Script writer and director Nazi Rod in his maiden attempt to stage a Tiatro in Kuwait has successfully organized his Tiatro “Ghonvdho” (Mason) on 18th of this month at Kuwait Medical Association Hall starting almost at 5.30 PM and ending at 10.00 PM. This Tiatro was supposed to be held originally on 11th of this month but due to the non-availability at the eleventh hour of 3 visiting artistes from Goa, one of them was the young daughter of Milagres de Chandor Miss Hazel, Miss Steffi was the other and the third was comedian Luis Bachan, the show was postponed to 18th inst. But unfortunately and regretfully as given to understand, inspite of their assurances and promises to the director that they will surely reach in time to participate in Ghonvdho on 18th, they failed in their word. Due to their absence the director was put into total inconvenience to arrange and train the local substitutes who fortunately proved to be not only good replacement but more than the equivalent.
The story revolved around a family life where the husband works abroad and sends money to his unfaithful wife who fritter away the money recklessly with her boyfriend. The title of the play “Ghonvdho” (Mason) used in figurative sense meaning the “Ghonvdho” failed to build his house properly leading to the disaster in family life.
Comedian Junior Silma whom I first time saw doing the comedy role which was supposed to be done by Luis Bachan finally proved to be not only best but the best surpassing not only Luis Bachan and his brother Domnick but all the Goa based comedians. This boy has very bright future on Konkani stage. It was he who stole the major show in the “Ghonvdho” inspite of accepting this role at the eleventh hour. His comedy is very natural and his body is very flexible somewhat like that of Anthony Mendes. In future for any Tiatro in Kuwait I don’t think we need any visiting comedian from Goa. Thru “Ghonvddo” he is become the darling of the audience.
The last minute replacement for the visiting female artiste Steffi, Mangalorean Lucy Aranha with her natural beauty played her role with comedian Silma extremely well even though she was trained only on the eve of the Tiatro when it was confirmed that the three visitors are not coming. Hazel’s absence was not noticed only. As a whole the absence of all the three “Kettis” as remarked by many in the audience went totally unnoticed.
It is proved once again that in Kuwait we can stage our Tiatros very well even without the participation of the visiting artistes from Goa and Bombay.
However, the other reliable visiting artistes Marcus Vaz and Francis de Tuem gave their best to make the side show very successful. Their songs were fabulously applauded by the audience because they were worth applauding.
Among the local artistes who rendered their songs well were Lopes Brothers and their sister Agnes with her mellifluent voice.
The other local artistes who did their roles well were Cajetan de Sanvordem, husband and wife duet Sylvester and Irene and Salu Faleiro.
It was surprising to notice the absence of any trio song of Kuwait based trio of Mario, Cajy & Michael; with the exception of Cajy the other two were totally not seen but their absence went unnoticed though their names and photos appeared in the Souvenir. Those who do not intend to participate in the Tiatro they should not give their photos to be published in the Handbill or Souvenir lest they become “Fotting” in the eyes of the audience.
Musical score was beautifully provided by Sahu and his troupe. Stage setting and Lights were nicely provided by Thomas; so also Sound System by Anand.
Special mention must go to Baba Joshua who as a child artiste did his role extremely well with confidence with his fluency in Konkani which is normally not seen in modern children in Kuwait. His acting reminded me of the somewhat identical role played by Bab Lipo in Aristedes Dias’ Tiatro “Doea” in 1958. I congratulate his parents for inculcating Konkani in their son from very early age.
In 1975 when the late Tony Call first time brought Alfred Rose and his then charming wife Rita to Kuwait to stage their two Tiatros, there was lot of politics and confusion between local artistes and the visiting. After analyzing the whole situation, Alfred Rose advised Tony Call “not to depend on the outstation artistes, you have enough of local artistes to play any role, utilize their talents”. Because of the last minute “Kettam” by the visiting “Kettist” Tiatrists as if they are coming for “Funkott” Show, the local directors must make an attempt to rely more on the local artistes only who are rich in stage talent.
From what has happened to “Ghonvdho” Tiatro, it is dangerous to rely any more on the visiting “Kettist” tiatrists. If they had any difficulty they should advise the director in Kuwait much in advance to facilitate the director to take remedial actions in time. Otherwise the organisers and directors will have to face heavy losses as it happened to “Ghonvdho” director because of the irresponsibility of the three irresponsible artistes.
Most in the audience totally condemned this bad attitude of the three artistes for failing to honour their promised word. As a retaliation many have vowed in future to boycott any Tiatro staged in Kuwait with the participation of “Kettist” tiatrists.
It is not an easy task to organize a Tiatro in Kuwait. I don’t think there is anybody in Kuwait involved in organizing Tiatros as I am and from my experience point of view I have lost my confidence in visiting artistes as a whole though there are many exceptions among them who are really reliable, dignified and respectful.
Once a troupe of 6 visiting artistes was staying at my place. They were brought by us for Rosary Ferns’ Tiatro. Before going to the hall as it is customary we joined together in our hall to say a small prayer. Every artiste to my surprise came for prayer with his luggage of Suitcases as if they are going to the Airport without going for the Show. Then I interrupted and asked them, what is this? They said we will go to the Airport out and out from the Tiatro hall. For this I asked them if for any reason there is delay in finishing the Tiatro in time, what will you do? They had no answer but their selfishness for their own benefit made me nervous.
I became nervous because I have my dignity and name in society which I cannot afford to tarnish in case of failure in properly organizing the Tiatro. For some visiting Tiatrists anything “chalta hai”. For them anything is ok but not for me. Some of the visiting Tiatrists do not care for anything as long as they get their pound of flesh. A few of them are shameless. It is said in Konkani “Kapurleak khuim Kulei sarke and Thanaim sarkim”. This is what the attitude of some visiting Tiatrists.
We spend thousands after them to bring them to Kuwait to participate in our Shows and they take this as if they are travelling from Margao to Panjim? This is called irresponsibility on the part of Tiatrists who ironically propagate from the stage the sense of responsibility to others but not for themselves. For such people I have two proverbs in Konkani “Apunn zanvcho khuim nitt and dusreak marchem mitt”. “Padricho Sermao nhoi Uniek pun lokak”.
Once it happened like this. For one Tiatro in Kuwait one main Musician, Mistiri was brought to play for one particular Tiatro. He came in time but while going he booked his return ticket in the same night after finishing the Tiatro. For some unavoidable reason, the Tiatro was delayed. Seeing this that he is getting late to reach to the Airport, after the interval before ending the tiatro Mistiri left the hall and went straight to the Airport to catch the direct flight to Dabolim. So in such a situation what is the use of spending so much of money after such visiting artistes and musicians? In the beginning itself they should make it clear to the Kuwait organisers their haste in returning back so that proper planning is done in advance only.
Meantime, after “Ghonvdho” Tiatro, the call given to boycott the shows where “Kettist” Tiatrists are involved is gaining momentum in Kuwait. Tiatro contractors and organisers must take serious note of this call.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
