The three plays translated in this volume, Time Bomb, Cockroach Opera, and Julini’s Opera, share the same setting and cast of characters. Through their songs, colloquial language, and raunchy humor, they illustrate a blending of the energy of indigenous folk expression and the style of a Western musical. The mixture creates a kaleidoscopic presentation likely to appeal to sophisticated urban …
The six plays in this collection by Ikranagara (1943–2023) were written and performed by his theater company Teater Saja (“Simply Theater”) between 1975 and 1997 during Indonesia’s New Order era (1966–1998) when freedom of speech was severely curtailed under the autocratic rule of President Soeharto. The New Order regime was plagued by corruption, collusion, and nepotism with widespre…