The puppet master, called Dalang, narrates old stories from Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabarata but they were transformed by generations of Javanese tellers. Gamelan orchestra and a few female singers accompanies the dalang. The dalang is seated in front of the white linnen screen (kelir). The dalang has to sit cross legged for eight hours on a mat to perform wayang. He requires several assisants to hand him his puppets, ranged along the banana tree trunks, to the left and right of the dalang.
Deciding the title of wayang story (Lakon)
After deciding the title of wayang story, a dalang (puppet master), a dalang to perform the show must be appointed. Dalang position is very important, as he is the leader of the performance. Sometimes dalang could be chosen first, afterwards a consultation with him could be held to choose an appropriate title. Dalang comes from the words juru udalan (juru : an expert, a skillful man - udalan abbreviated to dalan, then becomes dalang means to tell stories), so dalang is a story teller.
Dalang is an overall artist. He must have a broad knowledge of several disciplines of arts, such as :
1. Mastering deeply the stories of wayang Ramayana as well as Mahabharata, knows the characters of wayang figures.
2. Having a thorough knowledge of Javanese philosophy and moral ethics, as Javanese philosophy and moral ethics are inter-connected, or might be almost similar.
3. Having an accurate information in many aspects of life in the country (or even internationally in this era of information and globalization).
4. Having a good and clear voice, as he has to imitate about 50 (fifty) wayang figures with different voices. He has to explain every occasion, which has or should happened. And he has also to perfectly master the language ‘high’ and ‘ordinary’ used in dialogue, song and narration. He has to be a good singer, as he has to sing a lot during a performance.
5. Having the ability of preparing the scenario, so that plot of stories should flow smoothly, in accordance with standard patterns.
6. He has to know gamelan (Javanese musical instruments) used to accompany the show. He has also the capacity of a conductor as he should command the gamelan music; when it should begin and stop, and he should ask the gamelan crew what kind of music or song to be played.
7. He has to lead the chorus of pesinden (women singers), usually consists of three to five singers and wira swara (male singers).
8. He has to be skillful to move the puppets attractively.
9. He has to know how to make good jokes, at the sametime advising the audience unnoticeably.
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