As the monsoon season sets in, a handful of tiatr directors gear up to provide their tiatr lovers with a limited edition of monsoon releases. As they have only four months (June to September) under their sleeves, they try to give their best by way of a huge cast, including half a dozen comedians, new and novel stage setup and a variety of songs.
The tiatrs lined up for this monsoon season include ‘Konnache Chukik Lagon?’ by Saby de Divar, ‘Duplicate’ by Comedian Ambe, ‘Sonvsar Sorg Ifern’ by Constantino Crasto, ‘Grandma’ by Sammy Tavares, ‘I Am Sorry’ by Irineu Gonsalves, ‘Superstar’ by Dola Mascarenhas, ‘Last Kiss’ by Milagres de Chandor and ‘Kazaracho Chuddo’ by comedian Sally.
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Under ‘Pobre Menezes Production’, seasoned actor, singer Dola Mascarenhas is making her first debut as writer and director with her monsoon tiatr ‘Superstar’. “An attempt has been made to present for the first time a ground-breaking new concept which will keep the viewers on the edge of their seats,” shares Dola.
“All these years it was easy to tackle acting and singing as an artiste on the tiatr stage,” reveals Dola, “but now as a director, there are more responsibilities on my shoulders and minute details of everything on stage from acting, singing, comedy, stage sets, lights, music, songs, all had to be taken care of. But timely cooperation from all my artistes will definitely bring out the best on stage.”
The story and production is by Pobre Menezes, while the script and direction is by Dola Mascarenhas. “With the best of Goa’s six comedians including John D’Silva, Humbert, Rajdeep Naik and others, rib-tickling comedy and laughter riot is guaranteed throughout the show. And to add icing to the cake, there’s a mix of 13 songs and 5 cantos which will touch the heart strings of every viewer,” says Dola.
In the eyes of the tiatr viewers, Saby de Divar has been well accepted as a political singer. With five productions under his sleeve, he is all set to release his sixth production ‘Konnache Chukik Lagon?’ this monsoon season. As far as the script and presentation is concerned, whether his new release will be focusing on family or political issues is worth the watch.
In ‘Konnache Chukik Lagon?’ artistes lined up include Antonette de Maina, Roma, Pascoal Rodigues, Joylita and Franky Gonsalves, while he has roped in Lawry Travasso, Xavier Gomes and Jr Reagan for the renditions, apart from the political songs by Saby de Divar himself. For laughter pills, there’s comedians Sally, Richard, Myron, Samenca and David and they will try their best to tickle the funny bone of the audience.
After entertaining the Goan community in UK with the grand release of tiatr ‘Duplicate’, Comedian Ambe along with his troupe is all set to entertain the audience in Goa now. With Antonette de Maina and Roma in the lead roles, there’s comedians Richard, Sally, Myron and Samenca to produce laughter riot among the spectators.
Milagres de Chandor has been noted for introducing new, raw talent on stage and this time around in his tiatr ‘Last Kiss,’ there’s child artiste, Rusell, besides Savanaah, Ramson, Juvency, besides Jose, Evon, Franky Gonsalves, Arnaldo Costa, Xavier Almeida, Renzia, Vilban, Tracy de Calangute in the main cast. There are five comedians Joyel, Flavia, Agnelo, David and Steven to entertain with comedy pills.
Constantino Crasto’s 13th production ‘Sonvsar Sorg Ifern’ has Roseferns, Dola, Vishal Gawas, Carmin, Elvis, Evola, Baptist, Santano, Jennifer, in the main cast. Prince Jacob, Ben Evangelisto, Ambe, Mario, Lino, Raymond and Rizma have been introduced as comedians and they will entertain with their comedy. In the section of songs, there’s Marcus Vaz, Roseferns, Francis de Tuem, Tony de Ribandar, Prince Jacob, Evola, and others for melodious renditions.
To draw more crowds for the shows, Constantino Crasto has introduced a novel idea in his tiatr ‘Sonvsar Sorg Ifern’. On purchase of every ticket, a housie coupon is given free of cost and the winner for ‘Jaldi Five’ takes away a cash prize of Rs 5,000 at tea break.
Irineu Gonsalves has already released his 10th production ‘I Am Sorry’ and in his troupe there’s Willy, Scully, Aloma, Aplon, Pascoal Rodrigues, Franky Gonsalves, Pradeep Naik, Frazer, Anil Pednekar, Aleixin de Morjim in the main cast, while to entertain the audience with laughter pills, there’s Rajdeep Naik, John D’Silva, Fiona, Joyel and David.
Among the singers, there’s Avers Pereira, Peter Camilo, Marcus Vaz and other singers with renditions on different subjects and issues. Added attraction is noted singers of national and international fame, O’luv and Hema Sardessai, who will mesmerize the tiatr audience, after entertaining larger audiences for musical shows.
Apart from a different concept and fine acts on stage, the tiatr fans are in for a fine treat with big screen projection in the backdrop, which is the uniqueness of this director. Undoubtedly, many efforts are made to bring in something new on the Konkani stage.
Sammy Tavares’ seventh production ‘Grandma’ carries a cast comprising artistes Roma, Antonette de Maina, Franky Gonsalves and Aliva. Among the comedians, there’s Samenca, Sally, Myron and Richard.
As in the last production, the director has roped in a girls’ band comprising Madonna (saxophone), Jeslyn Rodrigues (trumpet), Stacy (bass), Fevila (drums) and led by Norman Cardozo on the keyboard. The opening song is unique as apart from Aleka stepping in for rendition, the musicians, Madonna and Jeslyn too share the stage and join the main singer. Offstage, there’s Fevila on the drums equally sharing her melodious voice.
Introducing novel ideas such as a free housie on purchase of every ticket, roping in famed singers of national and international repute, instead of one or two comedians, introducing half a dozen on stage—will all these efforts yield good, better results on stage and benefit the directors?
During those yesteryears, mere one comedian would suffice on stage to create a laughter blast among the audience. Comedians in the making of the late Jacinto Vaz, Souza Ferrao and other immortal ones would automatically draw crowds to the auditorium. Their mere presence and body language would say it all. But today, half a dozen comedians on stage cannot deliver what’s expected from them. Instead, when you get too many humorous characters on stage, it’s ‘too many cooks spoil the soup’. And with some of them on stage, when ideas run short, vulgarity picks up, showing its ugly face, much to the disappointment of the audience.
Apart from the comedians, noted singers too fall short of new compositions and renditions on the tiatr stage. Some of them will prefer to sing old songs in several tiatrs, take their share and walk away. Those singers with oldies in their pockets may fool the directors, but they cannot always fool the audience.
When a tiatr should carry a variety of songs with it for complete entertainment, on most occasions, there are more solos rendered by singers, instead of duo, duet, trios, quartet and choral. And those songs which may be termed as duo, duet, trio and quartet are not at all interactive by nature. With such stale ‘masala’ in today’s tiatrs, can we expect to raise the standard of modern tiatrs? Introspection is the need of the hour.
