"Watching wayang mask reminds me of the time of 'sunatan nanggap' puppet mask Jatiduwur. I am very happy wayang mask Jatiduwur alive again and we became a bustling village, "said Saripan (60), a resident of Jatiduwur who were enjoying the show that night. Not only Saripan, other residents also meet performance arena, ranging from children to adults. All the people watching the show who've rarely greet and entertain the people. "Staging wayang mask in order to commemorate the resurrection of Wayang Jatiduwur mask is already the fourth time in the village Jatiduwur," said the leader of the wayang mask Jatiduwur, Supriyo (54).
Reputedly, the wayang mask has been around since the nineteenth century with the figure Mbah Purwo (deceased), from Menganti, Gresik. He and his entourage traveled the world while singing and eventually settled in the village of Jatiduwur. "Mbah Purwo who introduced the wayang mask Jatiduwur after buying a set of masks from the village head of Anggis, from Betek, Mojoagung. The mask itself is derived from Trowulan, "said Supriyo. Supriyo, religion teacher at Elementary School Sumber Teguh, District Kudu, Jombang, adding, every time you walk past the house of one heir Jatiduwur mask, he recalled his childhood, when the Jatiduwur wayang mask arts heritage Mbah Purwo was in response to people who currently have votive or said (promise).
"Iku nggone topeng biyen, eman banget kok yo gak enek sing nerusne (Javanese: Art puppet mask unfortunately no forward)," said Supriyo. The passage of time continues to roll until finally one family heir, Suhariyanto (deceased), a former chairman of the wayang mask Jatiduwur, offered him as well as asking him wayang mask Jatiduwur revived. "The offer was a mandate. Then I gathered the family heir Jatiduwur wayang mask, and thank God they bless me to revive Jatiduwur wayang mask, "he added.
Not Easy
Difficulties after difficulties arose. Because the actors of wayang mask arts Jatiduwur many who died. Even if there are any left, they were already up. And to revive the puppet arts Jatiduwur masks that have been buried for a long time, need to know the exact figure of the perpetrator's existence of wayang mask. "I, then went to one after another puppet mask Jatiduwur who are still alive, such as Mbah Nadi, Mbah Nasri, Mbah Ngari, Mbah Sadi, and Mbah Samid. Then I ask them to teach how to play gamelan and mask dance to residents who want to be a puppet, "said Supriyo.
As a result, September 2001, 20 residents Jatiduwur keen and interested in becoming an artist wayang mask. They are farmers, agricultural laborers and construction workers. Once a week they practice in a simple marquee in front of the house Mbah Sumarni, one heir mask Jatiduwur, Jatiduwur Village, District Kesamben, Jombang. Over time, one by one the people who originally diligent practice that was "disappeared" by a variety of reasons. Some are dead and some are working outside of Java. "Until now, which still survive since the wayang mask Jatiduwur was revived in 2001, myself, Suwono, Tariman, Giman, Yaud, and Supriyono," said Bahrul (41), the player Jatiduwur wayang mask.
Bahrul, who daily are a laborer, said he was happy can be an puppet mask artist even though as a child it had never dreamed of being a puppet mask performer. "Initially hard to move the body and it felt stiff. After continuous practice guidance by Mbah Nadi, I can not be the wayang, says Bahrul. Resurrection Jatiduwur wayang mask can not be separated from the self-sacrificing Supriyo energy, thoughts, and financially. This mask wayang had a vacuum in five years. This Vacuum was related to allegations that hurts Supriyo himself , as the leader of the wayang mask. He was accused by some of its members to "corrupt" the money from the gig at the invitation of the East Java Cultural Park, in 2006.
"I worry that my self-esteem as a child waking fade just because accused of embezzling money. Then I resigned to be the head of Jatiduwur wayang mask, "said Supriyo. From the beginning to revive wayang mask, in Supriyo heart and mind not occurred desire for financial gain, especially corruption. "My desire, how the wayang mask can rise up and live again so the kids can look back and see the wayang mask Jatiduwur as cultural heritage and the heritage village Jatiduwur," said Supriyo.
Encouragement as well as strong pressure from the family and heirs of artists Jombang that puppet mask was brought back eventually make Supriyo who graduated from Tebuireng boarding school and Rejoso boarding school Jombang it was moved back commanding the proficiency level. Alhamdulillah, finally everyone knows what I do for a puppet mask Jatiduwur, "he said. Traditional art wayang masks Jatiduwur the culprit was the farmers, farm workers, and construction workers, may be an expression of modesty in them a sense of pride to mask wayang performers.
"While it is tired, feels proud to perform in everyday society. Understandably, from morning to evening I was hoeing in the fields, "said Yaud, the dancer wayang Jatiduwur mask after performed Kelono mask dance. Wayang mask began to recede in early New Order regime, then buried for forty years, is now up and live again. Ideally, this art got appreciation from many quarters.
