If you are a tiatr lover, then Roseferns needs no
introduction. Even with his tiatrs, just his name on the poster will attract
audiences from far and wide. Despite his popularity, his tiatrs always reflect
a team effort with every actor having strong, well-rounded characters. ‘Hem
Tumchem Sarkem Nhoi’ is Roseferns’ 81st Production under Roseferns Dramatic
Troupe. “It is a societal issue about two brothers. I get inspired by stories
that happen in our everyday life and those that would click with the audience,”
says Roseferns whose shows easily cross the 100 shows mark.
Talking about the interesting story behind his stage name,
Goa’s prominent playwright, director, actor and producer reveals, “In 1975, I
was acting and singing for Ligorious Dramatic Troupe and the troupe had three
Anthonys – Anthony John de Baptist who later became Anthony JB, Anthony de
Colva and me, Antonio Rosario Fernandes. My character in the tiatr was named
Roseferns and to avoid confusion, I took that as my stage name.” Supported by
his wife Succurine and his daughters Ageema and Roseanna, Roseferns has
performed tiatrs in different parts of the world.
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Roseferns rose to fame by becoming the first Goan tiatrist
to establish a record of staging his tiatr, ‘Thapott’, 230 times. “’Thapott’
made me a tiatrist. Earlier, I used to do tiatrs more because I enjoyed it
rather than for income. ‘Thapott’ gave me my first break.” Another tiatr,
‘Undir Mhojea Mama’, which will be staged in Mumbai later in the month, also
broke records as the tiatr with the most number of repeated shows in Margao,
25.
Some of the prominent actors who were part of Roseferns
Dramatic Troupe were Jaju (Roseferns brother), Comedian Sally, Comedian
Augustine, Prince Jacob, Mario Menezes and long-time member Ulhas Tari, who has been with the troupe for
21 years.
Roseferns believes that the work you do on the tiatr stage
goes a long way in attracting an audience once you don the director’s cap as
you already establish a name for yourself. “I am really thankful for my
audience who have accepted me and still come dedicatedly to watch my shows. It
is difficult to get established as a director if you are not a comedian as your
work has to be really strong to pull the audience.”
In his career of 35 years as a director and founder of
Roseferns Dramatic Troupe, Roseferns had to keep up with the changing times in
the field of tiatr. “Earlier, opening songs were a big hit as the audience
wanted good lyrics with rhyming words. Then it changed into the opening scene
with fluorescent lights to go along with the songs. You have to be innovative
and keep up with the growing audience,” explains Roseferns.
He further adds, “Earlier, many tiartists died in poverty
because they would only work for the day, spend their money on drinking and get
back on stage the next day; they did not have regular jobs nor did they go the
extra mile to promote their talent or guide youngsters. When I first started
directing, many organisers would come backstage and hand a bottle for the
artists. I put a stop to that. The only person in my troupe who I could not
stop was my mistry, Augustine de Quepem. He couldn’t play music without
drinking,” laughs Roseferns.
“My message to upcoming directors is be sincere in your work
and put your full heart into it. It is also important to encourage new talent
in tiatrs as it is difficult to get actors from established dramatic troupes to
move to another director. They should also be on a lookout for good composers
and comedians,” advises Roseferns.
