Review: PINJAM DULU SERATUS: A Timely Glimpse Into The Dangers of Debt

On December 20, 2025, Teater SOIA held their first standalone performance at Teater Kecil, Taman Ismail Marzuki. Titled PINJAM DULU SERATUS (“Lend Me A Hundred”), it’s an original play tackling online gambling and online lending services, prevalent problems in modern day Indonesia.

PINJAM DULU SERATUS was directed by Aftah Amarrozky, with a script by Indah Putri. The creative team also included Tegar (visual design); Gilang and Roji (lighting designers); Rendy and Indah (music directors); Veliana, Prita, and Friska (make up and wardrobe team); Vina and Jelita (choreographers); Sentanu (sound designer); and Aldi, Annisa, and Fatih (property team).

As a disclaimer, the provided seat was on the balcony with a very obstructed view. Consequently, some visual details might have been missed.

The story of PINJAM DULU SERATUS begins with Adi (Fachri Azis) being unceremoniously laid off by his boss Telesa (Jelita). He returns home and breaks the news to his family: his failing mother Ibu (Utari Nurjilah) and his sisters Ajeng (Lyra Zulaika) and Ara (Prissila Juliana).

As Adi is the sole breadwinner, Ajeng wants to drop out of college and find a job to help the family. Even little Ara offers to crack open her piggy bank. But Adi reassures them that he will find another way out.

However, Adi’s job applications are met with dead ends as most of them have an age limit of 25. And to make matters worse, his mother has to undergo dialysis for her kidney condition. As he’s backed into a corner, he remembers a potential solution mentioned by one of his friends: an online lending app.

He signs up for said app, personified by the glitzy Miss Cuan (Veliana Hardjantini) and her assistant (Azrul Tanzial). They smother Adi with sweet promises in a flashy musical number inspired by the saccharine ads of real life lending apps.

For a while, everything is going well. Adi gets the money and can pay for his family’s needs. One of his friends comes bearing a business proposition, asking Adi for a few millions in investment. He takes out more loans to invest in this business and gets a substantial return.

Feeling invincible, Adi keeps investing in his friend’s increasingly shaky business ventures. Until, inevitably, his luck runs out. Even online gambling only pulls him deeper into debt.

The debt collectors come knocking. Adi asks his girlfriend, Ayu (Mutiara Talenta), for money – leading to her breaking up with him. His friends are upset at him as the debt collectors go after them as well.

Tensions finally reach a breaking point as Adi’s family confronts him. Ajeng is furious, lashing out at Adi for allowing the situation to spiral so far out of control. Ara remains caught in the crossfire, confused and heartbroken. Ibu, however, is conflicted; she is disappointed not only in Adi but in herself for failing to see his pain. She apologizes for never asking how he was truly doing and offers to sell her jewelry to settle some of his debts.

After a short time skip, Ibu has passed away. Ajeng still blames Adi. And Adi, in his desperation and guilt, has a nightmare about the path he’s taken to this hell of his own making.

The problems highlighted in PINJAM DULU SERATUS are based in tragic reality; many Indonesians have fallen victim to the predatory practices of online gambling, online lending apps, and faulty investments. Adi’s story might be fictional, but I believe it’d sound familiar to most audience members; nearly everyone knows someone who has been in a similar situation.

Although these societal problems are indeed complex and the show couldn’t go deeper into the root causes (i.e. lack of employment opportunities due to weak economy, lacking regulatory policies and enforcement, etc.), PINJAM DULU SERATUS still largely works for its target audience. After all, Teater SOIA is the theater club of SMAN 101 Jakarta Barat highschool; the scale of the story – focusing on a small family – fits particularly well as a cautionary tale for young people.

However, there was an early moment that felt out of place. The incident that started Adi’s spiral into debt was his unceremonious firing by his boss Telesa. Although the character’s villainous pettiness was entertaining to watch, the nonsensical reason for his firing was farcical and set up a false first impression of the show’s tone. For a cautionary tale, it’s important to make the audience think that the show’s events might happen to them or someone they know. Thus, it would have been more tonally consistent if the source of his problem was more serious rather than cartoony. Perhaps even going the other way – making the boss sympathetic but unable to keep employing Adi – would make the show’s story land better.

That being said, the show was not solely depressing; it also had moments of levity, particularly the showstopping number by Miss Cuan and her assistant. Complete with glamorous costumes, colorful lighting, and ensemble members dressed up as national heroes on Indonesian rupiah, the song was an enjoyable (and sinister) prelude for the downward spiral that followed.

The show’s most emotional moments are the fights between Adi and her loved ones, particularly Ajeng and Ayu. Although perhaps the development is a tad predictable, these moments were still executed well by all actors involved.

The music was serviceable and decently fun. The usage of scoring made many of the scenes more emotionally impactful. And the performances were solid for a high school performance – the standout actors were Adi and Ayu, with competent acting and gorgeous vocals.

Overall, PINJAM DULU SERATUS might not be a deep dissection of the nation’s economic troubles, but it doesn’t have to be; it largely succeeds at presenting a story that’s both emotional and plausible enough to be an effective cautionary tale. It highlights an important, timely, and urgent topic, making it a socially valuable piece of theatre.

Broadwayworld Indonesia was a media partner of PINJAM DULU SERATUS.