04 Sep 2014  |   03:06am IST

33 years later: fit as a fiddle

The classic musical ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ will be staged at Kala Academy, Panjim on September, 2014. The musical, first staged in Goa 33 years ago, had Oscar de Noronha playing the titular fiddler. He reminisces about the play and the role of the legendary musician, Fr Lourdino Barreto who had directed the play

 

 

Dolcy D’Cruz / Team Caf

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‘Fiddler on the Roof’ is a classical musical based on the story ‘Tevye and His Daughters’ by Sholom Aleichem. Though the musical was first staged in the late 1900s, one can still relate to the story of holding on to tradition in changing times. The musical was first staged in Goa by the Music Lovers Association under the guidance of Fr Lourdino Barreto in 1981. He was the director of Western Music Wing of Kala Academy where he staged operettas, Broadway musicals and even full length operas.

Oscar de Noronha from Panjim was just a 17 year-old studying the violin under the tutelage of Fr Lourdino when he was offered the role of fiddler. He took on the role, following which he continued to work in other musicals such as ‘My Fair Lady’ and Handel’s ‘Messiah’, a Lenten orchestra.

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I was young and timid and when Fr Lourdino asked me to be the fiddler in the play, I was speechless. I couldn’t refuse it either, for my violin teacher never took no for an answer. Since he knew best, I only prayed that I would be at least a pale resemblance of the fiddler in the movie. After I had learnt my part, I saw that the real challenge lay not in the playing but in climbing onto the roof and doing the balancing act,” reminisces Oscar who has now passed on the gift of playing the violin to his son, Emmanuel.

“The fiddler of Anatevka wasn’t a virtuoso; he scratched out a tune and let his music take away his many woes. Despite the title of the play, the fiddler has a small part on stage. He provides the leitmotif, which the main characters act out to make the play a hit. So the lion’s share of credit goes to them,” says Oscar, who is now the Assistant Professor in the English Department at Government College, Pernem.

How did Oscar relate to his role? “With life as shaky as a fiddler on the roof, we are all called to stay poised, to avoid falling down and breaking our crown. Of course, for me it was a crown of glory when relatives, teachers and friends said they had liked the play and my violin. I never told them how nervous I had been all the while,” recalls Oscar.

Fr Lourdino was very energetic and he had handwritten the musical notes and the orchestra parts for everyone to perform. It showed his dedication. The musical was performed with ten shows at Panjim (old Kala Academy, now EDC building); Margao (Gomant Vidya Niketan), Mapusa and Vasco da Gama.

Unfortunately, there were very few cameras and mobile phone cameras didn’t even exist at that time. “I wish I could have a photograph of me playing the violin for the musical,” says Oscar. “I’m looking forward to this production by the Bangalore troupe. After all, the Music Lovers Association under the musical direction of Maestro Fr Lourdino Barreto, with a beautiful cast and a wonderful orchestra, staged ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ 33 years ago. That was a time when Panjim was closer to Anatevka of yore,” concludes Oscar.