Protecting one’s ancestral property
Day 11 of Kala Academy’s 49th Tiatr ‘A’ Group Competition bore witness to tiatr ‘Khobzo’ written by Pedro Vaz, directed by Wilson Mazarello and presented by the Taleigao Dramatic Troupe, Taleigao.
The curtains unfold to a scene in Mumbai wherein Vengurlekar (Celrich Almeida) is into the business of buying and selling Goan properties. He works for his boss ‘Big Brother’, who is based in Delhi.
Vengurlekar prepares a network and ropes in the locals to grab properties of the Goans and later sell them for a big deal. With the help of Bambolkar (Kevin Rebeiro) he tries to capture most of the properties and sell them to the best dealer.
Vengurlekar’s three local men approach Mr and Mrs Fernandes (Joaquim Almeida, Maria Fernandes) at their residence. Their sons are abroad and they live in solitude. There’s nobody to care for them and neighbours do not bother about them.
When the three men visit them and show extra-ordinary care and concern towards them, Mr and Mrs Fernandes place all their trust in them. They are even willing to part with their property papers.
Anabel (Kasvina Cardozo), Abel (Lorentto D’Silva) and Adao (Gibson Vaz), amateurs from theatre arts faculty, fall prey to the three locals and their gang and they assist them. When the newspaper vendor Santosh Shekhar Naik sells dailies, there’s awareness created among the locals about the sale of ancestral properties and they decide to fight against this menace.
A meeting is called by the locals and Mr and Mrs Fernandes are also invited to discuss the sale of their property. What follows next can be seen in the second half of the drama.
Tiatr ‘Khobzo’ has a script dealing with the purchase and sale of Goan properties. But with many Goans migrating abroad and selling their ancestral properties to non-Goans, not everything is lost. If Goans, irrespective of religion, stay united, they can easily give a good fight and do away with the evil force.
The artistes have given a good performance on stage. Celrich Almeida stands tall as Vengurlekar and has executed his role to perfection. Joaquim, Maria, Wellington, Eurico, Custodio and others have extended good support. Kevin Rebeiro is equally good. Pedro Vaz makes brief entries as a differently-abled person.
For some laughter moments, there Kasvina, Lorentto and Gibson with some laughter pills and they are entertaining.
In the section of songs, the curtains unfold to a choral with seven singers on stage. There’s a trio by Eurico, Nikitha and Kevin, a comedy solo by Gibson Vaz, solos by Stacie Fernandes, Aciano Fernandes and Princia D’Souza and a duet by Livia D’Silva and Custodio Cabral which were entertaining and carried good messages. Roy Menezes and his musical teams assisted with good live music offstage and helped all the singers on stage.
The stage sets by Gajanan Nayak and light designs by Tejas Khedekar are good. Cajetan Fernandes has assisted with the background music and deserves a mention.