Tiatr is a powerful medium for evangelisation and
re-evangelisation. In the recent past, there were no tiatrs during the Lenten
season. Not to deprive the audience of the powerful message derived through
entertainment, some of the popular tiatrists came on stage with Lenten shows.
The first Lenten play, ‘Saibinnicheo Sat Dukhi’ was presented by J P Souzalin
in the early 70s. Manuel de Lima and others also presented religious plays in
the mid-70s. But those shows were purely Biblical and related to the Lenten
season. Those Lenten plays would enable every viewer to reflect, contemplate
and mend ways.
But in recent years, with the Biblical presentations by some priests and religious organisations, the tiatrists too have decided to step forward and make their appearance with Lenten shows. But do these recently released Lenten shows by the tiatrists fall in the criteria of reflection and prayer?
Pilar Music Academy ventured into Lenten plays production in March 1989 with the first Biblical presentation, ‘Kallokant Uzvadd’, which was a combination of two Biblical plays (musicals), ‘Maka Sukh Zai’ and ‘Konn Mhozo Pelo’. The former in a purely periodic setting while the latter is enacted as a parable in modern times.
Fr Dominic Alvares, who was very much part of these presentations, says, “This formula continued with other production like ‘Hem Mhojem Ghor?’. Meanwhile, other writers got on the bandwagon and the tiatr format became the accepted norm for Lenten play productions.”
“Slowly but surely, what began as only ‘comic relief’ in otherwise serious plays with Lenten messages of Repentance and Renewal became fully fledged comedy side shows with no connection with the script of the plays. Unfortunately, the comedy side shows often overshadow and out balance the otherwise powerful messages of the script writers and directors,” he adds.
Earlier there were songs for the sideshow which all had a message for soul searching, appealing for a change in life. However, these songs are now on any random topic, including political and other social issues.
“The ‘tiatr’ fraternity has tremendous power to bring about a revolution in any sphere, be it social, political or religious, and practically every tiatr during a calendar year presents powerful messages through their scripts, songs and Biblical scenes, thus upholding moral values, especially in the family,” opines Fr Alvares.
“Popular tiatrs are continuing even during the Lenten season, understandably because of the popularity. Other directors launch new tiatrs, perhaps keeping the Lenten season in mind while writing their scripts but also catering to the audience’s taste through the comedy sideshows and songs. Hence, during the Lenten season, we now find tiatrs claiming they are Lenten plays and other tiatrs coming with a mixed bag,” reveals this priest of the Society of Pilar.
Fr Alvares is of the opinion that the Church, as mother and teacher, in her wisdom, caters to the spiritual needs of her children through the Liturgical celebrations proper to each season like Advent, Christmas, Lent and Eastertide. “Each of these seasons has their specialty; their colours and moods. Hence it is my ardent appeal to the tiatr fraternity to which I am also proud to belong, to exercise their religious responsibility as members of the Catholic Church and present plays keeping the mood of the season when the Church calls her faithful to contemplate on the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is followed by his glorious resurrection. This is the great mystery of our Redemption,” concludes Fr Alvares.