Topeng History
[postlink]http://baliovguide.blogspot.com/2011/10/topeng-history.html[/postlink]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTWop6IaFygendofvid [starttext] Topeng Inside the curtain booth, the topeng actor places his masks, all neatly covered with-white cloth, in their proper order of appearance. After dedicating an offering, he unwraps the first mask, eyeing it for some time as if he were taking into his personality all that is individual about the character reflected in the immobile face. He quickly Puts it on and turns. Already his movements are rendered as dance and a transformation is apparent. The Curtain trembles, the gamelan builds to .a fervent pace of expectation, and dancing feet visible behind the curtain slowly lift and settle to the ground.
A stoic-looking man with wide eyes and a questionable smile draws apart the curtain. In swift motions of defiance, he hovers inside the booth, uncertain whether to come out or not, He then begins to march forward, gazing inquisitively, putting a finger to his forehead, taking a bit of his clothing, and, in one delicate gesture, letting it drop from his hand. He resolves to dance, radiating the sound of the gamelan in the vibration of his fingertips and pattering feet. After a few moments, he retreats to the curtain and vanishes. The curtain shakes again. Suddenly, it is pushed aside in the grand gesture of a buxom movie star stepping in to the limelight. There before you stand an extremely shy, effeminate young man who draws a limp hand to his mouth and blushes at his abrupt exposure. Languidly he clings to the curtain. Terribly sweet at heart, he cannot bear everyone laughing at him, which of course everyone is. Feeling he should come out for a moment, he coyly moves on stage, swinging to and fro with his hands dangling in the posture of loose noodles. Helplessly, he just stands there looking ridiculous, unable to move except to flutter his, eyelashes, while the audience rocks in laughter. Such abusiveness is too much for him~ 'He quickly seeks sanctuary behind the curtain. Thus was the introductory display of masks for one performance of Topeng. [endtext]
A stoic-looking man with wide eyes and a questionable smile draws apart the curtain. In swift motions of defiance, he hovers inside the booth, uncertain whether to come out or not, He then begins to march forward, gazing inquisitively, putting a finger to his forehead, taking a bit of his clothing, and, in one delicate gesture, letting it drop from his hand. He resolves to dance, radiating the sound of the gamelan in the vibration of his fingertips and pattering feet. After a few moments, he retreats to the curtain and vanishes. The curtain shakes again. Suddenly, it is pushed aside in the grand gesture of a buxom movie star stepping in to the limelight. There before you stand an extremely shy, effeminate young man who draws a limp hand to his mouth and blushes at his abrupt exposure. Languidly he clings to the curtain. Terribly sweet at heart, he cannot bear everyone laughing at him, which of course everyone is. Feeling he should come out for a moment, he coyly moves on stage, swinging to and fro with his hands dangling in the posture of loose noodles. Helplessly, he just stands there looking ridiculous, unable to move except to flutter his, eyelashes, while the audience rocks in laughter. Such abusiveness is too much for him~ 'He quickly seeks sanctuary behind the curtain. Thus was the introductory display of masks for one performance of Topeng. [endtext]