From Novel to Musical, Paper Boat Arrives with a New Breath

Kapanlagi.com - The musical adaptation of Paper Boat is not just about transferring a popular story to the stage, but rather an effort to bring back a story that is relevant to the anxieties of today's youth. This musical drama revisits the story of Kugy and Keenan with a more intimate emotional approach through music and movement.

For the cast, involvement in this project brings a unique impression. Dewara Zaqqi, who plays Keenan, admitted to having doubts when he first heard that Paper Boat would be made into a musical. The thought of a story that might be too melancholic crossed his mind.

"Honestly, when I first heard that Paper Boat was going to be made into a musical, I was confused," said Dewara Zaqqi during a visit to the KLY Youniverse office in Central Jakarta, Friday (19/12).

That doubt gradually faded after he read the script written by Widya Arifianti. According to him, this adaptation feels alive and provides space for deeper character exploration, especially the vulnerable side of Keenan that is rarely expressed.

Unlike Zaqqi, Alya Syahrani, who plays Kugy, welcomed this project enthusiastically from the start. She believes that Paper Boat offers a different genre compared to the musicals that have been known to the Indonesian public.

"I feel like there has never been a musical that takes on a genre like this," said Alya Syahrani.

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1. Character Deepening & Behind the Scenes Process

Character deepening is an important process for both main actors. Zaqqi chooses to read the novel repeatedly without watching its film version, in order to keep his interpretation pure. Meanwhile, Alya has to learn to be more expressive to bring the explosive character of Kugy to life.

"I have to learn to be as expressive as Kugy," said Alya Syahrani.

Behind the scenes, Widya Arifianti admits to the immense pressure when adapting the work of her idol. However, the trust given by Dee Lestari allows her more freedom to explore the meaning of the story, including messages that were previously overlooked.

"Paper Boat is magical," said Widya Arifianti.

2. Reveal the Biggest Challenge

Paper Boat From Novel to Musical © KapanLagi.com/Mathias Purwanto

This musical will feature a total of 22 songs designed to translate the inner conflicts of its characters. Music becomes the main medium to convey the dialectic between surrendering to circumstances and the courage to rewrite one's life path.

For Billy Gamaliel as the producer, the biggest challenge is maintaining the stamina and consistency of the performance quality. With a schedule of 21 performances, intensive rehearsals are conducted for months without long breaks.

"We have to maintain the players' stamina because this is a long performance," said Billy Gamaliel.

More than just entertainment, the musical Perahu Kertas carries a message about the courage to make peace with oneself. This story invites the audience to remember the dreams that have been postponed, while also celebrating the process of maturation that is not always easy.

With a fresh approach and new breath, the musical version of Perahu Kertas is expected to touch both old and new generations, and become an important milestone in the development of musical theater in Indonesia.

(kpl/pur/pit)