The curtains came down
on Kala Academy’s 9th Tiatr ‘B’ Group Competition 2023-24 after eight tiatrs
were staged at the renovated and recently inaugurated indoor air-conditioned
auditorium. There were tiatrs presented by various art, social and cultural
groups from across Goa. As per the programme chalked out by the organisers,
there were five troupes from North Goa and three from South Goa. After a gap of
almost three years, all the presentations at Dinanath Mangueshkar Kala Mandir
were scheduled on time and the audience response, especially the tiatr fans,
was equally good for most of the shows.
As far as the presentation of tiatrs was concerned, some of the
troupes took great pains to put up a good show with regards to script,
direction, stage sets, lights and music, while others appeared to come in just
for mere participation. Some of the tiatrs carried good and high standard scripts,
including direction, but the tiatr scripts of some troupes hit below the belt.
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When such low standard scripts and presentations are brought on
stage and that too for a tiatr competition, it immediately reflects on the
caliber of the organisers. Henceforth, care should be taken by those concerned
to scrutinise the script and if not up to the mark, bluntly reject it. If such
steps are taken, then we can expect good, standard presentations on stage for
the annual tiatr competition and the audience coming for the shows will
definitely enjoy them and return home satisfied.
It was noticed that there was involvement of children in some of
the tiatrs for the ‘B’ group tiatr competition. Exceptions could be there, but
when there’s already a platform created for children to showcase their raw
talents on stage via children’s tiatr competition, as much as possible they
should not be roped in for the ‘A’ and ‘B’ group tiatr competitions.
As per the rules and regulations, in some presentations for the
competition, comedy was not inclusive in the main plot. Instead, it was brought
outside on the road or garden scenes. Excluding the solos, some of the songs in
different categories were not interactive in nature, thus losing points in
renditions.
The three judges, instead of four, roped in by the institution
were found sitting together for viewing and judgment. After the presentation,
the jury comes together for elaborate discussion and final verdict. So, was
there need for the trio to sit together in the auditorium and probably comment,
discuss and give judgments on the presentations?
After staging eight tiatrs at the competition, the practical
hardships faced by almost all the tiatr directors and their troupes cannot be
ignored. Inconveniences caused before and during the show only resulted in poor
presentations, thus hampering all the efforts and hard work of the directors
and their respective troupes.
In the first place, the light and sound systems in the renovated
auditorium were not up to the expectations of the directors and the audience as
well. And failure in the same on the very first day of the performance prompted
the remaining directors to bring in extra sound systems on the consecutive
days, by shelling out extra from their pockets. The lights too were found programmed
and sometimes they went haywire beyond the control of the lights man, and this
adversely affected the good scenes from the tiatrs.
The slow speed of ascending and descending of the curtains,
especially the main and front road curtain, created havoc, thus eating up on
the specified quality time allotted for each troupe. There was nothing much
that could be done about it as the technicians concerned at the site justified
that it was programmed earlier.
The space allotted for the five-six band members was found to
have reduced drastically in comparison to what it was earlier, thus
inconveniencing the musicians, especially the drummer. Apart from hitches
spotted on and offstage, the spectators were inconvenienced as the seats were
not reclining as before and they were too close in proximity and one was forced
to stand up or step out in order to allow another to make an entry in any
specific row. And once seated, the viewers found the new seats totally
uncomfortable, probably resulting in backaches.
After making a bold entry in the renovated and recently opened
Kala Academy, one did not find much change as far as renovation of the place
was concerned. And consequently, was left wandering ‘where the crores of rupees
spent on the renovation work had gone?’. This was the query that created a buzz
among the spectators at every tiatr.
A peep in the green room, and there was water found dripping
from the air-conditioners, besides fuses left unattended. “Some days back,
there were water showers from the ceiling and carpets and seats got soaked and
standing fans were used to dry them,” revealed Pascoal de Chicalim, who was in
attendance for most of the tiatrs staged for the competition. “In the dressing
room light bulbs around the mirrors are missing and consequently if someone
touches the holder accidentally, then there’s a possibility of one getting
electrocuted.”
“Green rooms for male and female artistes have shrunk in size
and are congested. Canteen furniture is missing and as such people have to
stand and have their refreshments and probably remain standing outside for a
long time before the performance,” he added.
Greg Rodrigues from Parra (Parra Boys) watched all the tiatrs
staged for the competition, but was displeased with the lights and sound
systems in the auditorium. “Earlier, if you had to sit in any corner of the
auditorium, you would get to enjoy the show as far as light and sound was
concerned. But today it’s just the opposite – from good to bad and worse,” he
says.
“Spectators and tiatr lovers come from far and wide to enjoy the
shows but if the basic requirements are not in place, where is the fun and
entertainment? It is a sheer waste of time and energy travelling long
distances,” Greg continued.
In view of the poor sound system at KA’s auditorium, Marcos
Gonsalves, one of the participants in the competition, informed that much
before the competition could begin he had brought to the notice of his fellow
participants about the setbacks in the auditorium, but nobody heeded or
responded to him. And finally he had to pay Rs 10,000 for the extra sound
brought in for his show.
“When tiatrs are staged at a high level for the competition, at
least basic facilities should be provided by the institution for good and
effective presentations. Many efforts are put in to rehearse for two, three
months and on account of technical faults when things go haywire, it is
disappointing,” Marcos added.
Another tiatr writer, who was one of the participants for the
competition, said that it should have been properly checked that all things
were in place before the auditorium was thrown open for any event. “There were
light and sound hitches in the auditorium and the light technicians co-operated
with us but not to take any risk, ultimately we had to get our own sound system
for the show,” he said.
“Seasonal passes were easily available two or three days
prior to the competition for those watching all the tiatrs, but this time,
there were limited passes kept for the spectators,” mentioned Rafael
Pereira, a regular spectator for the competitions at Kala Academy.
In
another two weeks from now, the Kala Academy’s Tiatr ‘A’ Group Competition
2023-24 will commence from February 20 and in all 12 art and cultural troupes
will showcase their productions on stage. Will it be the same fate as faced by
the tiatr directors in the ‘B’ group competition or will the ‘A’ group
directors have better facilities to make their presentations enjoyable for the
viewers? Only time will tell.
