The Goan audience have always enjoyed live entertainment on stage, be it a tiatr or musical shows presented in the cities and villages. And the response for such cultural activities has always been overwhelming. The tiatr directors painstakingly script their tiatr, including comedy and songs so that their audience may enjoy complete entertainment for three hours in the auditoriums or open air stages. With fine and exceptional performances on stage, the tiatr directors and all the artistes, singers will definitely make all the tiatr fans feel they have enjoyed the ticketed show.
But in the recent past, there’s a negative trend that has set in and it is hampering the production of several tiatr directors. The drift is during the performances some among the spectators work secretly on video clippings of some comedy scenes or songs presented on stage. Once those two or three-minute video clippings are done on their mobiles, in no time those instantly prepared video clips are immediately uploaded on the social media via Facebook, Instagram or YouTube channels.
Depending on the number of likes coming in for those uploaded video clippings on the social media, the one uploading videos wins a major share, while the tiatr director, who has toiled day and night to bring in a good production through tiatrs, comedy and songs, is the biggest loser.
Throwing light on this serious and grievous issue, Peter Fernandes, whose tiatrs in recent times have become instant hits, says it is a big menace. “We as tiatr directors, actors and singers on stage cannot do much about it although it is clearly visible before our eyes during the performances.”
“On several occasions, we have disrupted the show and requested the viewers to stop such destructive acts. Some of the spectators with a good conscience have avoided it. But others continue with their stubbornness. For several of our tiatrs, at the beginning of the show, we have made earnest appeal to the audience to refrain from video recordings, be it regards specific scenes, comedy or songs. But very few heed to our humble requests,” adds Peter.
Comedian Joyel, who has encountered the same problem as a tiatr director, actor and singer, says, it is very difficult to put a stop to such negative elements. “There are some among the audience who come for tiatrs only for such misdeeds. And once inside the auditorium, they will be engaged only in such acts. By getting themselves actively involved in video recordings on the sly, they will neither enjoy the show nor will allow their immediate neighbours seated next to them to enjoy the tiatr.”
“On one occasion,” comedian Joyel shares, “tiatr ‘Inas’ had just concluded at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. And we were stepping out from the green room and proceeding to the nearest restaurant for supper. As order was placed for food and it was served, some of our comical acts in the tiatr were already found uploaded on the YouTube channel via those video clippings.”
Peter adds, “When such misdeeds are carried out on the sly, many people stay away from watching tiatrs as they get some of those outstanding scenes, comedy and songs easily on the social media.” “So ultimately who is at a loss?” questions Peter.
“This tendency has to stop somewhere or else tiatr directors will always be at a big loss due to lesser crowds coming in to watch the shows. For that matter, there’s no harm if video recording is done by anyone and later shared among friends but please don’t upload the video clippings on social media. This is a humble plea made by many tiatr directors for their shows,” informs comedian Joyel.
“No doubt, it’s hurting to stop a tiatr when in progress and directly ask whoever is seen recording to stop that filthy act,” admits Peter. “But there’s no other alternative left on hand,” he adds.
“And despite the warning,” comedian Joyel continues, “some of those elements will adamantly proceed with what is best for them. But a little thoughtfulness on the part of the viewers would have helped us to gain something from our efforts and hard work.”
“As tiatr directors,” Peter says, “all we can hope in the near future is may better sense prevail hereafter, thus benefiting the performers on the tiatr stage and the viewers offstage.”
