Review: Teater Mantuli’s LENTERA HARAPAN is a Meaningful Production With Room to Grow

Review by Zahira, editing by Rakaputra Paputungan.

On November 15th, 2025, the team from Broadway World Indonesia attended Teater Mantuli’s Lentera Harapan, the company’s third production, staged for its second show at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta. The show was directed by Khenny Gracia and produced by Robert Gunadi.

The performance follows Li Kwang (Nathaniel Hans), who washes ashore after a shipwreck and encounters Dian (Alya), a deaf young woman who becomes his bridge into the new land he’s stranded on. During their first meet, sparks start to show as social tension simmers. Dian’s father grapples with the family’s complicated position under colonial pressure, while Djaja (Reza) keeps watch from the shadows until his true motives unfold.

The production used a screen as the background for each scene. At first, I was a bit skeptical about relying on a digital backdrop, but as the show went on, I realized that the visuals they chose were actually very fitting for each scene. The backgrounds matched the mood of each moment and helped guide the audience through the setting without distracting from the performances. The music direction by Kenanya Hermanus was another clear highlight. The songs were genuinely enticing, so emotionally charged that they made me brace for the weight of the next scene. Even after watching this show I would still hum the melody because of how memorable it is.

The cast delivered thoughtful gestures and sincere performances. Still, I think there’s room for the acting to feel more understood by using not just physical gestures but also quieter details—like expressions, slow or quick pause, and distinctive body movements. They already had a solid foundation with the blocking and gesturing, but a bit more focus on these softer, internal expressions could make the emotional moments land even more strongly and help the audience comprehend what the characters are feeling. 

As for the storyline, there were moments where the emotional depth felt slightly underexplored. For instance, Kwang’s trauma after being stranded (separated from his friends, unsure of his fate) could have been an opportunity to dig deeper into his psychological state. I didn’t see him sad, even slightly; he so readily moved on with his new life on a new land. A bit more emphasis on these internal struggles might have added even greater resonance to his journey.

Another point worth noting is the timing of the subtitles. While the intention to keep the show accessible is commendable, the delays in several scenes affected clarity. At times, subtitles for speaking characters appeared noticeably late, making it difficult for some audience members to fully grasp the dialogue in real time. Addressing this technical issue would greatly enhance viewer comprehension, especially in a performance that foregrounds connection across different methods of communication.

I also appreciated the decision to populate the stage with numerous extras, especially during the market scenes. It gave the world of the play a sense of bustle and liveliness, grounding the story in a community rather than isolating the main characters in a vacuum. The comedic timing in these ensemble moments worked particularly well. One of the most memorable scenes for me was when everyone scrambled to look for the robber—chaotic, humorous, and full of personality. These touches made the worldbuilding of Lentera Harapan feel more lived-in.

Despite these minor challenges, Lentera Harapan remains a meaningful and enlightening production. It has invited the audience to reflect on the lived experiences of disabled individuals, of experiences that are too often overlooked or misunderstood.

Broadwayworld Indonesia is a media partner of Lentera Harapan.