Feb 19, 2025
Devdan Show - Devdan Show Summary
Devdan: Treasure of the Archipelago is a theatrical performance that was first released in 2013 at the Bali Nusa Dua Theatre. The show was directed by stage manager Eka Laksana, who brought the production to life through a stunning blend of traditional Indonesian culture and modern stage performance.
The story follows two curious children who, feeling bored during a guided tour in Bali, wander off into the holy mountain. There, they discover a mysterious treasure chest. Upon opening it, they find a collection of unique cultural artifacts, each representing a different island in Indonesia. Bali: Udeng, Sumatra: Songket, Java: Kris, Kalimantan: Dayak Shield, Papua: Koteka
As the children interact with these artifacts, they are transported on a magical journey across the Indonesian archipelago, visiting different islands of Indonesia. Each destination reveals a new traditional dance, music, and cultural customs, brought to life with acrobatics, elaborate costumes, and special effects.
Performance and Design Critique
It was a great performance in terms of the acting. First of all, the most important part of the whole show was the dances, and I think that the actors did a really good job in performing since all of them were perfectly prepared and if the dance involved multiple people, which was 90% of the time, they all acted together as a team. Also, in some dances, like the Sumatra traditional dance, all of the actors needed to be perfectly synchronized and they were doing a great job with that. Also, one important thing that is hard not to notice is the way actors interact with each other. It is natural and believable if it is a boy and a girl talking; you believe that they are actually like close friends. Also, since the whole show is mostly dances, the actors are good at expecting their body language; it is clear what they are doing with the gestures for example, the Bali god could be clearing saw from the back seats. The space on the set is used effectively, and there is a lot that is going on, but as said earlier, because all the actors are acting as a good team, it is nice to look at them and everybody as a whole. I think that the acting/dancing was perfectly fitting in this performance, showcasing all the important aspects of the present islands.
Set
I, Nyoman Johan Aryana, did a wonderful job while working on the set. What especially stood out was the functionality of the transitions between the decorations. The backstage crew changed the stage with incredible speed—in just a few seconds, the stage was transformed for the next dance. The short moments when the curtain was falling were filled with interesting acrobatic performances by artists posing as monkeys. Their agility and playful energy delighted the audience, creating a lively atmosphere as the scene changed.
The performance of the monkeys was particularly impressive; the performers convincingly imitated the movements and behavior of the monkeys, which enhanced the authenticity and charm of their performance. Their interactions were smooth and engaging, adding a little bit of humor that resonated with the audience.
The set design is also worthy of reflecting a focus on cultural authenticity. Each scene has been carefully crafted to represent different regions of Indonesia. For example, the traditional market scene from Sumatra Island was richly decorated with props such as carts loaded with fruits, ceramics, and clothes, as well as a traditional house in the background, which emphasized how competently the show approached individual elements. As part of the Kalimantan show, an impressive life-size ship was presented on stage, which attracted attention with its realistic craftsmanship and imposing appearance.
The image of Papua was no less expressive, and the local spirit statues and traditional huts created a strong sense of place.
The set is designed in such a way that it tries to represent the real culture of The props are designed to be as realistic as possible; also, the colors of the props are well chosen For example, the market props, like the carts, are designed to be bright to represent that the market is a place where there is a vibrant place of continuous activity and energy." On the other hand, the traditional huts were designed with darker tone colors, representing that it is a normal/everyday life home to some people in Papua.
Also, apart from well-designed props, there are interesting special effects created by Achemad Choerodin; for example, during the fire and the Kecak dances, there were flames of fire that came through the holes in the stage, which added to the understanding of the dance's purpose Also, during the rain dance, drops of rain were sped up to show off a real rain. Also, on the stage, there is a water pond, which was used during the water dance.
But as we know, "Every rose has its thorn," and this set is not an exception even though the problems are well designed The back screen that was projecting some places, like the Split Gate, Chandi Bentar from Bali, was not bright enough and even then, all the lights were off. It was hard to see what was projected on it because it was also a really important part of the set.
Lightning
Lighting is also a really good part of this show since the colors and the brightness were adjusted per certain dances while the rain dance was going on; the lighting and the back screen were bluish colors representing the color of water, and during the fire show there were red, orange, and yellow lights present also for the same reason. During the part of the show where there should be a focus on specific characters, like in the fighting scene in the market, the lighting only highlights the characters that fight and not all other characters. Also, then Arian was performing a solo dance; only he was highlighted, not the entire stage, which highlights the importance of this character at the moment. This work was done by Bastian Nurzaman. There is only one small thing: sometimes the lighting is not bright enough, and you will not be able to see some part of the set, but it is just a little, and it doesn’t affect the performance that much.
Costumes
Costumes in this play are really important since they need to convey the culture of the island and represent it. Costumes represent each of the characters effectively; for example, the boy and a girl, the main characters, are dressed as ordinary people. They don’t have anything that would make you think they are special, so this gives the audience an understanding that all of this happens in the real world, and the dances that are shown represent Indonesian culture. Also, the tourist group is dressed regularly without anything extraordinary. On the other hand, the guide has a lot of makeup on his face because he thought the stooge played the role of a “comedian,” and this makeup helped represent that. The costumes of the characters are designed in a way that the actor can change it in a matter of 30 seconds, which is helpful because there are not a lot of people performing, so people play more than just one role, so it is important that they can change fast. Also, the good thing about the costumes is that they are designed specifically so actors can move easily because they need to perform dances and acrobatic movements. Therefore, it is required that the costume be flexible, and I, Dewa Ayu Ngurah Adnyani, did pay attention to that. All the costumes suit the place; there are traditional Balinese dresses, Javanese, etc. Also, they are well-made and detailed; it is appealing to look at. The costumes match the characters' roles like the gods having bigger and brighter costumes than normal people to represent their importance. Some costumes are minimalistic, like the warriors; they only have simple dresses, just a tissue covering the body. This gave the audience an understanding of the people who are higher on the social hierarchy and those who are lower on the social hierarchy.
Worth seeing?
Overall, the play was great, and I personally really enjoyed watching it I was not expecting this show to take such a deep dive into Indonesian culture; I learned something new about Indonesian culture. Also, it was not only interesting but also entertaining; for example, the fire dance was great, and I liked it Sometimes the show was even funny, like the monkeys, and the tourist scene was hilarious and fun to watch. Also, what I enjoyed about this show is the boy and a girl act as a connection between the audience and the different cultures of the island, which was a great decision for the director. All the parts of the show—the acting, the direction, and the design—worked perfectly to create a great performance. I honestly recommend watching this show for everybody Even kids would enjoy it because there’s so much movement and energy that it keeps you engaged the entire time. Plus, those monkeys are guaranteed to make you laugh! Going to this play is such a great way to spend an evening. And trust me, even if you think it’s not your thing because you’re not particularly interested in Indonesian culture, you’ll still love it. It’s that good. You might even walk away with a newfound appreciation for the culture, just like I did.
Review provided by Tripadvisor