The third All Goa Inter Collegiate/HSS Tiatr Competition 2023-24 organised by the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) kicked off at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, with the staging of tiatr ‘Dev Nhidonk Na’ presented by DCT’s SS Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, Cujira. Tiatr ‘Dev Nhidonk Na’ is penned by Antonio Barreto and directed by Clint Fernandes and Antonet de Sousa revolves around a family comprising of Moses (Webster de Souza), his spouse Merlyn (Denelza Travasso) and their only son Rocky (Meverick Alvares).
As Moses grows up, his parents wish to see their only son as a doctor. Moses fulfills his parents’ dream and becomes a gynecologist. But he is involved in malpractices such as abortion. A little later, Moses ties the knot with Susan (Christina Correia). Due to indifferences in the house, Susan tells her husband to do away with his aged parents.
Moses and Merlyn are shown the path to the aged home. With the ill-treatment meted out to the in-laws and later dumped in the aged home, will Susan be happy in her married life?
What follows next in the life of Rocky and Susan is worth the watch in the second half of the drama. A mishap that follows comes as an eye-opener, but will the couple mend their wicked ways?
Tiatr ‘Dev Nhidonk Na’ carries a family story, with a message to the audience at the end. It is a tale of misdeeds, punishment and repentance. Webster and Denelza have played their respective roles with gusto. They are ably supported by Maverick and Christina. There are other characters in the play that equally extend good support to the main cast. Maximilian, Sumit, Alisha, Michael Dias, Joydon, Ancilo, Remizia and others have also enacted their respective roles with much ease.
The comedy is entwined in the play and there are three comic characters, namely Lalita (Nicole Viegas), Tony (Shawn Noronha) and Pursha (Flannan Pereira) who are portrayed as neighbours. All three comical characters on stage carry a good dose of comedy under their sleeves.
In the category of songs, there were 13 songs altogether in the drama. They included six solos, one duo, two duets, one trio, two quartets and one choral. Except for one song, the rest of the renditions moved smoothly on stage. The band offstage included musicians Vitorino Araujo and Francisco Azavedo (first and second trumpet), Antonio Azavedo (saxophone), John Araujo (keyboard), Nevil Cardozo (keyboard) and Xavier Fernandes (drums). All the musicians provided good live music to the singers on stage.
The stage sets were by Anthony Ambaji while Jaison Dias looked after the light designs. Background music was handled by Srayesh Naik and costumes and make-up were executed by Nicole Viegas and Sibyl Sequeira, Riya Pai Lotlikar respectively.
This year there are eight colleges participating in the All Goa Inter Collegiate/HSS Tiatr Competition, which include St Xavier’s College, Mapusa (tiatr ‘Giran’), Fr Agnel HSS, Pilar (tiatr ‘Dhondo’), Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts and Science, Gogol, Margao (tiatr ‘Ulovpak Zai’), Fr Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, Pilar (tiatr ‘I am Sorry’), Rosary College of Commerce and Arts, Navelim (tiatr ‘Sankov’), Kala Academy Goa’s College of Theatre Arts, Panaji (tiatr ‘Daiz’) and St Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim (tiatr ‘Attention Please’). The inter-collegiate tiatr competition will conclude on September 18.