Staging of one-act plays during the Christmas season has become a dream of the past. In the 80s and 90s, people in the villages would get an opportunity to watch these unique plays, helping the audience to also carry home a message or two.
These one-act plays of 35-40 minutes duration each were part of the Christmas celebration and programme in several parishes. And to help in its promotion at length and breadth across Goa, the organizers would hold competitions at village-level, with attractive cash prizes.
The cash prizes and trophies would attract many troupes from the villages to participate and keep alive this age-old tradition. As years passed by, competitions were replaced by mere ‘presentations’ and that keen interest which triggered all along got lost among the enthusiasts.
Small Christian communities (SCC) were later introduced in practically all the parishes across the state and cultural programmes came in at the ward and village level.
During the week-long Christmas programme, varied competitions which would attract young and the old have taken a backseat and presentations on stage in the form of Christmas Carols, plays and ward-wise presentations are in the forefront. But do those mere presentations on stage infuse enthusiasm and interest among the children and youth? Or are they carried out only as an obligation to abide by the programme chalked out for the entire festive week?
Recently ‘Umedhichi Sanz’, a three-day one-act play competition was organized in Velim and it attracted a good number of entries. Remembering the departed tiatrists such as Mario Menezes, Fr Nevil Gracias, comedian Selvy and others, who worked towards the growth of tiatr, this programme came to light in the village.
A participant at the recently concluded one-act play competition was Majorda-based Michael Gracias, who presented his one-act ‘Bapaiche Koxtt’. “It was a good organization in Chinchinim. After the presentation of ‘Bapaiche Koxtt’ in Chinchinim there were 12 offers that followed from other organizers, it could be in the form of competition or mere presentation,” says Michael.
As far as this three-day one-act play competition, “it’s the best move for its revival,” opines Michael. He adds, “During yesteryears, one-act plays was a platform to help youth to showcase their raw talents on stage. But unfortunately, it took a backseat and never resurrected.” Recalling to mind, Michael says that for the revival of one-act plays, it was introduced during Agostinho Temudo’s tenure as president of the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG), but later it was stopped.”
“TAG needs to understand the relevance of one-act plays today,” Michael feels, “and its existence will not only help keep alive Goan culture, but equally help groom new talents on stage.” “With the well-organized programme at Chinchinim,” he says, “others should follow and take the lead for the revival of one-act plays.”
Fr Doel Dias, chaplain of Holy Cross Chapel, Baradi, was also the participant at the recently concluded one-act plays competition and he presented his one-act ‘Bexttench Mhonnlolem’. “Apart from winning at the competition, it’s a good opportunity as traditional and local talent comes up. Such competitions were held in Nuvem, Chinchinim in the past. They should move to other villages as one-act plays provide a good message to the society,” he says.
Another participant at the three-day competition, Antonette de Souza from Santa Cruz, staged her one-act ‘Suttka’ and appreciated the move of organizing such an event on a big scale. “This activity should continue in the near future, if not at the constituency level, at least in villages,” she suggested.
With 16 groups participating in the competition, “It was amazing watching the excitement and enthusiasm among all the participants,” says Antonette, “and it definitely provides a platform to showcase talents on stage.”
As a teacher, Antonette organized inter-school one-act play competition twice in her school. “But when rules and regulations were sought from TAG,” she grieved, “they did not have any. The authority said that they will be framed, but till date nothing is on paper. So where do we go from here and how are we to conduct such events at the school level?” she queried.
