MARCOS GONSALVES
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MARGAO: While people from across the globe continue to throng the Exposition of the relics of Saint Francis Xavier at Old Goa, tiatrs celebrating the life of St Francis Xavier, or Goencho Saib, are receiving overwhelming response from the audience for the portrayal of his legacy and teachings.
Tiatrs including ‘Goycho Saib’, written and directed by Michael Gracias; ‘Porgottnnar’, an opera directed by Fr Simon D’Cunha; and ‘Atam Amchem Kitem Zatlem’, written by Pascoal de Chicalim, are drawing huge crowds. Additionally, a play by young director Ageema Fernandes, ‘Mhozo Ixtt Francis’, was released on the feast day of the Saint in Margao.
It is the first time so many Konkani and English plays on the Saint’s life have been staged. A musical play presented by Perpetual Socorro Convent High School was also performed just before the start of the Exposition.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Gracias said that his play highlights key aspects of Saint Francis Xavier’s life, backed by historical events. “The story of my tiatr starts when he is asked to come to Goa and ends when he is revered as Goencho Saib by the Catholic community and beyond. Everything presented is based on historical writings,” he explained.
Gracias also shared that he is overwhelmed with the response from people across various communities. “In my 32 years of stage life, this is the first presentation that has garnered such a response from tiatr lovers and the public in general,” he added.
Fr D’Cunha, whose opera ‘Porgottnnar’ involves nearly 200 artists and presented across three grand stages, has received a great response. “The main motive of the opera was to raise awareness about the life of Goencho Saib. It’s an attempt to review our faith in him in a creative way, focusing on his life,” he said.
D’Cunha also noted that the opera also emphasizes the different cultures of regions where Saint Francis Xavier traveled. “His talents, mission in Goa, and miracles are also presented. Depicting his life dramatically was a challenging task,” he shared.
Meanwhile, Pascoal de Chicalim’s tiatris a portrayal of the Saint’s travel diaries to the United Kingdom and other countries. “There are two miracles shown in this tiatr. In one, a blind character regains his sight through the miracle of Saint Francis, as he has complete faith in him. The live appearance of Saint Francis Xavier is shown, with light rays emerging from his palms to bless the blind man,” Pascoal explained.
He further informed that a second miracle in the tiatr depicts a mad father being taken to the live exposition of Saint Francis Xavier’s body in Old Goa. “I’ve shown a live exposition of Saint Francis Xavier on stage, with his body placed in a coffin,” he added.
