PANGGUNG DIISI ANAK-ANAK YANG SEDANG BERMAIN.
BERBAGAI AKTIVITAS PERMAINAN TERLIHAT DI PANGGUNG. DARI LUAR
PANGGUNG TERDENGAR SUARA PENDONGENG YANG BERJALAN MENUJU
TEMPAT BERMAIN INI, SUARANYA LANTANG DAN MENARIK HATI
ANAK-ANAK.)

Pendongeng: Ini hari mendongeng, ini hari di mana kita bisa menjadi apa
saja. Mari mendongeng! Seperti biasa, saya akan memulai dongeng ini
dengan sebuah pertanyaan; “Kenapa ada banjir di Jakarta?” (ANAK-ANAK
MENDEKAT DENGAN RIANG)

Anak-anak: (BEREBUTAN MENJAWAB) “Karena sampah menyumbat jalannya
air, jadi airnya susah bergerak!”; “Karena hujan terlalu banyak!”; “Karena
banyak gedung-gedung tinggi, jadi kalinya terhalang deh!”

Pendongeng: Sebentar, sebentar…saya perlu penulis, ini jawaban-jawaban
yang baik dan semua perlu ditulis. Yang mana yaaa (MENCARI-CARI CALON
PENULIS). Saya akan pilih yang…

Anak-anak: “Paling cantik…”; “Paling tinggi!”; “Paling kecil!”; “Paling baik…”

Pendongeng: emmmh, yang paling banyak memegang buku bacaan
(MENUNJUK SALAH SATU ANAK). Nah, kamu (MENYERAHKAN BUKU DAN
BOLPOINT)

Penulis: Ya, tepat sekali, saya memang yang paling gemar membaca dan
menulis. Sebentar, sebentar, tadi ada kalimat “Karena hujan terlalu banyak,”
bener gak sih kalimat itu? Seharusnya hujan “terlalu lebat” atau “terlalu
sering,” kan?

Anak-anak: Tulis saja, ini bukan acara tanya jawab.

Pendongeng: Diulang, kenapa ada banjir di Jakarta?

Anak-anak: “Karena kali penuh dengan sampah.”;
“Karena kali tinggal sedikit.”

74

HUJAN MENCARI KALI

Pendongeng: Apakah semua sudah ditulis? (MELIRIK KEPADA PENULIS)

Penulis: Sudah, kawan. Bahkan sudah saya tambah-tambahkan…

Pendongeng: Memang itu kebiasaan penulis! Kita mulai dengan hujan. Sean-
dainya kalian menjadi Hujan, kalian akan mencari ibu kalian, yaitu kali!

Hujan: Aku seperti hujan!

Pendongeng: Kalian juga boleh menjadi pepohonan…

Pepohonan: (SEREMPAK TIGA ATAU LIMA ANAK) aku pecinta pepohonan,
kamilah pepohonan itu.

Pendongeng: (DENGAN SUARA DIBUAT MENAKUTKAN) siapakah diantara
kalian yang suka menyampah?

ANAK-ANAK SEMUA DIAM, TIDAK ADA YANG BERANI TUNJUK TANGAN.
MEREKA SALING MENYALAHKAN

Anak-anak:
1- aku lihat kamu kemarin buang sampah sembarang, kamu aja yang
yang jadi sampah.
2- Kamu juga suka buang sampah di Kali, kamu aja yang jadi sampah!

SEMUA ANAK TIDAK MAU MENJADI SAMPAH, MEREKA TAMBAH RIBUT
SALING MENYALAHKAN, SALING MENUDUH DI ANTARA TEMANNYA.

Pendongeng: kalian semua keren, tidak ada yang membuang sampah semba-
rangan. Tetapi permainan ini harus ada yang pura-pura menjadi kelompok
sampah. Kalau tidak ada yang mau, cerita tidak akan bisa dimulai!

LIMA ANAK MAJU DENGAN BERANI
Sampah: kami adalah sampah!

Pendongeng: nah! Tingal satu peran lagi, dia bersuara besar, berkaku
panjang, kuat dan sulit dikalahkan, dialah gedung-gedung tinggi!

75

HUJAN MENCARI KALI

TIGA ANAK MAJU DENGAN BERANI DAN MENGAUMM

Gedung: akulah gedung yang merebut ruang bermainmu, mengambil halaman
rumahmu, dan aku tinggi, makin tinggi, tinggi sekali. (SUARANYA BESAR DAN
MERANGSEK KE ARAH ANAK-ANAK. ANAK-ANAK BERLARIAN DIKEJAR-KEJAR
GEDUNG-GEDUNG)

Pendongeng: semua sudah bisa dimainkan, kita akan memainkan “Hujan
Mencari Kali”

Anak-anak: (SEREMPAK BERTANYA DAN SUARANYA KERAS SEKALI) Hah!!!! Hujan
Mencari Kali???

Pendongeng: Hujan mempunyai ibu yaitu Kali! Pada suatu masa di mana manu-
sia-manusia merasa pandai padahal, tidak! Saat manusia menjadi penguasa
satu-satu di muka bumi ini.

Penulis: Sebentar-sebentar, kita akan memainkan dongeng ini dengan gerak dan
lagu. Kita akan memainkannya dengan penuh percaya diri, bahwa kitalah pemi-
lik cerita ini, jadi terserah kita. Teman-teman, mainkan!

Pendongeng: Kota-kota terus membengkak (ANAK-ANAK MEMBUAT
KOREOGRAFI), bangunan-bangunan beton berbiak, kali-kali raib, kali-kali
senyap, dan Hujan pun kehilangan ibunya. Maka Hujan mencari ibunya. Kaki-ka-
kinya menapaki jalanan, memasuki taman-taman, memasuki rumah-rumah
(PEMAIN HUJAN MENGAMBIL POSISI DAN BERGERAK/ MENARI, BERSUARA
RIUH)

Hujan: cas cis cuuuuus, cucaas cicuss..cauuus caaah cuiiis caaas cuuus

Pendongeng: Suara Hujan semakin sedih, ia mencari-cari di pelataran gedung
(PEMAIN GEDUNG MAJU KE DEPAN DAN MELAKUKAN GERAKAN, BERGABUNG
DENGAN PEMAIN HUJAN, SALING MENABRAK), memasuki sela-sela yang terbu-
ka, terus mendesak sehingga membuat genangan panjang, lalu (MELIRIK PENU-
LIS)

76

HUJAN MENCARI KALI

Penulis: (PENULIS MELOTOT KEPADA PENDONGENG), kenapa melirik? Saya
tulis kok. Saya buat kalimat dramanya ya? (DENGAN SUARA SEDIH DAN
BERLEBIHAN). Hujan terus berlari, mencari pepohonan yang biasanya mema-
yungi ibunya, tetapi pepohonan lenyap. Maka Hujan bertanya pada apa saja.

Pendongeng: (KE ARAH PENULI), Penulis selalu dilebih-lebihkan, terlalu drama!
(KE ARAH ANAK-ANAK) Sampah menjawabnya tanpa rasa malu, sungguh
sangat sampah!

Sampah:
1. Aku mengapung dari hitungan satu, lalu dua, lalu seribu, lalu sejuta ,

dan air terdiam

2. Aku juga menampung genangan, memanjakan jentik nyamuk yang
menyebar dan menggigit manusia dan menjangkiti mereka dengan
dema. Demam berdarah!

3. Aku kuat dan juara bertahan. Aku tidak bisa lumat, bahkan tanah
yang basah oleh hujan pun membutuhkan ratusan tahun untuk
meremukanku.

4. Hebatnya lagi, aku sangat digemari. Aku muncul dalam minuman,
kue-kue, mainan, peralatan dapur, dan banyak lagi. Aku sangat
ramai di pasar-pasar, di mal-mall besar!

5. bahkan di tempat yang paling jauh.

6. (SEMUA PEMAIN SAMPAH BERSAMAAN), Kami sangat mengerikan
dan kami menyembunyikan ibumu!

Pendongeng: Mendengar semua itu, Hujan bersedih, sangat bersedih. Tapi
hujan tak menyerah, ia terus mencari dan memanggil manggil ibunya. Terden-
gar seperti nyanyian merdu, hujan memanggil…

77

HUJAN MENCARI KALI

NYANYIAN HUJAN

Kali-kali raib
Kali-kali lenyap
Sudah lama aku kehilanganmu
Jarak ini terlalu panjang dan jauh
Aku cemas dengan marahku

Namaku Hujan
Nama yang indah dan sabar
Tapi jika kamu menghilangkan Kali
Kami akan menggenangi apa saja

Namaku Hujan
Berikanlah Kali pada kami

Namaku Hujan
Kembalikanlah ibu kami
Di tempat yang luas ini
Kenapa kami dipisahkan dengan Kali?

Pendongeng: Begitulah kisah sedih itu. (DENGAN SUARA DISEDIH-SEDIH-
KAN) begitulah hujan teruuus mencari Kali.

Penulis: (KITA BERI KESEMPATAN UNTUK PENDONGENG MENERUSKAN
TANGISANNYA) Saya lanjutkan. Hujan seringkali datang di mana-mana.
Kadang mereka kelelahan dan bersandar pada Pepohonan. Pepohonan
menghiburnya dengan tarian dan bercerita kepada Hujan, sampai Hujan
terlelap.

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HUJAN MENCARI KALI

Pepohonan:

1. Sssst, tidurlah pepohonan, ini sangat sedih untuk disampaikan,
jumlahku tinggal sedikit, sedangkan jumlahmu masih sangat banyak.
Aku takut tak akan bisa menampungmu.

2. Seandainya jumlahku masih banyak, aku akan mampu memelukmu,
memeluk semua hujan, menjagamu setiap saat.

3. Dan kalian tidak akan terlalu bersedih kehilangan Kali, karena kami
sepandai dan sebaik ibumu dalam menjagamu.

4. (BERSAMAAN), sayangnya jumlah kami terbatas. Ketika kami sudah
bisa meninggikan tubuh kami, kami ditebang!

Pendongeng: Begitulah kemesraan antara Hujan dan Pepohonan (DENGAN
SUARA SEDIH DAN TERSENDAT)

Penulis: (MELIRIK KEPADA PENDONGENG) yaaaah, dia masih bersedih. Saya
lanjutkan. Di kota besar ini, jumlah pepohonan tidak banyak sama sekali. Di
sini sungguh aneh; jumlah mall, gedung-gedung tinggi, dan hotel-hotel lebih
banyak daripada pepohonan. Mereka sombong, angkuh, dan melelahkan.
Semua harus selalu mendongakkan kepala jika ingin memandangnya (MEN-
DONGKAKAN KEPALANYA DENGAN NADA MARAH) Rupanya, merekalah
pemakan Kali!

Raksasa Gedung: weeer werrrr weeeer duuum duuum dummm dug dug dug,
prang, pring, duuuum, duaaar, duaaar! (MENIRUKAN BUNYI BULDOZER,
DENGAN SUARA MENGERIKAN)

1. Betapa lezat dan menyegarkan memakan Kali, sosokku yang rupawan
ini mampu menelan banyak Kali.

2. Aku membingungkan sekaligus menakjubkan siapa saja. Aku bisa
dibangun di mana saja, maka aku berkuasa.

3. Aku juga mampu membeli apa saja dan menjadikan apa saja, karena
aku pemilik uang! Duum duuum dug dug dug (TERDENGAR MENA
KUTKAN)

79

HUJAN MENCARI KALI

Pendongeng: (MUNDUR BEBERAPA LANGKAH SEPERTI KETAKUTAN) Rupanya
dialah yang telah mengambil Kali dan menutupi jalan Hujan menuju Kali!
TAKUUUT!

Penulis: Sssst, sudah sudah, saya lanjutkan (SAMBIL MENGUSAP PUNGGUNG
PENDONGENG) Namun hujan yang sedih itu terus memasuki Raksasa
Gedung sambil mencari Kali, memasuki mall, rumah-rumah, dan semua
tempat yang telah merampas ibunya, merampas Kali. Katanya:

Hujan:
1. Jika ini menjadi pilihan Raksasa Gedung, mall, dan seluruh gedung

tinggi lainnya, maka akan aku kirimkan genangan padamu.

2. Lalu aku menjelma menjadi banjir, mendorong apa saja di depanku,
termasuk kau, Sampah (KE ARAH SAMPAH).

3. Oh…dosamu, wahai Raksasa Gedung (KE ARAH RAKSASA GEDUNG)
Kamu membuat banyak manusia sengsara, sementara mereka
menyebut sikap kami sebagai bencana alam. Itu bohong besar.

4. Semua ini terjadi bukan karena bencana alam, namun karena
ulahmu. Ulahmu yang memakan Kali, memakan ibuku, menghilang
kan tempat pulang.

Pendongeng: Kemarahan Hujan memang bisa dimengerti. Ia kehilangan
banyak hal, salah satunya tempat ia pulang. Sungguh sulit dimaafkan. Namun
Hujan tidak dendam padamu, Hujan tidak membencimu, Hujan hanya ingin
kembali ke Kali, kembali kepada Ibunya (MASIH DENGAN NADA SEDIH)

Penulis: Tetapi Hujan dan Pepohonan sangat akrab dan saling peduli satu
sama lain, maka mereka berencana membuat Kali yang baru di atas sana
(MENUNJUK KAIN PUTIH) agar hujan bisa pulang dan istirahat setelah berta-
hun-tahun mencari Kali, setelah bertahun-tahun menggenangkan Jakarta.
Maka Pepohonan menawarkan diri

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HUJAN MENCARI KALI

Pohon:

1. Akan kubuatkan kalian sebuah kali yang melayang di antara Bumi
dan langit.

2. Karena di sini, di Bumi ini, di tanah ini, orang-orang sudah tidak lagi
mencintai Kali.

3. Bahkan mereka menutup Kali dan mengotorinya dengan sampah.
Kami akan membuatkanmu kali sambil menari bersama angin.

Hujan:

1. Bagaimana caranya kami mendaki kesana?

2. Apakah kami akan terjatuh

3. Apakah kali yang baru akan sebaik kali yang berasal dari alam,
sebaik ibu Kali? Aku takut…”

Pohon:

1. Jangan takut, kawan. Matahari akan mengantarmu. Beliau telah
membuat tangga melewati celah-celah dahanku, untukmu, Hujan,
untukmu.

2. Dan kau seluruhnya bisa pergi dari Bumi ini.

3. Jika kau suka, tinggallah selamanya di sana.

Penulis: Tunggu, tunggu sebentar (SAMBIL BERPIKIR) Jika kau suka, tinggallah
selamanya di sana?! Ini kalimat merugikan; berarti kita tidak akan melihat dan
bermain dengan Hujan lagi? (MELIHAT PENDONGENG DENGAN HERAN,
SEOLAH MENYALAHKAN)

Pendongeng: disitulah dramanya (KE ARAH PENULIS). Pepohonan sudah
marah dan putus asa, sehingga dengan bantuan angin mereka membuat kali
dari siang sampai malam, Kali yang jernih dan panjang. Hujan pun senang.

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HUJAN MENCARI KALI

UNTUK PEPOHONAN (dinyanyikan bersama)

Terima kasih Pohon haiii Pepohonan
Pohon-pohon indah dan baik hati
Kini aku menemukan rumahku kembali
Teruslah baik…selamanya baik

Jika kita semua baik
Pada alam baik, pada cakrawala baik
Pada seisi dunia ini baik
Maka kita akan baik-baik saja selamanya

Mari kita menjadi orang baik
Berbaik-baiklah pada segala hal

(SEMUA PEMAIN MENAIKI KAIN PUTIH SAMBIL BERNYANYI, MEMANJANG-
KAN GULUNGAN, DAN BERMAIN DENGAN KAIN PUTIH ITU. LALU MEREKA
PERLAHAN MASUK KE DALAM KAIN PUTIH ITU. LAMA-LAMA SUARA MEREKA
HILANG DAN SUASANA MENJADI SEPI. DI PANGGUNG TINGGAL PENDON-
GENG DAN PENULIS.)

Pendongeng: Begitulah kisah Hujan mencari Kali

Penulis: Tapi jangan ditutup dulu, kawan! Jangan seperti ini ending-nya! Satu
pertanyaan, kawan; apakah hujan akan kembali?

(SELURUH PEMAIN YANG BERADA DI BALIK KAIN MENGHAMBUR KELUAR
DAN BERTERIAK SEKENCANG-KENCANGNYA.”

Aku Kembaliiiiiiii!

(SELURUH PEMERAN KELUAR DARI BALIK KAIN PUTIH, MENGHAMBUR, DAN
KEMBALI BERMAIN SAMBIL MENYANYIKAN LAGU
“NYANYIAN HUJAN”

Selesai.

DEPOK, 29 Juli 2013

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HUJAN MENCARI KALI
83

HUJAN MENCARI KALI
84

RAIN SEEKING RIVER

SYNOPSIS
Once upon a time, a children’s storyteller who brought a bag filled with plastic
waste and an assortment of stage properties everywhere he went stumbled
across a children’s playground. He always began his stories with a question and
then unraveled them through movement and song. The children loved him
because he made them understand a lot of things in a fun way.
This is his story that began with the following question: WHY ARE THERE
FLOODS IN JAKARTA? The children responded with differing answers, and all
of them were written down by the Writer, who was one of the children.
And so the story started with the Rain…who were in grief after having lost their
mother; the River. “All the rivers are disappearing,” said the Rain. The children
asked, “Why are the rivers disappearing?” The one known as Garbage
confessed that it was his fault, the Trees tried to comfort the Rain, and the
Skyscrapers, arrogant as ever, stated that they had eaten the rivers.
The Rain continued grieving. The Trees grew restless thinking about the Rain,
and so they worked together with the Wind to find a solution.
Hence, how would this story of the Rain who looked for the River come to an
end? What would happen to River, and how would the Trees help it? Welcome
to Rain Seeking River.

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RAIN SEEKING RIVER

CHARACTERS:
Storyteller (M): A kid who likes to tell stories and begins his stories with a
question! (10 – 12 years old, chatty, clever-looking, and a little dramatic)
Writer (F): A smart kid who likes to ask questions and acts like a know-it-all. She
writes down what the storyteller has to say and adds in her own details.
Rain (F): Kids with a good singing voice, are sensitive, and good-natured.
They’re in grief after having lost their mother, the River, and are looking all over
for her.
Trees (F): Kids who are good at dancing, have relatively loud and serious voices.
Trees are benevolent figures, helpers who are friendly and proud. They help
reunite Rain with River by building a river between the sky and the earth.
Skyscrapers (M): Deep-voiced kids who are intimidating. They are malevolent
figures who eat River and destroy the environment. Skyscrapers state that
they’re the ones who eat River and make her disappear.
Garbage (M): Naughty and cheerful kids who like to brag. They proudly confess
to blocking River’s streams and turning them into a place of filth where infective
mosquitoes are born and bred. They also harm the Earth’s natural soil by
polluting the ground.

SCENE:
(BRIGHT LIGHTS ON STAGE, A SCENE OF A BUSY PLAYGROUND POPULATED
BY CHILDREN DOING VARIOUS ACTIVITIES. FROM OUTSIDE OF THE STAGE
THE STORYTELLER APPROACHES AND TELLS THEM TO GATHER ROUND)

Storyteller: It’s storytelling day. Today we can be anything we want, so let’s hear
a story! As usual, I will start by asking you a question; “Why are there floods in
Jakarta?”

Children: (approaching eagerly, scrambling to answer) “Because the rivers are
blocked by garbage!”, “Because there’s too much rain!”, “Because there are
too many skyscrapers that leave not enough room for water!”

Storyteller: Wait a minute, wait a minute. I need someone to write all of your
answers down…who should I pick? I will pick…
Children: “The most beautiful!”, “The tallest!”, “The smallest!”, “The kindest!”

Storyteller: The one with the most words in them (pointing at Writer). Yes, you
(handing Writer a notebook and a pen).

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RAIN SEEKING RIVER

Writer: Yes, you’re right, I do write a lot. Hold on, somebody said earlier that
there was too much rain, is that right? Shouldn’t it have been “The rain is too
heavy” or “It rains too often”?

Children: Just write down what you heard, this is not a Q&A session (Writer
glares at the kid saying this).

Storyteller: Let me ask you again, why are there floods in Jakarta?

Children: “Because the rivers are filled with garbage!”, “Because we’re running
out of rivers!”

Storyteller: (to Writer) Did you get all that?
Writer: I got it, don’t worry. I’ve even added some extra details…

Storyteller: So typical of you, Writer. Now let’s talk about Rain. Imagine that you
were her, desperately looking for your mother (kids playing Rain excitedly
answer “I’d like to be Rain!”), or you could choose to be Trees (kids playing
Trees excitedly answer “I’d like to be Trees!”), or even Garbage (kids playing
Garbage excitedly answer “Me! Me!”), or Skyscrapers (kids playing Skyscrapers
excitedly answer, jumping, “Me!”).

Children: (in unison) Rain is looking for his mother?

Storyteller: Rain has a mother, and her name is River! In a time when humans
believe they’re the smartest, while really they’re the stupidest…

Writer: Wait a second, wait a second, we will act out this story through move-
ment and song, with confidence, as if to say this story is ours and we can do
anything we want with it (talking to and encouraging the other kids), so let’s go!

Storyteller: Cities continue piling up (kids do their choreography), steel build-
ings give birth to steel buildings, rivers disappear, and Rain loses her mother, so
she’s determined to find her. She flows through roads, city parks, people’s
houses…(kids playing Rain disperse from the main crowd and move toward a
pile of plastic waste while playing with their flashlights)

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RAIN SEEKING RIVER

Rain: (vocalizing) cas cis cuuuuus, cucaas cicuss..cauuus caaah cuiiis caaas
cuuus

Storyteller: Rain’s voice grows even more somber. She searches in between
skyscrapers (kids playing Skyscrapers do their choreography), flowing through
the cracks therein and making a large puddle, and then…(looks at writer)

Writer: Rain continues her search, now looking for the Trees that used to shelter
her mother, but they’re nowhere to be found, so she goes to ask anyone and
anything.

Storyteller: And then Garbage answer her in a mischievous tone and without
regret, just like what you would expect of them!

Garbage: “I float from the count of one, then two, then a thousand, then every
body of water I touch grows silent!”, “I also create puddles where infected
mosquitoes are born, puddles from which they disperse and spread diseases to
humans, diseases like dengue fever!”, “I’m difficult to defeat, I’m not so easily
discarded. It will even take the Earth hundreds of years to destroy me!”, “And,
amazingly, I am greatly admired. I am a part of cookies, toys, kitchen cutleries,
and many more. You can find me at every supermarket, every mall, and even
in places where I am the least expected. They adore me!” (now talking to Rain
in unison), “We’re terribly scary and we’ve got your mother hidden away!”

Storyteller: Hearing all this, Rain grows even sadder, so much sadder, but she
refuses to give up. She continues searching and calling out for her mother. Her
cries form a song: t

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RAIN SEEKING RIVER

RAIN’S SONG

My name is Rain
And all the rivers are gone

They’ve all disappeared
It’s been so long since I saw you last
This is too large and too far a distance

I’m alone with my anger

My name is Rain
It’s a beautiful and patient name
But if you make the rivers go away

We will pour over everything

Please give them back to us
Return our mother to us
In this boundless place

Why are you keeping us apart?

Storyteller: And so it goes (downcast as if about to cry)…Rain continues her
search for River.

Writer: I’ll continue; every once in a while Rain is found everywhere and when
she gets tired, she leans on the Trees. They soothe her with a dance and a story,
until she falls asleep.

Trees: “Shhh, there’s only a few of us left, while you’re still abundant. We’re
afraid we won’t be able to contain you any longer.”; “If only there were still
many of us (sounding indignant). We would embrace the whole of you.”; “And,
you won’t miss River as much, because we would assume her role of taking care
of you. But now that there’s only a few of us left, we grow worried.”

Storyteller: Thus is the splendid relationship between Rain and the Trees (feeling
moved, grows silent)

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RAIN SEEKING RIVER

Writer: In this big city, the number of trees is very small, while malls are getting
built everyday and they far outnumber the trees (grows tense). Those buildings
are so arrogant and difficult that we all have to look up just to meet them eye
to eye (holding head high). As it turns out, they’ve eaten River!

Skyscrapers: (vocalizing construction sounds, the other kids grow panicked and
hysterical before assuming a prone position) weeer werrrr weeeer duuum
duuum dummm dug duh duh. River was so delicious and nourishing! I could
eat River all day and maintain my beautifully elegant shape. I am elusive, yet
magnificent. I could fill every space and enter every door and multiply myself,
for money is no object to me! Duum duuum dug dug dug

Storyteller: (in a frightful tone, retreating from Skyscrapers) They’re the ones
who ate River and prevented Rain from meeting her.

Writer: Sssshh, let me tell the story (crouching behind Storyteller). Faced with
impossible odds, Rain perseveres and flows in between Skyscrapers, going into
malls and people’s houses and all other places where River used to be.

Rain: If this is how it’s going to be, I have no choice but to send you a flood,
which I will turn into and push through everything in my path, including you,
Garbage! You Skyscrapers…don’t you realize the extent of the grief that you’ve
caused so many people? All that’s happening is not a natural disaster, it’s been
your doing all along. You’ve eaten River and made my place of comfort disap-
pear.

Storyteller: Rain’s anger is understandable. Remember, she lost her home and
so she has nowhere to go. But Rain’s anger is not directed at you. Rain merely
wants to return to River, to her mother (in sadness).

Writer: But Rain is so close to the Trees, and they plan to create a new river up
there (pointing at the direction of a floating white thread), so she may return
home and rest after failing to find River after many years, years in which Jakarta
was often flooded.

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RAIN SEEKING RIVER

Trees: “I will make you a new river, a river that flows from up above.”; “Because
right here, on this Earth, people no longer care about rivers.”; “They even block
rivers’ paths and defile them with garbage. We will create this river while danc-
ing with the wind.” (dancing in unison)

Rain: “How will we get there?”; “Will we fall?”; “Will this new river be as wise
as Mother River? I’m afraid…”

Trees: “Do not be afraid. The Sun will guide you there. She has made a stairway
out of my branches for you, Rain.”; “And you can leave this Earth altogether.”;
“If you like it there, you can stay forever.”

Writer: Wait a second, “If you like it there, you can stay forever”? Does that
mean we won’t see Rain and play with her again (looking at Storyteller,
confused and concerned)?

Storyteller: The Trees are angry and desperate to lift Rain’s spirits, and so they
work tirelessly with the wind to make a flowing river that stretches far and glows
brilliantly. Rain is now happy again.

Rain: (merrily singing with the other kids)

FOR THE TREES

We thank you, Trees
Trees that are beautiful and kind
Now I have found a new home

Be good, always and forever

If we’re always kind
Kind to nature, to the horizon

To this whole Earth
Then we will be good forever

Let’s be kind
Be kind to any and all things (repeated)

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RAIN SEEKING RIVER

(EVERY PERFORMER CLIMBS UP THE WHITE THREAD WHILE SINGING, ELON-
GATING THE THREAD AND SLOWLY GETTING BLANKETED BY IT, BEFORE
THEIR VOICES FADE OUT AND BECOME SILENT, LEAVING STORYTELLER AND
WRITER ON STAGE)
Storyteller: And that’s how the story of Rain Seeking River goes.
Writer: But don’t close it yet, my friend! Don’t let the story end this way. I have
one question; will Rain ever return?
(Every player who’s concealed beneath the white thread suddenly emerges and
screams at the top of their lungs): I’m baaaaaaackkk (begin singing Rain’s
song)
DEPOK, 29 Juli 2013

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