At the ongoing Kala Academy’s 49th Tiatr ‘A’ Group Competition, tiatr ‘Daddy’s Home’ written by Fr Milton Rodrigues and directed by Shantaram Pawar was staged on the tenth day of the competition.
The curtains unfold to a scene in ‘Daddy’s Home’ where several inmates, young and old, are seen with the director Fr Michael (Fr Milton Rodrigues). Reporter Joash (Joash Almeida) steps in to interview Fr Michael and he notes down all the details about the institution and its success story.
‘Daddy’s Home’ shelters not only the aged, but also the orphans and differently-abled. Each of the inmates there has a story to relate and various revelations by the inmates are pathetic.
Motes (Mathew de Souza) is shouldering various responsibilities, his son Bobby (Alister Fernandes) serves as a security guard, his daughter Andrea (Andrea Dias) looks after the abandoned children. There is also a nurse (Charlotte Fernandes) who caters to all the ailing patients round the clock.
A teenager, Maricia (Marcia Fernandes), becomes mentally unstable after the illegitimate child in her womb was aborted. When elderly Derrick (Derrick D’Mello) and Marta (Marta de Souza) come seeking shelter in ‘Daddy’s Home’ after they are neglected by their sons, Maricia turns wild.
Differently-abled Shaun (Simon D’Silva) suffering from motor-neuro disease (MND) was brought in by Dr Menezes (Frebren Fernandes) to ‘Daddy’s Home’ and now he is taken good care of by Fr Michael. He fails to receive parental love due to abandonment and he seeks it from Fr Michael.
When he encounters Derrick and Marta, Shaun takes them as his guardians and Derrick, Marta also accept him as their own. The bond of parent-child strengthens and grows over a period of time.
Joster (Joster D’Souza) and his spouse Regina (Regina Cunha) steps in seeking a share of the property from Johny (Joao da Silva), but he refuses to part as long as he is alive. Joster threatens his father with dire consequences.
As events unfold on stage, various revelations at ‘Daddy’s Home’ also get unveiled from different inmates, making the entire picture more clear and vivid.
In the first place, whose son is Shaun? Is there a blood relation between him and Derrick-Marta? Was the elderly couple responsible for Maricia turning insane? Will Joster mend his ways and return to his aged father? You find answers to all the queries in the second half of the drama.
Tiatr ‘Daddy’s Home’ carries a fine script with sleek direction and a dual message to the audience. It has a good flow, followed by a good dose of suspense unveiled in the second half.
All the artistes have displayed ample talent on stage. But among all the artistes, Derrick’s role as a differently-abled person after a stroke stands out. Simon is equally good as differently-abled. Joster and Regina are apt in negative roles. Fr Savio, Audrey, Robert and Eusebio extend good support to the main cast.
For some rib-tickling comedy, Mathew de Souza takes on with Alister, Doyvina and Andrea and they entertain throughout with good laughter pills.
In the section of songs, there are a couple of good songs appealing to the ears. A duet by Avyanna Xavier and Simon D’Silva on Lent, a trio by Mathew, Frebren and Ashlyn, a duo by siblings Simran and Shanice Vas, a quartet by Fr Savio, Zedekias, Kitty and Christavio on vulgar comedy in tiatrs stand out. Child artiste Nathan Xavier won the hearts of the audience with his solo ‘Deva Fattlean Dev’ and Cliffa’s solo on the bride’s family had a message to the audience. Roy Menezes and team provided good music offstage.
The stage sets by Nikhil Barve and light designs by Nitesh Naik need to be commended. The additional sound system brought in cannot be missed out, giving a good feel to the listeners.
