Wayang Kulit

Java’s Shadow Puppetry

Wayang is a Javanese word meaning "shadow" or "ghost" and is a theatrical performance of living actors (wayang orang), three dimensional puppets (wayang golek) or shadow images projected before a backlit screen (wayang kulit).

The wayang kulit use two-dimensional puppets chiseled by hand of buffalo or goat parchment; like paper dolls, but with arms that swivel.

Wayang Orang (living actors)

brief example

Wayang Golek: Three dimensional puppets

Wayang Golek

Wayang kulit Central Java:

probably one of the oldest continuous traditions of storytelling in the world, and certainly among the most highly developed.

Wayang is well integrated in Javanese society, and it is considered to be a highlight of Javanese

culture.

The Stage The screen is a very wide sheet of linen up

to eighteen feet across and about four or five feet tall. Only the center of the screen is actually used for action.

Dalang is an expert story teller, actor, singer, and character manipulator.

The Dalang must enter the area from a particular direction at just the right time.

Dalang

The dalang manipulates the puppets, sings and taps out signals to the orchestra. He also speaks the parts for all characters; he must be able to render the shy sweetness in the voice of a princess, the spiteful whine of a lackey and the righteous but controlled anger of a noble hero.

Demands of the job...

Not everyone can be a dalang. A dalang is a most extraordinary man. First of all, he is a public entertainer.

He must:– amuse a great number of people– be physically strong and healthy to stand

the strain– be seated cross-legged for nine successive

hours

He may not– have a wink of sleep or get up from his

seat until six o'clock the next morning– He must:

strike the kechrek (rattle) with his right foot almost incessantly

handle the puppets with both hands, imitate their different voices, tell jokes at the right times, and sing every now and then

In addition, he controls the musicians without anyone among the audience ever noticing it.

Puppets made of hide

Indonesian shadow characters (wayang kulit) are made of rawhide.

Kulit means skin, usually from the hide of an oxen or bull. Other materials in use around the world include, goatskin, cardboard, and plastics.

Making a puppet

When?

Wayang is often performed to celebrate weddings and births.

Play is accompanied by a full gamelan.

Performances start at 8 p.m. and end at 6 a.m.

Originally men watched from the dalang’s side and women from the audience side.

Dalang in the center

Bad puppets on his left Good puppets on his right

Near the end of the show..

Three dimensional wooden puppets (wayang golek) may appear near the end of the show to symbolize the return to reality from the shadow world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUClJLQh5qw&feature=related

The stories are usually based on the epic stories of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the show is only a small part of the whole epic. In Indonesia, people are familiar with the different characters appearing in the stories, which can be recognized by the size, shape, color and angle of their eyes and nose and the way they walk, talk, sing, dance and fight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMRHi2WVoZQ&feature=related