"Marsinah," Ratna Sarumpaet's protest play which has proved a rallying call for women playwrights worldwide, is now in print. Meanwhile, Sarumpaet--the activist Indonesian playwright who had been jailed for public protest--evidently remains free, as she and other writers continue to perform her anti-oppression play in various countries.
Considered Indonesia's most noted woman dramatist, Sarumpaet experienced authoritarian reaction soon after writing her play--originally called "Marsinah Menggugat," or "Marsinah Accuses"--about the rape, murder, and mutilation of a young female labor organizer. Indonesian police banned the play, and Sarumpaet filed suit.
Then in March, Sarumpaet, her daughter, and seven other people, including members of her theatre company, were jailed following a peaceful pro-democracy event in Jakarta, the nation's capital and largest city.
The International Centre for Women Playwrights (ICWP) immediately began a drive for the group's release, organizing readings of "Marsinah" around the world.
Sarumpaet and her followers remained in prison until May 21, when Indonesia's 30-year leader, President Suharto, stepped down. Soon after, Sarumpaet traveled to Australia, which has proved a bastion of support.
Her trip solidified efforts to publish the play--now entitled "Marsinah: A Song from The Underworld"--by Aberrant Genotype Press, a small press partly run by playwright Kate McNamara.
Linda Eisenstein, a Cleveland, Ohio playwright who has closely followed Sarumpaet's struggle and been in contact with her, told Back Stage, "I do know a group in Massachusetts that is holding a fundraiser for Ratna's legal expenses in late September, and the organizers are trying to bring Ratna to the U.S. for that."
Also, an Aug. 2 "Marsinah" reading is scheduled for The Discovery Arena at the Neighborhood Playhouse in Decatur, Ga., outside Atlanta.
Meanwhile, Eisenstein will be chairing a panel at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference in San Antonio in August entitled: "Think Global, Act Local: Performing Activism with Ratna Sarumapet's 'Marsinah.' " Eisenstein will discuss the campaign for her release and the worldwide readings.