Filed under: Season 2
Sudirman today: It’s still Saturday. So here’s how the day went. The kids were asked to be at Hotel Mulia for a morning rehearsal from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Then they were asked to go home and get an afternoon nap (which no one really did), and be back at the theater at around 6 p.m. because the show will start at 8 p.m. But what interested everyone the most and made everyone flee from thoughts of a failure show was what the director of the show did during the company call in the morning before everything started. So, here’s how it went.
The whole cast and crew was gathered on the stage. The hall was huge. Really, really huge. All the three halls of Hotel Mulia were bared of its moveable walls and opened into this really huge open space. Since this play was based on a Japanese anime movie, and because the floors of the Hotel Mulia halls were carpeted, the school decided to make every guest sit on pillows of the same shape, size and color. One pillow for each person. Well, they were tatami pillows or whatever they may be called. They were in a light beige color. Almost pink. There were thousands of them lined perfectly all over the hall. Well, there were only 3000 pillows and it was said that the show was sold out. Ticket prices were at 200,000 rupiah for the side wings of the stage and for the part of the cushions facing the stage, they were prices at 300,000 rupiah. The Hotel Mulia workers were still placing the cushions under the deadly command of the committee mothers while the first company call of the day was held.
The director stood in front of the stage. He began talking. “Mikki Saunders, stand up.” Mikki was whispering and giggling to a friend while he said this. She didn’t hear him. The director glanced an evil eye toward her. Then he said again, louder this time. “Mikki Saunders STAND UP!” Mikki heard it this time and immediately shot upright, standing. She looked confused. She saw anger in the director’s eye. “You sang our finale song at the Chanel Party last night.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. Anger in his tone was noticed by the whole cast. They were listening intently now and pocketed their cell phones and all chatter stopped. Finally. “May I ask you why?”
“I-I,” stuttered Mikki. She did not know what to say. “I-I, I sang it because I thought it would give a good preview to the audience who haven’t bought a ticket yet to our show,” she continued. The director of the play was not pleased of her answer.
“Well next time! Next time! You don’t spoil a play’s finale song at a public event! And goddamn it Mikki, they all already had tickets! Last night, when you sang our finale with your introduction, we only had three spots left in the audience Mikki! So we didn’t need your personal promotion to boost the play! We put goddamn ads in the newspaper and magazines and radios and what not! We booked this HUGE hall for heavens sake!” the director shouted at her. He was walking all over the stage and at times not looking at Mikki while he said his monologue. Finally, when he was back at the center of the stage and had ended his monologue, he looked back at Mikki.
“As a punishment, I’m sorry Mikki, but I’m going to cancel your song after the curtain closes.” Whisper ran through the hall like wild fire. “Georgi,” he said out loud. Georgi then zoomed up in the air and was standing. “We’re changing your song Georgia. It’ll be I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston. I’ve seen Mikki sing this song,” he continues. He takes his wallet out of his pocket and exerts a card. He throws it to Georgi. Go to my suite. My iPod’s already docked to the speakers. Mikki go with her. Teach her the song. I’ll be there in an hour to teach you the dramatic directions alright Georgia? Can you both handle that without ripping each other hairs off?”
There was no answer.
“Oh well, we’ll just have to give it a try then,” the director said cooly. He snaps his fingers as a signal for the two girls to get going. And they do.
Georgi also notices the glaring eyes of Mikki upon her. But Georgi keeps walking forward, in front of Georgi. Mikki walked faster and now was beside Georgi. She leaned closer to her. They walked slower. “Georgi,” she said sweetly. But her voice was somewhat bitter. “Did you know my dad completely paid for the venue of all three shows? It cost around, I don’t know, probably 1 billion rupiah? I wonder what he’ll say when he doesn’t see me perform?” She turned and looked at Georgi. Georgi did not know how to react. But gallantly, Mikki opened the large double doors and turned around to head out. Georgi stopped walking. And the doors closed behind her. The bitch and the guilt, all at once. Too bad they’ll be locked in one room.
Showtime: The large chandeliers on the ceiling began to dim. The geisha-looking ushers began to show the last of the guests (all of whom were rich enough to pay for the front rows and show up late without pissing the other guests off). The gong was hit once and its sound echoed throughout the hall. Whispers started to fade and the usher geishas (who really were the 7th and 8th grade girls), barefoot as they were, began to rush. As soon as all the guests were seated (while some spots were still empty), the pre-installed curtain machine began to ramble and the closed curtains began to separate. Only the school could pull off pre-installed curtain machines at a hall with no theatrical values (or machines). The drums began to beat once again on the left side of the stage. There were 20 large drums drummed by 20 male students dressed in red and black ninja costumes. The beating began softly and in seconds they became louder and louder. And at their loudest bang, it stopped. On the right side of the stage, the Jakarta Philharmonic Orchestra began to pull the first note to the opening song and the play began.
Scene 1–Curios of a New World : “Chihiro, a sullen little girl, was moving to a new home with her family. On the way, her father missed a turn, got lost and decided to try an off-road trail. At the end of that trail, they stumbled upon an abandoned 90s amusement park. Chihiro and her parents saw a light coming from the end of the tunnel entrance to the amusement park. Curiosity went through Chihiro’s father and decided he would like to go through the tunnel. The spoiled and stubborn Chihiro, refused. This is the story of Chihiro and how she was, Spirited Away.”
Scene 2–The Bathhouse Comes Alive: “Run Chihiro, run! Run before it gets dark!” shouts Haku, played by Samuel Santoso. Chihiro, now still played by Mikki Saunders, runs to stage right. But spirits with black and white masks and large red cloaks started to walk slowly towards her direction. Mikki runs the other way, toward stage left, but the same spirits began to appear. The Jakarta Philharmonic Orchestra began to play rapidly, the violins, cellos and the trumpets and the drums as well. They played faster and faster. The stage, which was covered with light grew slowly dim. Then as the cloaked spirits approached Chihiro, played by Mikki Saunders, closer and closer they went, the song played faster. And suddenly, the lights were flashing on and off and so forth. The spirits had already made a shell all around Mikki. Covering her completely. Then at the height of it all, the hall went pitch black. The gong was banged, and it was loud. Immediately, the spirits huddled around Chihiro, spun around and broke the shell. Chihiro, had changed. Once played by Mikki, now Chihiro was replaced by Georgi.
Scene 3–In Yubaba’s Presence: “Yubaba is the owner of the bathhouse. She’s an old witch. Her magic turned your parents into pigs. She hates it when humans eat our spirit food without permission. Remember, you do not want to irritate, annoy or make her angry,” Rin began, played by Na. “People say she’s stingy, evil, sadistic and heartless. I agree, but she takes care of us. And she will take her of you. But be careful, be very very careful. Now go.” Chihiro, now played by Georgi, knocked on Yubaba’s doors. “Come in,” a croaky voice said from inside. It was sly. Sushila Soemarsono played her. Chihiro walked in Yubaba’s beautifully designed quarters. The mothers went overboard with this set.
Moments later in Scene 3: “So you want the job at the bathhouse eh?” Yubaba said with a croaky voice. It was husky. Sushila had made her voice perfect for the role. Chihiro nodded. “Okay fine, you’ll just need to sign your name on this paper,” Yubaba told her as she brought a paper and a feather pen towards Chihiro. Chihiro signed her name. Yubaba took back the paper and told Chihiro. “From now on, your name is Sen.” Chihiro nodded and repeated the name. “Go along Sen,” Yubaba said waving her hand indicating for her to leave in a rude way.
Scene 4–The River Spirit: It was morning in the play. Sen had just woke up. There were a row of beds on stage. Center stage. All filed with female students who played the women workers at the bathhouse. In the front stage area was a wooden bar that resembled those bars that kept you from falling of the edge of balconies. Rin was leaning on it. Sen walked towards Rin and leaned on the bars. “Rin,” Sen began. “How did you end up here?”
Rin sighed. She was played by Na. “You really want to know?” Rin looked at Sen awkwardly. “Yes, please,” said Sen sincerely. Rin began singing.
Something’s started crazy
Sweet and unknown
Something you keep
In a box on the street
Now it’s longing for a home
“I didn’t keep anything a secret,” Sen said.
And who can say what dreams are?
Wake me in time to be lonely and sad
And who can say what we are?
This is the season for dreaming
And now our bodies are the guilty ones
Who touch
And color the hours
Night won’t breathe
Oh how we
Fall into silence from the sky
And whisper some silver reply
“I dreamt nothing. But I still ended here. What’s your dream?”
Pulse is gone and racing
All fits and starts
Window by window
You try and look into
This brave new you that you are
“Have I changed?” Sen asked herself.
And who can say what dreams are?
Wake me in time to be out in the cold
And who can say what we are?
This is the reason for dreaming
And now our bodies are the guilty ones
Our touchWill fill every hour
Huge and dark
Oh our hearts
Will murmur the blues from on high
Then whisper some silver reply
And now our bodies are the guilty ones
Our touch
Will color hours
Night won’t breathe
Oh how we
Fall in silence from the sky
Then whisper some silver reply
“Really Sen,” Rin said. “That’s really the pattern of how we end up in this shitty bathhouse. Mind my language. I know that one day, I’ll find myself. I’ll get out of here. But I need to know my real name first. You have Haku thank goodness. He remembered your name for you. Just, try not to forget it.” Rin put one hand around Sen to comfort her. “Work in the bathhouse gets really hard that you forget your past life completely. Never let that happen Sen. Your name is like your passport in this world.”
“You know about passports?” Sen asked.
“I got lost her too. It was a long time ago.”
Scene 6–No-Face the Monster:
c’est pas possible cet amour, c’est incroyable.
Tu me fais transpirer, c’est parfait
Working so hard every night and day
And now we get the pay back
Trying so hard saving up the paper
Now we get to lay back
Sharaz Azzahra, a spirit monster in a black cloak with a white mask, ripped the costume off. Kept the mask. And underneath was a black tutu. She wore golden bangles and golden ballet shoes. While singing the song. As part of the set, the workers of the bathhouse worshipped her. From all sides of the backstage, golden coins were thrown towards the stage. The Narrator had mentioned that the monster could procure fake gold out of his hands. The workers of the bathhouse would then simply be addicted
Champagne kisses hold me in your lap of luxury
I only want to fly first class desires, you’re my limousine
So elegant the way we ride, our passion it just multiplies
There’s platinum lightning in the sky
Look I’m livin’ like a queen
This kind of love is getting expensive
We know how to live baby
We’re luxurious like Egyptian cotton
We’re so rich in love we’re rollin’ in cashmere
Got it in fifth gear baby
Diamond in the rough is looking so sparkly
Working so hard every night and day
And now we get the pay back
Trying so hard saving up the paper
Now we get to lay back
Cha-ching cha-ching we’re loaded and we’re not gonna blow it
cha-ching cha-ching we’re hooked up with the love cause we grow it
cha-ching cha-ching we got hydroponic love and we’re smokin’
cha-ching cha-ching we burn it you and I, we are so lit
Tu est si jolie c’est pas possible. C’est jamais assez… c’est jamais assez.
Tu me fais plein. Toutes les choses tu me fais sentir, c’est parfait.
Je suis bien avec toi… je suis bien
Scene Eight–The Final Quiz: There were eight pigs on the stage. Standing beside them was Yubaba, the evil witch. “Now Sen,” Yubaba began to say to Sen who was standing in front of her. “You need to choose, which of these eight pigs are your parents. If you succeed, I will transform them back into human and you are free to go.” She said it menacingly. Her voice was also sly. Yubaba was played by Sushila anyway. She was sly all the way through.
Sen, still played by Georgi, thought. Then came the answer.
“None of them are my parents,” she said. The stage shook and the lights flashed on and off, then the pigs jumped in the air. They were students who played the workers at the bathhouse. As they jumped, the students took of their pig costume and underneath was their bathhouse costume. They all shouted in cheers, together with the other bathhouse workers present to see Sen test. Sen, now Chihiro, was free to go, so she ran across the wooden bridge (whose creation was debated endlessly, cause it was a bridge, on stage). On the other end of the bridge she met Haku. The aura on stage suddenly turned serious. Not was it the saddest part of the play, but it was the one with the hardest song.
“Your parents are waiting for you across the river. They will remember nothing. Now walk and don’t look back. I’ll take you there. But you must not look at me. I will stand beside you. You can speak to me, but looking at me will count as looking back,” Haku told her.
“I’ll miss you. When will I see you again?” Chihiro asked.
“As soon as possible.”
Share my life; take me for what I am
Cause I’ll never change all my colors for you
Take my love, I never asked for too much
Just all that you are and everything that you do
I don’t really need to look Very much further
I don’t want to have to go Where you don’t follow
I won’t hold it back again This passion inside
Can’t run from myself, there’s no where to hide
Don’t make close one more door
I don’t want to hurt any more
Stay in my arms if you dare
Or Must I imagine you’re there?
Don’t walk away from me
I have nothing, nothing, nothing,
If I don’t have you, You, you, you, you.
You see through, right to the heart of me
You break down my walls
with the strength of your love
I never knew, love like I’ve known it with you
When our memories survive Uh one I can hold on to
I don’t really need to look very much further
I don’t want to have to go where you don’t follow
I won’t hold it back again this passion inside
I can’t run from myself there’s no where to hide
Your love I remember forever
But don’t make me close one more door
I don’t want to hurt any more
Stay in my arms if you dare
Or must I imagine you’re there
Don’t walk away from me
I have nothing, nothing, nothing.
Don’t make me close one more door
I don’t want to hurt any more
Stay in my arms if you dare
Or must I imagine you’re there
Don’t walk away from me no
Don’t walk away from me
Don’t you dare walk away from me!
I have nothing, nothing, nothing
If I don’t have you, you, If I don’t–
Then something that wasn’t supposed to happen, happened. Georgi fainted. On stage.
Songs used:
The Guilty Ones -Spring Awakening
Luxurious -Gwen Stefani
I Have Nothing -Jennifer Hudson (Idol Version)
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