Burned playhouse artists seek quick employment

JAKARTA (JP): Miss Tjitjih playhouse artists, who have been left jobless after fire razed the building Saturday, have called on the municipality to help them find jobs.

Deploring the fire, they said they had been left unemployed after most of their belongings and the playhouse, which has been their livelihood for more than 15 years, were destroyed.

The playhouse's manager, Abas Sudiana, said he was concerned about the future of the group and their families which included 130 people.

"As the playhouse is under the auspice of the city's cultural agency, we hope the municipality can provide the group members with jobs immediately, or let them join the transmigration program as the last resort," he said.

The building is still standing, but the roof and the interior were completely destroyed by the fire, which broke out at 9:00 a.m. Saturday.

The cause of the fire, which also destroyed 350 houses on Jl. Letjen Suprapto, Cempaka Baru, Central Jakarta, is not yet known.

About 500 people, whose homes were ravaged by the fire, spent last night in makeshift accommodation behind Cempaka Sari Hotel. Other fire victims stayed at the homes of relatives.

Wawang Sugiarti, one of the group's actresses, said: "Don't let the group dissolve with the debris of the building."

She hoped the building would be repaired soon so productions could recommence. The Miss Tjitjih building was constructed by the city administration in 1987.

Abas said if the building was not repaired soon, and if the artists could not find work, they would consider setting up a traveling troupe.

He said an actor is usually paid between Rp 2,000 (US$83 cents) and Rp 7,500 for one play.

According to Abas, damage amounted to Rp 700 million in material losses, including the building, furniture, actors' clothes and screens.

The head of the City's Cultural Agency, Azhari Baedlawi, met the group members soon after the fire was put out at about 1:00 p.m. Saturday. He promised to find another place for the group.

The group was founded in Sukamandi, West Java in 1916 by Habib Abubakar Bafagih, and was named after Habib's wife, who was then the prima donna.

The group performed Sundanese folklores Sunday-Thursday, said Eko Mintarsa, the playhouse playwright.

A communal kitchen has been set up behind the playhouse. The City's Social Affairs Office, the Indonesian Red Cross and the public have donated to the fire victims. (03/jun)