SCRIPT: THE LEGEND OF REOG PONOROGO

(Stage is set with a simple throne. Soft, traditional Javanese gamelan music
plays in the background.)

Karin: Long, long ago, in the majestic kingdom of Kediri, lived a princess of
unparalleled grace and beauty. Her name was Dewi Songgolangit. Her
wisdom was as vast as the sky, and her kindness was known throughout the
land. Many great kings and brave princes journeyed to Kediri, hoping to win
her hand in marriage.

(RAJA KEDIRI is on his throne. Bathara guru stands beside him. DEWI
SONGGOLANGIT enters, followed by MBOK MBAN. She looks serene but firm.
Suitors bow before her and are gently dismissed by a shake of her head.)

Juan: (Sighs deeply) My beloved Songgolangit, my most precious jewel.

Why? Why do you refuse every worthy king and prince who wanted to marry
you? Your mother and I long for a grandchild to bring joy to our old age.

Flora: (Bowing respectfully) “My beloved Father, im not ready to be married

yet.. However, I see your worry. I will agree to marry, but on one condition.
The man who wishes to be my husband must fulfill a request that I will ask of
him. But first, I must seek divine guidance through meditation”.

Juan: (Nods, a little relieved) “If that is your wish, then so be it. May the gods
guide you.”

(Gamelan music becomes mystical. Dewi Songgolangit sits in a meditative

pose. The lights dim for a moment to signify the passing of three days and
nights.)

Karin: For three days and three nights, Dewi Songgolangit meditated,
seeking for a answer from god. She did not eat, she did not drink Finally, on
the dawn of the fourth day, she received the answer and told everything to
her dad
(Lights come up. Dewi Songgolangit opens her eyes and approaches her
father.)

Flora: “Father, the message is clear. Announce to all the kingdoms: the man
I will marry must create a magnificent and never-before-seen performance. It
must be a dance, accompanied by the gamelan. He must be followed by one
hundred and forty-four pairs of twin horses. And the performance must be
led by a fantastic, mythical beast… a creature with two heads!”

Juan: (Eyes wide in astonishment) “A beast with two heads? And 144 twin
horses? This is impossible!”

Arya: It is a test fit for a goddess, my King. Only a man of truly divine power
and ingenuity could hope to achieve this.

Juan: “So it shall be! Patih, have the royal herald announce it to the world!”

Batahara Guru : (Shouting to the audience/kingdom) anouncement!

anouncement! By The hand of the radiant Princess Dewi Songgolangit will be
granted to the man who can present a grand performance: a dance with
gamelan, followed by one hundred and forty-four pairs of twin horses, and
led by a mythical two-headed beast! Let the worthy come forth!

**(Gamelan music becomes tense and dramatic.)**

**Narrator:** The news spread across the village. Many kings heard the
challenge, but their hopes faded. The task was too great. All but two. From
the dark forests of Lodaya came a king of immense supernatural power,
known as Singo Barong!

**(SINGO BARONG enters with a powerful, aggressive dance. He wears a

mask or makeup suggesting a lion/tiger. He growls and poses fiercely.)**

**Singo Barong:** (Roaring) “I, SINGO BARONG! The ruler of Lodaya! The
most powerful being in all the land! The princess and her kingdom will be
mine! This performance will be a show of my raw power! I will command the
spirits of the forest to be my horses and my beast!”

**Narrator:** And from the cultured kingdom of Bantarangin, came a king

known not only for his handsomeness but also for his wisdom and bravery:
Klana Sewandana.

**(KLANA SEWANDANA enters, calm and regal. He is followed by his loyal

Prime Minister, BUJANGGANONG, and a wise, old WAROK.)**

**Klana Sewandana:** “The heart of Dewi Songgolangit is a prize worth any

effort. But we cannot rely on force alone. We must use our wit, our artistry,
and the loyalty of our people. Warok, Bujangganong, we have a great task
ahead.”

**Bujangganong:** (With a cunning smile) “Fear not, My King. The challenge

is great, but our spirit is greater. We will find a way.”

**Narrator:** Klana Sewandana understood the princess's request perfectly.

The 144 twin horses? He would be followed by 144 brave young men and
women, riding in pairs, dancing as one—the Jathil. And for the two-headed
beast? His artisans would create a magnificent mask, so large and grand it
would appear to be a mythical creature. A lion’s head to represent power,
and a gorgeous peacock crown to represent beauty—two heads in one!

**Narrator:** And so, both kings began their preparations. Singo Barong used
his dark magic, summoning demons and spirits to form his legion. Klana
Sewandana, however, worked with his people.

After few days patih ider kala reported to Singo Barong that Klana
Sewandana almost finished the request.

Narrator: when they’re almost finished, they met each other

**Klana Sewandana:** “Barong! Singobarong, are you sure you want to
marry Dewi Songgolangit? (evil laughter and suddenly-) NO! Big no! I’m
Klono Sewandono, The King of Bantharangin! (he pointing his fingers to his
own chest). Look! Pecut Samandiman will kill you. (he pull out the legendary
pecut samandiman)

**Klana Sewandana:** (To his Warok) “His magic is too strong! I need a
weapon of equal spirit!”

**Warok:** “My King! Use the Pecut Samandiman! The whip of truth and
spiritual strength!”

**(The Warok hands Klana Sewandana a ceremonial whip. Klana Sewandana

holds it high, filled with new resolve.)**

**Klana Sewandana:**” Your magic is an illusion, Singo Barong! This whip

carries the hopes and prayers of my people!”

**(A dramatic fight ensues. Klana Sewandana uses the whip, not to strike
Singo Barong, but to dispel the illusion of his demon army. The spirits vanish.
Singo Barong, his power broken, falls to his knees. Mereka berperang selama
3 hari 3 malam untuk memperebutkan dewi songgolangit.)**

**Singo Barong:** (Breathing heavily) “You... you have not won by strength...
but by wisdom. My power is broken.”

**Klana Sewandana:** “I do not wish to destroy you, Singo Barong. Your

strength is legendary. Join me. Lead the performance you sought to create.
Become the symbol of the beast itself. Let your name live on not in fear, but
in awe and celebration!”
**Singo Barong:** (Looks up, surprised) “You offer me honor in defeat? Your
nobility is true, Klana Sewandana. I accept. I will be your Singo Barong.”

**Narrator:** And so, the two former rivals joined forces. On the day of the
performance, the court of Kediri was astonished.

**(The grand performance begins. The Gamelan music is loud and

celebratory. The 2 Jathil dancers, representing the 144 pairs, perform their
elegant dance. Then, the mighty Singo Barong mask appears, carried by the
strong Warok. Klana Sewandana and Bujangganong dance around it. It is
breathtaking.)**

**Raja Kediri:** (Stands up, amazed) “Incredible! It is the beast! It has the
head of a lion and the crown of a peacock! Two in one! And the horses... they
are not real, yet their spirit is more powerful than any real cavalry!”

**Dewi Songgolangit:** (With a radiant smile) “He understood. He saw the

poetry in my request. He did not use force, but creativity, collaboration, and
compassion. He is truly wise.”

**(Klana Sewandana approaches the throne and bows. Dewi Songgolangit

offers him her hand.)**

**Narrator:** King Klana Sewandana and Princess Dewi Songgolangit were

married in a celebration that lasted for forty days and forty nights. The
magnificent dance, born from a challenge of love and a battle of wits,
became known as Reog Ponorogo. It is performed to this very day, telling the
story of strength tempered by wisdom, and the triumph of a united
community.

And from this story, we learn that to achieve our biggest dreams, we must
not only do our best but also do it with the best of intentions. For dream the
best, do the best, and you will get the best.
**(All actors come forward for a final bow. The Singo Barong mask is held
high in the center.)**

**THE END**