Tiatr: Happy Easter

Cast: Crostina, Annie Quadros, Justiano, Creto, Stacy, Benzer, Bunty Vaz, Joana, Marcus, Sally, Saby

Band: Senon (trumpet), Anthony (saxophone), Sammy (trombone), Cannon (keyboard), Savio (drums), Fexon (bass)

Director: Jr Reagan

Lights/Stage: A P Rojols, Anthony de Ambajim

Story: Home Minister Dilaila (Annie) and her children, Creto (Creto) and Stacy (Stacy), do not have any regard for religion. Fr Bunty tries to bring in a change in the family, but will it yield fruit?

Review:

The curtains rise to Shenaya (Crostina) encountering an elderly man in a garden, whose identity is not revealed. He is often found singing praises to God.Shenaya reveals to the old man that she is genuinely in love with her boyfriend, Creto. She also tells him that he is not serious about the affair and the old man advises her to be cautious.

On the other hand, we have Home Minister Dilaila, Creto’s mother, whose main motive is possession of wealth and amassing more money. She is least bothered about the welfare of her children.

Fr Bunty steps in to remind the family about the retreat in the parish and invites Dilaila to attend it along with her children. During his visit, he meets Creto and Stacy, who arrive home in an intoxicated state.

Dilaila cannot stand Fr Bunty gaining fame in the village among the youth and tries to find ways to trap him and tarnish his name on various occasions with the assistance of Ranger (Benzer).

Allegations lead to humiliation and Fr Bunty is made a scapegoat. When Dilaila suffers a stroke, does it bring about a change in her life? Will she admit her folly and rectify her wrongdoings? Who was the stranger in the garden? 

Jr Reagan’s first Lenten show, ‘Happy Easter’, is dedicated to all the priests serving in various capacities at different places and missions. It throws light on the harassments and humiliations encountered by priests from the laity. But at the end, it is the wicked that face the fruit of their deeds as truth triumphs.

Annie stands tall as the wicked minister. She has been ably supported by Creto and Stacy, who play the role of spoilt brats. Crostina is simple in her act and delivers promptly. Bunty is convincing as a priest, while Benzer enacts the negative role with gusto. Justiano plays his hidden character in style and comes out forcefully with wild revelations at the end.

Joana, Marcus, Saby and Sally form a perfect comedy quartet on stage and they entertain with some good laughter pills.

In the category of songs, there are some appealing solos from newcomers Victoria and Carey, besides Stacy Mesquita and Jr Reagan, duo by sisters Faviola and Wilma, Benzer and Carey, trios by Marcus, Joana and Saby and others, including a quartet and a duet.

The scenes on stage, which include a massive bungalow, besides the healing power of Jesus in the concluding scene, deserve a mention. A P Rojols has executed the lights artistically on stage.