Mwathirika, a Lost History and The Loss of History

The perfect movement between the puppet and the puppet master, stage properties, lighting, and music ilustration was the only languange that being used to tell the story. A beautiful play, without a word being said. A little piece of history, 5 puppets to share the story.

 

Baba, a hard working man who has only one hand. He has two sons, Moyo and Tupu. Haki, is his neighbour. He has a daughter, Lacuna, a little girl who's using a wheelchair. No mother figure for the three of them, but their father always giving their best. They live "side by side" in their peaceful world.

Until one night, when someone puts a red triangle mark on Baba's house. That mark considered as "dangerous" at that time. Haki keeps his distance from Baba. Lacuna is not allowed to play with Moyo and Tupu. The red triangle mark changes their life.

 

The troops arrest Baba. He has one last wish before the troops take him, he wants to fix Tupu's toy first. Then, they can take him. The scene where Baba gives Tupu's toy that already being fixed, and then kisses them goodbye, that was really heartfelt. :'(

In loss and confuse, Moyo and Tupu keep waiting for their father. Keep on hoping that their father will come. But he'll never come. One day, Moyo follows a troops member. He wants to give something to Baba. The troops member notices that Moyo has a red whistle. A whistle that being used by Moyo and Tupu to call each other. If Tupu needs Moyo, he blows the whistle and Moyo will come to his little brother. What they don't know is, that red whistle is just as "dangerous" as the red triangle mark. Moyo never return ever since.

Now, Tupu is all by himself. No father, nor big brother who'll always be there to protect him. People walk right pass through him, like he doesn't even exist. He keeps on blowing his red whistle, hoping that Moyo or Baba can hear the sound of his fear and pain. The sound of his whistle becomes softer and softer, fades out and ends in silent as the light goes out. In the dark, Tupu bows his head and rest in the gentle embrace of his puppet master.


"For us, this is not about who killed who. This is about a lost history (and the loss of history) in our lives. Shouldn't it be so, that if we know what has happened in the past, then we can understand why we stand here now, and where we want to go in the years to come?", wrote the creators of the play, Maria Tri Sulistiyani, the daughter of a former Lieutenant Colonel of Indonesian Air Force, and Iwan Effendi, a grandson of dalang (wayang puppet master) who was a political prisoner for 13 years. Mwathirika, a Swahili word that means victim, is just one of the languages being used, to tell the history they grew up with.


This is my first experience in watching Papermoon Puppet Theatre. And I know for sure, it won't be the last. I'm waiting for the next show, dear puppet master. Thank you Goethe Institut for making Mwathirika as part of Indonesia dan Dunia pada 1965's event. Kudos for Mwathirika!