Lenten tiatrs: All ready but nowhere to show

This is the season of Lent, a time of reflection and preparation before the celebration of Easter. For Goans, it is a time of reflection and contemplation. It is also a time when tiatrists come up with specially written shows to observe the period. This year however, it’s all different. The virus which started spreading last year around this time is still around causing damage. Have tiatrists been able to anything interesting this season or have they been waiting it out, hoping the situation will improve? Wills Silveira who specialises in tiatrs for the Lenten season said everything was at a standstill as far as presenting anything new was concerned. He said he was bringing back a tiatr he had presented last year. Titled Kal Aiaz Sodankal , it is about the importance of having a conscience. He said “Due to the virus we cannot perform in church halls. We have shows lined up in villages. They want us to perform but it has not been confirmed. This will be in the south in Verna and Nagoa. I had received a very good response when I started four years ago and I am sure the audiences will enjoy the show. It is about Jesus and showcases biblical messages. It will help people in the season. I have been given a talent and I should use it to proclaim his message to the world.” Mini Mario said since his show was not running but he was part of the tiatr show Hero which had evoked very good response in the villages. He said “We cannot do shows in the cities but we know people want to watch something. They are starved of entertainment. In the villages, they come in large numbers and have a very good time. It is a commercial show and the tickets are sold at Rs 150. It has always been full. I have done shows in Verna, Quepem, Colva, Betalbatim and Tiracol. God has given us a gift and we have to use it to help people. These are tough times for everybody and it is our responsibility to ensure that people have the spirit to fight through.” Fr Nevil Gracias who is also involved in the world of tiatr had one his musical play’s Monxa Jivit Tujem broadcast on Sunday. He said the play had the relevant Lenten message and this was the best way to connect with the audience given that the virus had ensured no one could come together and watch a play in a hall. Micheal Gracias said he had not written anything new this season like a lot of people because of the virus. However he is ready with his show from last season which focused on Cancer and was done in partnership with Caritas. He said “We have had to stop everything because of the pandemic. We are ready but the situation is very bad. Everyday there are around 7 to 8 new cases and there were 8 new cases in the morning itself in Nuvem. I am a coordinator of a charitable trust so we know the situation on the ground. We have to be safe. Our tiatrists are unemployed but health is important. If the scenario improves we will do the show”. He said the shows would be done in the villages as well as in the cities and even if the halls were not given by the government, there were enough of places where the show could be conducted. Thinking out of the box, he made 8 short films which included, songs, dance, comedy and which were all uploaded on the Youtube channel of the Kala Niketan Goa. It is free to watch and it is entertaining”. The harshness of the situation was best illustrated by Calado de Verna who said he was doing absolutely nothing because everything was closed. He hoped the situation would improve by Easter because things were being planned but hoped to be back next year with a play. No one is coming up with anything new and the few who are doing anything are falling back on old productions to keep the cost at a minimum. One can only hope the situation improves and the halls of Goa will ring to the sound of applause and laughter.