'Opera Sembelit' wins second place

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta-based playwright Nano Riantiarno won second place at a play writing contest yesterday with his Opera Sembelit (Opera of Constipation).

A member of the judging panel, Noorca M. Massardi, was quoted by Antara yesterday as saying there was no first place winner, while third place was grabbed by Yosef Muldiana from Bandung with his manuscript Bulan dan Kerupuk (The Moon and the Rice Crackers).

The Jakarta Arts Institute organized the event.

Judges chose Putu Satria Kusuma from Bali as the winner of the first consolation prize for his story Bayangan di Depan Bulan (The Shadow Before the Moon).

Other consolation winners were Arthur S. Nalan from Bandung with Kawin Bedil (The Marriage of Riffles), Anas Yusuf from the East Java town of Madiun with Sang Tokoh (The Figure), Benny Yohanes from Bandung with 1000 Watt and Wisran Hadi from Padang, West Sumatra with Gading Cempaka (The Ivory Magnolia).

The contest used to be held annually between 1972 and 1987, but was discontinued due to a shortage of funds. It was revived last year, and invited 94 submissions from across Indonesia.

A parallel contest was held for children playwrights. Chief panelist Saini K.M. said 84 writers took part in the contest which was won by Wisran Hadi with his play Mama di Mana (Where Are You Mama), followed by Muslikh Madiyant with Si Merah (The Red) and Darmanto Radjab with Gerhana (The Eclipse).

Noorca lamented yesterday that many writers participating in the contests tended to "lecture" rather than tell stories. (swe)