In fact, worries about his impending death have plagued him for the last two years.

“I’ve been haunted by death for two years now. With the demise of my close friend, the literary figure Linus Suryadi, some time ago at 48, I wondered if might reach the age of 50 because, like Linus did, I relish eating tongseng [fried lamb in sauce] and smoking,” he said at Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja in Yogyakarta recently.

The death of his friend Linus from a stroke made Butet even more worried, particularly after he had several serious heart attacks.

He said he felt the fear of death strongly when he slept alone, out of town, with no family around in case of an emergency, despite his wish to die peacefully without causing trouble.

“Who’s going to open the door if I die in an apartment while in Jakarta?” he said.

Still in anguish in the days nearing Nov. 21, Butet was to be put to another test.

This one, however, would mean a change for the better.

He was flying with his family from Jakarta to Yogyakarta to celebrate his birthday, but as the plane was about to land at Adisucipto Airport in Yogyakarta a downpour battered the area, forcing the plane to attempt to land multiple times, causing much alarm among the passengers — among them Butet. The plane finally touched down on its third attempt.

“I was wondering if it was the last moment of my life. But finally I resigned myself to the will of God, as I was reaching my anticipated age of 50,” he said.

But God, it seems, desired otherwise, as the storm subsided and the landing was safe.

The artist, now also appearing on TV commercials, described the event as highly meaningful. “In Javanese, this is called sasmita or a divine message,” he said.

Butet is now determined to respond to the experience by making the best possible use of the rest of his years.

“It’s some kind of a bonus in my life. So I regard it as my rebirth and I should devote my remaining years appropriately to other people. I’m also carrying out my father’s mission to promote Padepokan Seni.”

Since the death of his father, traditional dancer and choreographer Bagong Kussudiardja, the art center in Bantul has been under the management of Butet. Bagong expected him to develop the center and make it a place for artists to boost their creativity.

Originally called Padepokan Tari and focusing on dance, it is now Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja, where various other arts like drama and music are also supported. Local and foreign artists frequently meet there to exchange views and hold workshops.

Butet’s dedication to the art center and his performances have made him so famous that at his 50th birthday party a number of friends and public figures were wishing for Butet’s good health.

A message in Javanese that tickled everyone’s fancy on the occasion came from the Kua Etnika sinden (traditional singer) Silir: “Sugeng tanggap warsa, sugeng tambah yuswo, monggo menawi kiyat tambah putro (happy birthday, happy long life, have more children if you care to).

At 50, Butet has three children and one grandchild. His theatrical career, begun in 1977, has made him one of Indonesia’s prominent actors, notably as a performer of monologues.

Along with Teater Gandrik, he has staged dozens of plays like Lakon Pasar Seret (tight market story), Dhemit (evil spirit), Orde Tabung (tube order), Brigade Maling (thief brigade), Sidang Susila (decency trial), Keluarga Tot (Tot family) and Pandol (idol institution) since 1985.

His plays have been performed in several Indonesian cities as well as in Singapore and Malaysia, and in 1999 Brigade Maling was shown at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

With his younger brother, Jaduk Ferianto, Butet cofounded and developed the Kua Etnika music group, which in 2004 toured Europe.

The fifth of seven children, Butet is also an active painter and once displayed his works in Bali under the title “Bukan Pelukis” (Non Painter).

He has been honing his writing since his high school days by writing for several national newspapers. A collection of his columns in a national daily has now been published in English by Red & White Jakarta. The book, with Jennifer Lindsay as editor, is titled Republic of Fun.

“On my 50th birthday there was a surprise from Mbak Jenny Lindsay. She made an English version of my items. To be frank, I don’t speak good English,” he said.

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