Menino de Bandar singing his solo
Today on Sunday, 26th of this month, I saw Menino
de Bandar’s Tiaitro “SOCCORINA” in Panjim at Kala Academy Hall, starting at 10.30
AM. It was the first Show of the day,
the remaining two Shows will be elsewhere.
This shows the popularity of this Tiatro and that of the director. In the history of Tiatro, as far as I know, the late J.P. Souzalin had
the unique distinction of staging on one day at the same hall, three
shows of his Tiatro at Bangwaddy in Bombay.
That was the might of Souzalin who was loved and admired by the Tiatro
goers for his excellent Tiatros. He
excelled in staging religious Tiatros. May his soul rest in peace.
Evaristo de Arambol & his partner sings their duet
This Tiatro was first
time staged by Menino de Bandar in 1984 and within a year he staged it 215 times and yet it is still going strong as
audience come in full force to watch this Tiatro as it happened today at
Panjim. The story is based on true happening and the writer director depicted
it nicely as the audience was spell bound throughout the Show. Every artiste
played his part well but special mention must go to the seasoned artiste Joe
Rose for appropriately playing the role of the aged father, Maxie for playing
the role of the son, Janice for playing the role of persecuted Soccorina,
Angela for her role of cunning sister-in-law and Teles for his role of a corrupt man.
A scene where Joe Rose is seen 2nd from left
This Tiatro was written
in different fashion where most of the statements
are rhymed beautifully as J.P. Souzalin used to do earlier. This was pleasure to listening. Secondly, to give the taste of a genuine traditional
Tiatro, every scene was inserted with one Canto. Now a days the current Tiatrists are not
doing this and thus killing the grandeur of traditional Tiatro.
The major part of the comedy
was handled by Luis Bachan who was ably assisted by his other colleagues.
Another scene
Though the Side Show
songs lacked strength yet the songs rendered by Menino de Bandar (both solos),
Saby de Divar’s political solo, duet of Evaristo de Arambol with his partner on
the good work of Mother Teresa and a solo on Priests by Client were
excellent. When he first time started
singing his solo Client suddenly gone blank and stopped his solo. Immediately the director came and took him
inside and offered apology to the audience saying this is due to some sickness Client is suffering.
A scene where the body in coffin is seen
Such sickness in Kuwait
I saw in three prominent Tiatrists namely Tony Cal, Agostinho Rebello and Sanny
de Quepem who later on after specialized treatment for his brain in Kuwait got
cured while Tony Cal was never cured but Rebello partially got cured. All the three are dead now. May their souls rest in peace.
Client is seen singing his solo
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.
