TIATRO EK GHOR DON CHULI BY PRINCE JACOB.

On 4^th of this month at Kala Academy Hall, Panjim, starting sharp at 7.30 PM for which the director deserves compliments for adhering to the scheduled timing, I saw the Tiatro ‘EK GHOR – DON CHULI” written and directed by the Prince of Konkani Stage, “Prince Jacob” who is well acclaimed as the history creator by introducing new ideas, new artistes etc.  He has unique distinction to write 25 Tiatros title of same are started in letter “P”.  This  is something unique record which has to be recorded in the Guiness Books of Records.  Being a musician first, I saw Prince Jacob first time in Goa acting for Roseferns from where he graduated himself as a full fledged Tiatrist having his own Troupe of about 20 persons including his artistes who remained with him thru thick and thin with respect and dignity. 

This Tiatro what I saw yesterday was the victim of its own innocence in the sense it was poorly attended by the audience even though this was the 3^rd time that this Tiatro was held in Panjim at the same venue.  However, being the Silver Jubilee Show, the audience should have been more befitting Prince Jacob Name and fame.  This all happened because of the introduction of vulgarity by the  few of the third grade vulgar comedians coming from vulgar family background and they are not only disliked but hated by the audience.  Because of them many of the members of the audience who are the regular Tiatro goers otherwise have stopped going for our Tiatros.  According to me there is no other reason for the people not to come to see the Tiatros.  Till Some time  back people used to see Prince Jacob’s Tiatro any number of times even by purchasing the tickets in the black market.  Such was the powerful demand for Prince Jacob’s Tiatro then and since this Tiatro was much better than many of his earlier Tiatros, the audience should have been more. But because of the very bad image of our Tiatros  created by these few tin pot comedians, innocent directors like Pirince Jacob had to suffer.  Something drastic has to be done by the concerned persons and authorities. It is not the matter to take things lying down.  I am afraid if nothing can be done to woo back the audiene, our Tiatro may lose its demand and come to an end. Earlier this type of situation[L1] [L2]  has almost reached to the point of saturation twice, once after 25 years of Tiatros’ existence and the second time after 75 years but it was at the very right time the uninvited Messiahs came who were sent to this planet by the almighty God to avert the disaster. The very few “Pozdde” comedians who are doing comedian roles should be either kicked out of Tiatro circle or they should be given proper instruction to behave well.  Stage is not their fathers’ property to act the way they want. As for me, I will always raise my voice on the vulgarity of some of the idiotic minded comedians even though they may take me to Polie Station again as it was done about 3 years back where a case was registered against me for writing against the “Pozdde” Comedians.

Coming back to this Tiatro “Ek Ghor – Don Chuli” it was the very good subject chosen by Prince Jacob affecting our houses, homes, families and community.  We Goans since time immemorial have been living in a joint family system which no doubt have some defects but as a whole it is a marvelous system which has more plus points than the minus. But in the recent past due the Anglicization process initiated more by the Goan Christian community, the situation is changed and thus we opt for separation and isolation for ourselves.  This was done more by the  newly married couples as enacted in this Tiatro.  Though it was  very serious topic and as such it was rightly enacted by all the artistes yet there were many witty happenings and incidents occurred at the time of distributing the things from the one undivided house,  between the two warring factions of the same parents  staying in the same house, after they decided to separate.  For example, it looks strange to see Prince Jacob in a comedy role takes one part of the table to one family of one brother and the other to other.   

Prince Jacob deserved compliments for bringing out a nice plot which should have been released a few years back whence it would be more relevant.  The role played by Jacinto of an elder responsible brother was good while that of his wife played by attractive Lourdes who was an excellent finding of Prince Jacob was just too fantastic as she did her every step very appropriately. She was in appreciation of her excellent role she played in this Show not only in the play but also in the Side Show songs too,  was presented by a member of the audience  a Cash Prize. The roles of other brother and his wife were  played appropriately by Jonathan and Valencia respectively.  Jude Michael Gracias yet one more renowned actor, singer, composer, writer & director besides being a reputed journalist and Editor of Jivit Magazine played the role of an uncle coming on vacation to Goa from Portugal, his presence in Goa with his Goa based relatives with whom he was vacationing spread Portuguese feelings all around reminding many in the audience of Portuguese rule days in Goa, Portuguese dish Bacalhao, Portuguese Drinks Serveja – Macieira, Portuguese Sardinha and with the smattering of Portuguese language between  Portuguese guest and Diana and others.    

The comedy role played by the writer and director of this Tiatro, comedian Prince Jacob was worth admiring assisted by youngster Cedrick whose future on Konkani Stage under Prince Jacob looked bright but he must not acquire the dirty vice of the dirty and vulgar comedians who are all out to destroy the Tiatro.  Besides, one more new finding by Prince Jacob as usual, of the young and beautiful comedian Semita gave a big booster to this Tiatro.  Having all the attributes of the Stage artiste she is the big asset not only for Prince Jacob troupe but also for the Konkani Stage as a whole.  Additonally,  one of the most sought after by the audience and also a lokpriya and veteran Diana with her comedy role won the hearts of the audience.

Among the songs that deserve mention here are the opening solo by Prince Jacob and his duo with his comedy partner Cedrick were worth appreciating.  The opening solo was nicely rendered by the director. So also the solos of Agnelo de Dabolim, his duet, the solo of Benny and his duo with Jude Michael Gracias, comedy solo of comedian Cedrick and the wonderful Trio rendered by Semita-Lourdes – Valencia.  However, among all the songs, the beautiful solo rendered beautifully by the beautiful Lourdes with beautiful tongue deserves highest compliments.  Her anjelic personality brought an extra flavour to her solo.

The musical score provided by Saby Moraes and his troupe was worthy of admiration.

A. Veronica Fernandes.           

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 [L1]

 [L2]

NEW TIATRO "BURGIM KITEAK SOMZONANT?"

NEW TIATRO BY DY. S.P. SAMMY TAVARES  HELD ON 01.06.19 IN PANJIM AT KALA ACADEMY HALL.

Writer & Director of the Tiatro.

On first of this month I saw the new Tiatro “BURGIM KITEAK SOMZONANT” written and directed by the well known personality Dy. S.P. Sammy Tavares, this was his 4^th Tiatro. As earlier this Tiatro also proved to be a good and educative especially for our children mainly the girls who roam out even late at nights and finally face the tragic outcome.  Since this Tiatro is to be staged in many parts of Goa and elsewhere, I decline to show the full contents of the story leaving the Tiatro lovers to see for themselves this Tiatro which is interesting.

                                                          Marcos Vaz singing his solo

The role of Police Officer played by Tari was  an excellent display of his Tiatrical art so also of Roma as his wife.  Franky as their only undisciplined son played his role well.

A scene where seen are Tari-Roma-Franky

Comedy was fairly good where Johana among others played her role decently well, however if it was given a bit of extra punch it could have been much better. It is a pity that since the death of great comedians of yesteryears,  namely Kid Boxer, Anthony Mendes, Jepsis Hitler, Greg de Candolim and Jacinto Vaz none among the current ones rose to the occasion to replace  the above, not only replace but not even came closer to their coffins’ shadow.  Some of today’s comedians are disgraceful ones because they bring disgrace to the Konkani Tiatro and it’s one segment, i.e. comedy that otherwise brings beauty to the Tiatro by entratining the audience.  Today  we have some of the comedians who arranges for them special comedian’s dress to make the audience laugh but even this does not help them to rise to the expected level. The earlier comedians were not stitching special dresses for them to make the audience laugh, they were such stalwarts that if Jacinto Vaz just remain standing on the stage without even speaking a word, there would be peals of laughter emanating from the audience, if Jepsis Hitler just speaks a single sentence in his pure Salcette Konkani, audience would laugh and laugh, if Anthony Mendes without touching his hands pulls up his Trousers people in the Hall would just go crazy and if Kid Boxer makes a philosophical  comedy comment, there would be pin drop silence in the Hall because audience would after going home only realize the meaning of that statement and then only laugh and laugh.  Why cannot we produce such high grade comedians?  It is a pity that instead we are producing Vulgar comedians whose expertise centered only on sex related statements having double meaning.  These are the real disgrace on the Konkani Stage and  for having this type of scenario on our otherwise clean and decent Stage, the greatness of Konkani Tiatro is going down leading to the members of the audience put an end to patronize our Tiatros.

                                      Seen above are com. Sally & Joahna in a comedy scene

Cajetan de Kakoda & Rosario de Benaulim singing their duo 

Good that directors like Sammy Tavares and Francis de Tuem are living on this planet to revive the interest in our Tiatros otherwise the vulgar comedians would extinguish the flame of Tiatro among the Goans.  These vulgar comedians are not interested in anything but to receive applauding from the audience.  Which audience?  Good audience? No. Decent audience? No. This is the third class audience who are a nuisance for the promotion of our Tiatros.  Francis de Tuem and Sammy Tavares are two prominent directors who owe responsibility to the Tiatro and its survival and also to the greater number of audience, they must either cure  their vulgar comedians or throw them out of their troupe. Last time I already spoke to Francis de Tuem on this topic suggesting to him where lies his flaws with regards to these vulgar comedians participating in his Tiatros.  These Tiatrists and directors must not think that just because they are Tiatrists they can do anything having monopoly over this great art which was founded by Lucasinho Ribeiro who himself was the most decent man from the most decent family  coming  from the most decent village of Bardez, that is Assagao that was known to produce some of the great personalities of Goa, e.g. Monsg. Dalgado a literary personality, Neville D’Souza the greatest soccer player of India and an Olympian of whose type India is yet to produce another.

                                          Seen above is majestic Roma singing her solo.

Seen above are Tari &^ Johana singing their duet.

In the Side Show songs, all the singers sang well their items but best of the credit goes to Lawry Travasso for his excellent solo on degoanisation process of Goa by Goans only, his duet with his partner who sang so well with her so well attractive voice was also rendered well while Tari’s duet with Joana on religious differences was well accepted by the audience. Much attractive and majestic Roma rendered her solo well so too the veteran Marcus Vaz.

Lawry Travasso seen above his most powerful solo

The director played his captain inning well by rendering a nice song on Vailankani Saibinn while Cajetan de Kakoda and  Rosario de Benaulim rendered their solos and a duo well.

The beautiful musical score provided by the beautiful musicians under the excellent Maestro Norman Cardozo gave an added booster to this Tiatro. Norman bab your music this time created a completely different effect for which I salute you.

This Tiatro which was attended by the full house audience is worth seeing.

Well done Samy Tavares, congratulations to you and to your entire troop.

                                                  A comedy scene is seen above


A. Veronica Fernandes.

BRO. KEWIN FERNANDES FROM NAVELIM SALCETTE-GOA.

This young man seen in  this photograph is none other than Bro. Kewin Fernandes from Navelim, Salcette, an encouraging Seminarian from Rachol Seminary who is in Candolim since last six  months doing his missionary  duties prescribed to the young seminarians before their priestly ordination.  During my short conversation with him in Candolim Church on 28.04.19, I found in him a very encouraging Priest To Be, eager to serve God and humanity and face very boldly the onslaught currently under let lose on our community.   He looks to me more secular and his approach to the problem faced by our community from the numerically powerful community will be correct one, he looks to me interested in the development of community members, he seems to be aware of the persecution faced by our community and analyzing its ill effects it pains him very much. I am sure from my observation on his thinking, he will do some wonders in the service not only of the community but also of the society irrespective of the caste and creed.  I found him very judicious and open minded and also  a good disciplinarian.

He is highly qualified in IT having obtained Master Degree (MSc) in this field which is a rarity among our priests and young seminarians and as such he will be a big asset for the Archeodicese of Goa. Still to spend a sort of another internship of 6 months elsewhere, he will re-start his Seminarian’s studies where he probably complete his Philosophy and Teology and receive his priestly ordination in which I offer my wholehearted prayer for him to be a perfect priest which should be like the role model for those young boys wanting to be the priests.

He lamented saying there is not much prayers in our  families and there is no family Rosary in our homes. He loved Candolim and its people and enjoyed fully his six month stint in Candolim where he received shower of love from the local parishioners. He asked for the prayers for the Priests and in a special way for him to be a good priest to serve God and humanity. The parents he said must inculcate discipline into their children, stop them from coming home late at night time. The parents must take maximum interest in their children’s needs and be closer to them.

A.Veronica Fernandes.