Masked theatre which mimes the stories of the wayang go/ek, employing dancing by men acting like puppets wearing shiny beautiful masks with big mysterious eyes which seem suspended in the air. Wayang topeng is known all over Java in many forms, each region has a different style of masks, costuming and dancing. The most active centers are in East Java. Sometimes the dancers themselves speak their roles, other times the dalang speaks for them with the actors just marching on and off the stage. Although classical Javanese language is the most often used, it's spoken in a less stylized form than in wayang orang. Masks are very similar to the heads of go/ek puppets. Carved out of light wood, they are held in position by the actor biting a leather strap or wooden prong in the back. Face, hair and headdresses are painted in a color according to who the character is. Faces are generally round and the nose depends upon the personage for its size and shape. Troupes consist only of male dancers. Female roles are taken by boys from 8-14 years old, before their voice changes. The entire troupe has perhaps 20-25 people and a set of topeng contains traditionally 4080 pieces.-Some masks are very rare and prized, found only in collections of princes and in museums, guarded as pusaka (sacred heirlooms). The ones on display at the Sonobudoyo Museum in Yogya reach this classic standard, the acclaimed Reni masks.

history: This theatre form stems from the ancient Javanese practice of masked dancers performing at death rites. Origin of the modern form is the 16th Century, invented by an important historical person, Sunan Kalidjaga. When Islam became entrenched on Java, masked dances were banned from ritual life but persisted in folk plays in villages put on by wandering masked players. Even today topeng persists more as a popular theatre than as a court tradition. lakon: The plots are derived mainly from the Panji cycle, centering on the legendary Prince of Jenggala. See the solo performance of the Topeng Tua which portrays the wistful meditative movements and attitudes of an old man. Usually involves 3-4 actors and up to 40 fascinating masks.