Jester Kings of Java
brings traditional Javanese Wayang Kulit shadow puppetry to western audiences. Gorgeously hand-crafted from gilded water buffalo hide, the heroes and villains of the Ramayana dance across the shadow screen to the mesmerizing sound of Indonesian gamelan music.
The evil demon king Rahwana has captured poor Princess Sinta's precious pet dog and dashed King Rama's hopes of marriage! All is in chaos, for there can be no harmony in the Kingdom when the King's heart is not at peace. To restore equilibrium and win Sinta's heart Rama will have to enlist the help of his overly chatty servant Gareng, Hanuman the White Monkey, the heavenly god Bathara Guru and a whole cast of wild characters!
For all ages, audience size up to 150.
We wish to thank Mari Hook of Denmark, Maine, for generously donating her museum-quality Indonesian puppets to FST, without which this performance would never have happened. We also wish to thank the Maine Arts Commission's Arts in Education program for supporting the development of educational materials to accompany this performance.
