Characteristics and structure of theatrical tradition

Characteristics and structure of theatrical tradition

      Characteristics of Theatre Tradition
Based on the latest development of this form of folk theater, a number of basic characteristics of theater people in general are as follows.

a. The story is presented without a script and worked out based on historical events, fairy tales, mythology, or everyday life.

b. The presentation of the story is done through dialogue, song, and dance.


c. The elements of clowning through a character comedian (bodor) always appear in all stories.

d. Values ​​and behavior dramatic spontaneous, in every scene there are two elements of emotions at once, ie, laughing and crying.

e. Tetabuhan or performances using traditional musical instruments.

f. Viewers follow a relaxed and intimate performances. In fact, it often happens the emergence of direct dialogue between actors and audience.

g. The venue is open in the form of theater arena (surrounded by the audience).

A play structure Tradition

Theatre traditions in the archipelago largely born of religious traditions that have ever lived in the past. The original religious system, Hindu-Buddhist, and Islamic often mixed together in the staging of art. Therefore, the structure of the theatrical tradition in general have in common in various places in this archipelago.

The general structure theatrical tradition is as described below.

a. The show begins with tetabuhan (tatalu) as giving a sign that the show will start soon. This tetabuhan long been dependent on the gathering of spectators around the venue.

b. Group leaders or masterminds then perform a ritual to invoke the protection of the four winds. This process is done by chanting ritual incantation or a rajah, and burn incense (incense). This process sometimes use their own dances performed by the mastermind or leader of the group.

c. After the ritual is complete, emerged a group of dancers who bring entertainers dances. The emergence of dancers this indicates that the show had been irrespective of the nuances of ritual and ceremony has nothing to do with any particular religion.

d. The story begins by presenting the story in a linear structure. The elements of melodrama often to be hold in this theatrical tradition. The story is divided into several sections so it feels round or long.

e. At the turn round time lag is always filled with entertainment, such as singing and dancing. In a number of theater folk traditions, the much-loved because it is precisely at this time that the audience can dance with the dancers by giving a certain amount of money. It often happens gap between this round lasts long enough so that the whole story can end the show early in the morning.

f. End the show closed with dances and prayers of thanks. All the players usually perform in front of an audience to say thank you. The whole show was closed with tetabuhan back as the beginning of the show.