Semar in Lila Maya will feature puppet theatre, Gamelan music and video imagery to tell the tale of Semar the God-Clown. The story, which is rooted in the epic Hindu poem, Ramayana, follows Semar as he descends from heaven and finds himself in the Pacific Northwest.
Upon his arrival, he encounters ecological devastation while battling to save threatened humpback whales and confronting human folly and short-sightedness.
The show features puppeteer Ki Seno Nugroho, who'll be accompanied by Sutrisno Hartana and Javanese musicians in collaboration with Vancouver's Gamelan Madu Sari ensemble and computer animators Aleksandra Dulic and Kenneth Newby.
"The play uses classic theatrical forms and themes to delve into current social and environmental issues," said Gamelan Madu Sari tour coordinator Mark Parlett.
Officials at the City of Mississauga's Office of Arts and Culture say they're thrilled to bring such a diverse show to the city.
"This show was of interest to us for many reasons," said Paola Polleto, supervisor of arts and culture. "It's multidisciplinary, bringing together traditional music, puppetry and storytelling with contemporary art practices such as new media art and video projection. It has pluralistic voices and ideas with performers from Indonesia and Canada. It's innovative, pushing the potential for traditional practices to enter into dialogues with new technologies and to connect with new audiences. There are many ways to enter and appreciate this work. It has something for all ages."
Javanese is the language spoken by the people of the Indonesian island of Java.
The show is touring across Canada and is being presented by Gamelan Madu Sari and Gamelan Wargo Laras, with support from the Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Toronto and Vancouver.
"We're fortunate to be able to offer Mississauga citizens and visitors an opportunity to experience this unique presentation," said the City's director of arts and culture, Zainub Verjee.
The shadow play is being presented as part of the My Mississauga entertainment series. It runs throughout the summer and features concerts, sports, yoga, theatre, movie screenings and festivals.
The two-hour event starts at 9 p.m. Admission is free.
For more information, visit www.mississauga.ca or call 905-615-3200, ext. 2403.
cclay@mississauga.net
