In the beginning, God created human-kind, because, above all else, God loves to hear stories.
After the flood waters receded from the face of the Earth, the descendants of Shem came to dwell in the area of the world known as Mesopotamia, now called the Middle East. Among those, there were a people that later came to dwell in a land west of the Jordan River. And these people came to tell a most remarkable story.
Srepegan 1
Jejer Sepisanan (audience scene)
(enter Pharaoh and Guard)
Who is this king we see upon his magnificent throne? What manner of kingdom can this be over which he rules? This is Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, ruler of the greatest kingdom the world had yet to see.
Pharaoh: I am Pharaoh, king of Egypt. I am the most powerful king in all the world. No one has a stronger army. No one has more bountiful farm lands. No one has a better return on their financial investments. And PIE! we get pie three times a day around here. And all because of our many, many Hebrew slaves. Their constant toil brings a life of luxury to my people. Yeah, baby. I'm the best king ever!
Guard: My Lord, the Great Pharoah, King of Egypt, Sultan of the Nile.
Pharaoh: And don't forget "Prince of the Sudan".
Guard: Sire, a visitor has arrived. He seeks an audience with your Pharoah-li-ness.
Pharoah: Well, I've got nothing else on my schedule today. Sure, send him in.
Srepegan 1
(enter Moses and Aaron)
Who are these strangers that have come to Pharaoh's court? They are dressed like nomads from the desert, and carry long staffs as shepherds use tending their flocks. This is Moses, appointed by God to be his messenger, and his brother Aaron.
Aaron: Great Pharaoh, King of Egypt, Ceasar of North Africa.
Pharaoh: Don't forget "Grand Poobah of Giza".
Aaron: I am Aaron, of the Hebrew tribe of Levi. This is my brother Moses.
Moses: We're on a mission from God.
Pharaoh: Cool. What does God want?
Aaron: Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness.
Pharaoh: Who is this Lord, that I should listen to Him and let Israel go? I don't know any "Lord". Israel's not going anywhere.
Aaron: The God of Israel has met with us. Let us go, we pray you, three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest He fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
Pharoah: Why would you, Moses and Aaron, cause the people to stop working? There are way too many of the Israelites for them to be sitting around with nothing to do. Everybody, get back to work. Begone from my court, Jake and Elwood, or whoever you are. Back to the desert with you.
Srepegan 1
(exit Moses and Aaron)
Guard: Oh, Great Pharaoh, King of Egypt, Prime Minister of Ethiopia-
Pharaoh: Yes, yes, and "Shogun of the Sand Dunes".
Guard: Sire, what are your orders?
Pharoah: Tell the taskmasters of our Hebrew slaves: No more straw to make bricks. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And the quota of the bricks shall be the same as before. Lazy, good-for-nothin' slaves! If they complain about the extra work, they can ask the God of Moses to gather straw for them.
Srepegan 1
(exit Guard)
Gender music
Gapuran (the Gate Scene)
The Pharaoh retires from his audience hall and returns to the inner palace. He steps from his throne and walks between rows of dancers, chosen for their beauty. The Pharaoh is clad in magnificently jeweled garments, from the golden bracelets encircling his ankles to the elegant three-tiered crown upon his head. The Pharaoh strides toward the Great Gate of the palace, said to be the most splendid in all the world. For a moment, the Pharaoh pauses to admire it. High as a mountain peak, a giant ruby the size of an elephant's head is set in the arch, where, with dazzling brilliance, it reflects the rays of the sun. Stairs approaching and receding from it are inlaid with multi-colored precious stones, and guarded by railings of burnished brass. Carved upon the immense doors are the likenesses of Isis and Osiris. Through the archway a formal garden stretches toward the palace, the pathway strewn with gems and precious stones. A bubbling spring may be heard - its waters, perfumed with rose petals, flow through the palace, cooling and scenting the air. Viewed from a distance, the palace rises majestically, its jewel-adorned walls shining day and night, bathed in the glow of the sun and the moon.
(exit Pharaoh)
Srepegan 1
Inner Palace Scene
(enter Pharaoh's sister and nephew (Sarpakenaka and Hindrajit puppets))
Here we are, in the inner chambers of Pharaoh's palace. Here it is that we find the dwellings of the Pharaoh's family. Here they live their private lives, here they keep their private counsels. This is the scene of all the family intrigues that come from living so close to the throne. Who are the two we see before us? This is the Sister of the Pharaoh, and her son, the Kings' Nephew. Here they speak in lowered voices as they discuss the day's events.
Sister: I am greatly concerned, my son.
Nephew: What is it that worries you, mother?
Sister: This Moses, who visited my brother today.
Nephew: My uncle, the King of Egypt.
Sister: The Tsar of Arabia.
Nephew: The CEO of the Suez.
Sister: Yes, that brother. This Moses who came to visit him today.
Nephew: What about him, mother.
Sister: I don't know, but I feel uneasy. I think that things will not go well for our king if he opposes this Moses of Israelites.
Nephew: But what can this Moses do? Surely he is but a desert nomad, a vagabond.
Sister: But Moses serves a powerful God, I think, more powerful than the gods of Egyptians.
Nephew: More powerful than our gods? I think not! Our gods have have proven themselves more powerful than the gods of any other nation. More powerful than the gods of the Hittites, of the Phoenecians, of the Assyrians, of the Babylonians, more powerful than any other gods.
Sister: But the God of Moses is not the God of any one nation. He is the God of all nations.
Nephew: So if this God that Moses serves is so powerful, why has he not proven his might to us. Surely, if Egypt is the mightiest nation in the world, this mighty God would make himself known to us?
Sister: I think that day is coming when he will make himself known, and not in a way the might expect.
Nephew: How do you mean?
Sister: The coming of this Hebrew God may mean a rather unpleasant for my brother the Pharaoh.
Nephew: Surely not! The Pharaoh is the descendant of the gods, even a god himself. To say less is blasphemy and treason!
Sister: Maybe, maybe not. We shall soon see, I think. If my brother does not bow to the will of Moses and his God, we will surely see who is the mightiest. And when we do, well, I fear greatly for my brother.
Nephew: But surely if my uncle, the Pharaoh, is defeated, then it will mean the end of Egypt, of our whole world?!
Sister: Not neccesarily. Egypt may remain, even should my brother fall. And that, my son, could be a very pleasant prospect for you.
Nephew: Indeed, my dear mother. That is something to consider...
Lancaran Singanebah
(Exit sister and nephew)
(scene of Moses and Aaron leaving the city)
Paséban Jaba (Meeting of the Generals)
Prampogan (departure of the army)
(display of prowess from the Egyptian soldiers, followed by the army on the march)
Guard: So says Pharaoh: I will not give you straw. Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it; for nought of your work shall be diminished.
Soldier: Fulfil your work, your daily task, as when there was straw.
Slave: Moses, the Lord look upon you, and judge; because you have caused Pharaoh to hate the children of Israel, and his servants also. You have a put sword in their hand to slay us.
Gender music
Moses: Lord, why did you send me to Pharoah? I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done nothing but set his taskmasters to your people even more harshly than before.
You are the Lord: You appeared to Abraham and Sarah, to Isaac and Rebekah , and to Jacob and Rachel and Leah. You have shown me your work, Lord, so it is easy for me to believe. What about the others, Lord? They have not seen your work.
I know that You have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage. You have told me that you will deliver them from bondage, and that you will redeem them with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments. My words alone do not comfort them, Lord. Likewise my words do not reach Pharoah’s heart.
What do want me to do Lord? I am but your humble servant.
Gangsaran/Tropongan
The world erupts! The Earth shakes and volcanoes spew fire.
The oceans boil and tidal waves inundate the land, as if to
drown the world.
Crops cannot grow, Animals starve,
Wild beasts, reptiles, and poisonous insects invade people's
homes
All through the Earth, people flee in panic, seeking shelter
Plague sweeps away thousands
The people appeal to the priests, but they cannot pray, and
are helpless
They appeal to their Kings, but the Kings have no power
The world is as dark as a cloud-covered night
Lightning streaks and dragons roar!
The nymphs take flight, seeking the protection of the Almighty.
Boiling mud and molten lava spew forth from the cauldron of
Hell.
This is Goro-goro: the World Out of Balance.
Hurricane Katrina, Earthquake in Pakistan, Tsunami in Indonesia,
Nick and Jessica!
Mankind out of step with heaven, humanity out of spiritual
alignment
the Universe trembles at it very roots.
(enter Petruk and Bagong)
Petruk: Greetings, Bagong, my honored brother.
Bagong: Hey, Petruk, how's it goin'?
Petruk: I am quite well, 'Gong. How are you this fine evening?
Bagong: I'm okay, but what was all that depressing stuff just now? What a bummer.
Petruk: That was the "Goro-goro". That always begins the second act of the wayang kulit.
Bagong: The why-who whatsis?
Petruk: The wayang kulit. The Javanese shadow puppet play. That's what we're doing here tonight.
Bagong: Wow, you mean that we're in some sort of play?
Petruk: That's right. A wayang kulit.
Bagong: So wayang kulit is some sort of indigenous art form?
Petruk: Well, no. See we're in America right now.
Bagong: And where is wayang kulit from?
Petruk: It's from Java.
Bagong: And where is Java?
Petruk: It's an island in the country of Indonesia.
Bagong: So the story we're doing is a traditional story from Indonesia, right?
Petruk: Well, no. Normally, in wayang kulit you would do a story from one of the great Indian epics like the Ramayana or the Mahabharata.
Bagong: So we're doing an Indian story?
Petruk: Well, no. The story we're doing tonight is from the Bible.
Bagong: Okay, and the Bible is from Java!
Petruk: No...
Bagong: From America?
Petruk: No...
Bagong: Okay, I give up.
Petruk: The Bible is from The Middle East, sometimes called the Near East, because it's so very far away.
Bagong: Okay then. Let me see if I got this straight. We're in America, doing an Indonesian-style play about a story from the Middle East.
Petruk: That's it exactly.
Bagong: Okay. And it's some sort of puppet show?
Petruk: That's right.
Bagong: So where's the puppeteer?
Petruk: He's behind the screen. He's called a dhalang. He controls all the puppets, does all the voices, sings songs, and does sound effects with his feet.
Bagong: And he's telling this whole story all by himself?
Petruk: That's right.
Bagong: So he must have this whole story memorized!
Petruk: No, actually he's reading from - ready for the pun? -a java-script.
Bagong: Oh, 'Truk, that was terrible.
Petruk: Sorry.
Bagong: And what about the music? Does he play the music, too?
Petruk: No, the music is played by the gamelan.
Bagong: What's a gamelan?
Petruk: A gamelan, dear brother, is an Indonesian percussion orchestra.
Bagong: Wow, so these musicians came all the way from Indonesia to play for us tonight?
Petruk: No, they're from America.
Bagong: And what about us? Are we from America?
Petruk: No.
Bagong: Oh, we must be characters from the Bible!
Petruk: No, 'Gong, we're from Java.
Bagong: Ah, I knew someone had to be from Java. So what part do we play in this story?
Petruk: None. We just come out after that weird, depressing part and joke around for a while.
Bagong: That's it?
Petruk: Well, we also explain to everyone what's going on.
Bagong: Isn't the puppeteer supposed to do that?
Petruk: Oh the puppeteer is way too busy making Javanese shadow puppets come on and off the screen to actually tell a story that makes any sense. So that's why you and I are here.
Bagong: Okay, then we're supposed to be explaining what's going on in this play.
Petruk: Right.
Bagong: So how are we doing?
Petruk: Not so good. So far we haven't explained what's going on at all.
Bagong: Well maybe it's about time. So what's this play about?
Petruk: This is the story of Passover.
Bagong: Oh, I love passovers. Apple Passovers are my favorite.
Petruk: No, 'Gong. That's an apple turnover. A kind of pastry.
Bagong: So what's Passover?
Petruk: Passover is a very important festival for the Jewish people.
Bagong: Oh, sure. I remember. That's when the Great Pumpkin brings heart-shaped boxes of candy to all the little girls and boys in the world, except for the houses with a dreidle in the window, those houses he passes over-
Petruk: Bagong, that is wrong in so many ways. Passover commemorates Moses leading the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt.
Bagong: Oh, sure. I heard about that. So how do they celebrate this event?
Petruk: They all eat soup with matzah balls in it.
Bagong: That's it?
Petruk: No, they also go out to see the wayang kulit!
Bagong: Of course they do. So where are we in the play? What has happened so far?
Petruk: So far, Moses has come to Pharaoh's palace and told him to set the Israelites free.
Bagong: And did he do it?
Petruk: Well, if he did, the play would be over and we'd all be home by now.
Bagong: So what will Moses do?
Petruk: The plan is to cause a whole bunch of nasty things to happen to the Egyptians.
Bagong: What kind of things?
Petruk: Oh, all kinds of things like blood and frogs and flies and stuff. The plan is that when the Egyptians are busy cleaning up, the Israelites will slip out the back. By the time anyone notices they are gone, it will be too late to stop them.
Bagong: That sounds like a great plan. Sounds like this guy Moses has got it covered. So what happens next in the story?
Petruk: Moses is busy talking to God out in the wilderness. His brother Aaron will take a journey to meet up with him.
Bagong: That sounds nice.
Petruk: You'd think so, but you forget that this is a wayang kulit.
Bagong: Why? What happens now?
Petruk: At this point in a Javanese play, the young knight, that's Aaron in this story, will go on a journey through the wilderness. There he will meet Cakil, a fierce ogre. Cakil will force him to fight.
Bagong: When will all this happen?
Petruk: As soon as you and I get out of the way so the play can continue.
Bagong: Okay, then. I'm outta here.
Petruk: Let's go.
Srepegan 2
(exit Petruk and Bagong)
(enter Aaron, scenes of traveling)
(enter Cakil, he and Aaron face each other)
Aaron: Hello, there. I am called Aaron. Who are you?
Cakil: I am Cakil.
Aaron: An interesting name. I haven't heard of a name like that before. What people are you from? Ishmaelite? Amalakite? Hittite?
Cakil: I am from the land of Java.
Aaron: Java? I've never heard of this realm before. Where is this beautiful land of Java from whence you hail?
Cakil: Java is an island in the Far East.
Aaron: The Far East? So, like, New Jersey?
Cakil: That's right.
Aaron: Good sir, Cakil. I am on a journey to join my brother Moses. I must continue on my way.
Cakil: Not so fast! No one may use this path except me!
Aaron: But I must cross this land to find my brother. Surely you must let me pass?
Cakil: No way, José. No one uses my path but me, and that's the way it is. No exceptions.
Aaron: But that seems rather arbitrary, and just generally unneighborly.
Cakil: Even so, that's the way it is.
Aaron: Come now, we must be able to reach a compromise.
Cakil: Blah, blah, blah. You know we won't, and you know why.
Aaron: I assure you that I don't.
Cakil: C'mon. This is the end of the second part of the wayang kulit. That's where the young knight, that's you, goes on a journey through the wilderness and has to fight with an ogre, that's me. So we could stand here and pretend to argue, or we could surrender to the inevitible and get down to the fighting.
Aaron: Well since it seems to be inevitible, and considering that you're just a metaphor for man's deeper spiritual struggle...
Cakil: Hey, now. No reason to get personal.
Aaron: Alright, then Mr. Ogre. En garde!
Kembang Kapas (attacca)
(Aaron and Cakil fight, Cakil is defeated)
(exit Aaron and Cakil)
(Kayon to center)
Pocung Layung
The Plagues of Egypt
1. Water to Blood
Moses: The Lord hath sent me unto thee, saying: Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.
But Pharaoh would not listen to the word of the Lord.
And Moses lifted up his rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
Pharaoh: Moses, enough! I will relent! Take your people where you will. But return our waters.
And the waters turned clean and pure again, but Pharoah's heart was hardened, and would not let the Children of Israel go.
2. Frogs
Moses: The Lord hath sent me unto thee, saying: Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.
But Pharaoh would not listen to the word of the Lord.
And Moses stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh: Moses, enough! Take your people out of Egypt, just make the frogs go away.
And the Lord sent the frogs away, but Pharoah's heart was hardened, and would not let the Children of Israel go.
3. Lice
Moses: The Lord hath sent me unto thee, saying: Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.
But Pharaoh would not listen to the word of the Lord.
And Moses stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and there were lice upon man, and upon beast; all the dust of the earth became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh: Moses, please, make it stop! Take your people into the wilderness, just make all the nasty lice go away!
And the Lord sent the lice away, but Pharoah's heart was hardened, and would not let the Children of Israel go.
4. Insects
Moses: The Lord hath sent me unto thee, saying: Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.
But Pharaoh would not listen to the word of the Lord.
And there came grievous swarms of all manner ofinsects into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses; and in all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by reason of the swarms of insects.
Pharaoh: Moses, you win, you win! Bugs everywhere! Do whatever you want, but make these insects go away!
And the Lord sent the insects away, but Pharoah's heart was hardened, and would not let the Children of Israel go.
5. Livestock die
Moses: The Lord hath sent me unto thee, saying: Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.
But Pharaoh would not listen to the word of the Lord.
And all the cattle of Egypt died, and all the horses, and all the asses, and all the camels, and all the sheep; but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.
Pharaoh: Okay, Moses, no fooling this time. If it will save us from this plague, go and take all the Israelites with you. We can't take any more of this.
And the Israelites prepared to leave Egypt, but Pharoah's heart was hardened, and would not let the Children of Israel go.
6. Boils
Moses: The Lord hath sent me unto thee, saying: Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.
But Pharaoh would not listen to the word of the Lord.
And they took soot of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it up heavenward; and it became a boil breaking forth with sores upon man and upon beast.
Pharaoh: Alright, this is just nasty, I've got sore and puss, and I itch all over. Moses, please make it stop! I'll do whatever you want!
And the Lord did lift the plague from the land of Egypt, but Pharoah's heart was hardened, and would not let the Children of Israel go.
7. Hail and Fire
Moses: The Lord hath sent me unto thee, saying: Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.
But Pharaoh would not listen to the word of the Lord.
So there was hail, and fire flashing up amidst the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
Pharaoh: Okay, I guess I asked for it. But this is terrible! Our crops are being destroyed, and all the golf courses are ruined. Moses, get your stuff and get out of here, and take the Israelites with you. Just make these horrible plagues stop!
And again the Lord did lift the plague from the land of Egypt, but Pharoah's heart was hardened, and would not let the Children of Israel go.
8. Locusts
Moses: The Lord hath sent me unto thee, saying: Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.
But Pharaoh would not listen to the word of the Lord.
And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land; and there remained not any green thing through all the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh: O my goodness! What crops that weren't destroyed by the hail and fire, these nasty grasshoppers have eaten. If I don't let the Israelites go, there will be nothing left of Egypt at all! Moses, I give up!
And the Lord did send the locusts from Egypt, but Pharoah's heart was hardened, and would not let the Children of Israel go.
9. Darkness
Moses: The Lord hath sent me unto thee, saying: Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.
But Pharaoh would not listen to the word of the Lord.
And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land
of Egypt three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
Pharaoh: Ha, darkness! Is that all you got? I can handle that. What, the cable's out, too?! Alright, alright, we surrender. Moses, take your people and go.
And the Lord did lift the darkness from the land of Egypt, but Pharoah's heart was hardened, and would not let the Children of Israel go.
10. Death of the Firstborn
Moses: The Lord hath sent me unto thee, saying: Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.
But Pharaoh would not listen to the word of the Lord.
Moses: Thus saith the Lord: at midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die.
And all the first-born in the land of Egypt did die that night, but in the land of Goshen they did not die. For Moses instructed the children of Israel in the making of a talisman which each house hung on the door. And the Angel of Death, seeing this sign, did passover their houses. And forever thereafter did the children of Israel keep this day as a memorial.
Exodus
Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
And God led the Israelites out of Egypt, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day and by night: the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people.
Pharaoh: What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
And Pharaoh made ready his chariots, and took his people with him. And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel.
(Moses and Aaron are chased by Pharoah and the Guard, Moses parts the kayons and Moses and Aaron pass through, enter Pharaoh and Guard, who are drowned by the Kayons)
(enter Miriam)
Miriam sang unto them: Sing ye to the Lord, for He is highly exalted: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.
Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur.
Udan Mas
(Kayon to the center)