As scheduled, Anil Olga (they are two different persons, Anil is a male and Olga is a female) jointly staged their famed tiatro “Munis Tum” on 13th of this month at Hawally A/C Hall. Instead of 3.30 p.m., the tiatro started exactly at 4.45. This is not the first time an unmarried couple jointly staged their tiatro. Earlier in early sixties, M. Boyer and Antonette both together under their joint direction staged their tiatro “Dililolo Jurament” which was also proved to be a hit then. When I entered the hall at 3.30 p.m., I was totally shocked to see only around 10 people sitting in the hall on the audience chairs. Seeing this my heart melted with pity because never before I witnessed such a poor scene in the hall at the scheduled time. I thought the tiatro was either cancelled or postponed for some valid reason. Then I went to the counter where tickets are sold and enquired and to my relief I got the news that the show will go on and tickets are sold in advance but as usual with due reverence to Goan Standard Time, the tiatro will start little late upon arrival of the remaining audience. Gradually, the crowd started to trickle in and finally thank God, half the capacity was seen attending the show which was the 75th. The opening presentation ceremony was well orchestrated by the organizers under Kala Mogui whose president Domnick Araujo from St. Cruz Goa and Felix de Merces the man who was responsible to bring Anil Olga’s Munis Tum tiatro exclusively to Kuwait only have really worked hard to stage this show. The traditional Cake cutting ceremony was done thru the hands of Anil & Olga in the presence of all the 12 visiting artistes of this troupe. A bunch of innumerable Balloons was also released in the air. This opening ceremony looked grand befitting the occasion. Before concluding this beautiful ceremony, Anil in his few selected words thanked the organizers and everyone. Fr. Tony of Dom Bosco School as chief guest and guest of honour Mr. Lawry Pires the Sales Manager of Air Lanka both addressed the gathering and thru their hands especial commemorative Plaques were distributed to all the artistes, musicians and others who were involved in making this tiatro a reality. Air Lanka flies to Goa via Colombo thrice a week but shortly according to its sales manager, Air Lanka will fly to Goa daily. Air Lanka sponsored the travel of this troupe to Kuwait.
The 12 member troupe consisted of: Anil – Olga, Luis Bachan, Sheikh Amir, Salu de Loutolim, Tony de Ribandar, Irene Cardoso, Jr. Chico, Comedian Selly & Sucurro de St. Cruz. Stage setting by SPA – Santano Afonso. Musicians: Shahu, Rafiq, Agnelo and Frank. Mike system by: Ben.
Once again it is proved to everyone how disgusted people are become now on tiatros in Kuwait. This is the second time within a month that people refused to patronize tiatro in Kuwait inspite of heavy coverage done thru handbills, Internet and local English dailies with big photographs. Earlier it was Utorda organized tiatro of Simon Gonsalves that was rebuffed by the audience. Shortly in another few days there will be one more tiatro in the same hall and will history repeat itself there too? Time alone will tell but one thing is certain that people find it hard to patronise tiatros every month or twice a month. It is a heavy financial burden on the kitty of the tiatro goers. KD 5/- per ticket is too high for a family of 3 – 4 every month or twice a month. KD 5 means Indian Rupees approximately 850/-.
Secondly according to my observation people are fed up of the politics going on in Kuwait amongst the tiatrists who are creating rifts within themselves. The “Sonvstha” that was formed to promote tiatros and tiatrists itself is guilty of promoting disunity not only amongst tiatrists but in the community itself. None of the members of the Sonvstha is capable of doing something big for the cause of community and precisely because of this every member like a “Ghantta Boil” is allowing its leader to dictate his draconian terms to him in a Hitlerian way. The entire dislike for tiatros into the minds of some people was created by the main person of Sonvstha with the on-going principle “To Aslear Aum Nachona” and he is seen only once in a year on the stage and that too when Sonvstha organizes its annual event. Every member of Sonvstha thought that all the tiatros in Kuwait will be done under the banner of Sonvstha only and they only will dominate tiatros in Kuwait but instead Sonvstha is gone into oblivion showing its face only once in a year. This year when it organized its annual show in the same hall at Hawally, it proved to be a total disaster. It is from here the tiatro goers acquired dislike for tiatro and tiatrists and the outcome of this dislike is the thin attendance as it happened for the last two shows consecutively. I have my own fear; the next target of the people’s anger may be the immediate next tiatro though I very much like people to patronize this beautiful art in good number because many of us in the past have worked very hard and tirelessly to make tiatro a very attractive in Kuwait. Only Sonvstha tried to destroy what we built.
Thirdly very many people in Kuwait have started realizing that when Kuwait was under the occupation of Iraq none of the visiting tiatrists openly supported Kuwait’s cause.
Even when the late Amir of Kuwait died a few months back none of the tiatrists in Goa issued a condolence press release nor organized a condolence meeting when they gained and earned so much from Kuwait by organizing their tiatros, by acting on Kuwait stage and selling their CD’s, VCD’s & Cassettes. Visiting Tiatrists are the most ungrateful to Kuwait inspite of being strong beneficiaries of the liberation of Kuwait. There are so many troupes in Goa and they tour Kuwait regularly but when their turn comes to show their moral responsibility towards Kuwait which feed us and gives them so much in financial gains, they shy away. What a disgraceful culture!! It is the culture of Judas. People’s anger has reached to its zenith because they have realized the real “beiman” culture of many tiatrists.
Yet another reason for people to boycott tiatro is “bebdepon” in the hall. It is against the law in Kuwait yet “bebdes” are using tiatro venue freely to indulge in it. Many people told me that they don’t like to attend tiatro because of bebdepon in the hall. Because of few Bebdes innocent people will have to face the consequence. Because of this type of bebdepon Church hall was barred for Goan Tiatros. If we do not put an end to our bad habits then our bad habits will put an end to our tiatros in Kuwait. “Maguir Dadai na ani Puddveim na. Uprant Roddat”.
“Munis Tum” tiatro was well written with full of suspense sequences at every step. People liked it. Anil and Olga performed their roles well so too by Irene Cardoso. Comedy was well performed by Bachan and Selvy yet I condemn the statements with double meaning cutting a vulgar figure of the artistes concerned. Though this was a traditional tiatro yet in many respects it emitted the aroma of Non-Stop Show performance. Howling and shouting at the top of their voices by some artistes was not palatable to the ears. It was not the trend of traditional Tiatro.
Amongst the side show songs, all the songs of Young Chico were well applauded by the audience. Sheikh Amir’s singing prowess imitating even Lorna was excellent. Though he is a Muslim yet he did his imitation so beautifully. William de Curtorim also does good imitation but Epa de Utorda’s son Estibeiro is much better than everyone. We managed to exhibit his super talent in imitation when we organized our Mando Festival in Kuwait about 8 years back at Plaza Hotel. The duo of Sucurro de St. Cruz and Tony de Ribandar “40 Dukor” was very bold referring to 40 MLAs of Goa, so also the trio of Olga-Sucurro-Salu “Udok-Petrol & Light”. Comedian Joana’s solo showing her artificially inflated back, turning her heavy padded “Bumpers” towards the audience was insulting to the audience and disgusting display of vulgarity, indiscipline and indecency not befitting our culture and tradition. Only her vulgar fans applauded her.
As usual, the musicians played well but at moments it was very loudly and also as usual they disturbed the attention of the audience when unwanted “musical feelings” was played when play was in progress thereby denying the audience the privilege of listening carefully to the words and statements released from the mouths of the artistes. This unwanted musical feeling is a chronic desease which must come to an end for the better understanding of the play. People pay money to watch the show attentively; their attention should not be disturbed. Organisers and directors must pay heed to this.
Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
====The freedom of speech====
