Herald Café:
This is the 29th year of the Mustard Seed Art Company. Do comment.
Isabel de
Santa Rita Vas:
Yes, this is the 29th year of the Mustard Seed Art Company. We never
dreamt of such a long life. In fact, each day, each play, one at a
time, is what absorbs us.
HC:
Tell us something about the new play.
ISRV:
‘All Those Pipe Dreams’ tells the story of a small family and the
surrounding village community in Goa, apparently living placid and
uneventful lives until the heritage house they recently bought
catapults them into the unknown. The 3-act play dramatises the fact
that our own stories can be full of adventure if only we have the
eyes to see that. Fun and pathos are only two sides of the same coin.
HC: Since you are the
scriptwriter of this original play, do give us a brief sketch.
ISRV: The
story is set in Goa, a typical neighbourhood where everyone knows
everything and more about the neighbours. However, there is now a
secret in the midst of the Soares family, something exciting and
life-transforming that they attempt to conceal. But have secrets in a
close knit neighbourhood? You have a hope!
HC: Are you’ll all set for the
show?
ISRV: Yes,
practices began at the beginning of January. We have a nice mix of
totally new actors and some who have acted before with the MSAC. The
costumes, like the story, combine the mundane with the stylised. We
have friends who are specialists in various fields advising us on
costumes (Celsa Fernandes) and sets (Dean D’Cruz)! These are
basically aids to project character, enhance the plot and atmosphere,
and create a strong visual statement.
HC: You term
it as a fun adventure play… Is this a comedy or a catharsis of some
sort?
ISRV: Comedy?
No. It does contain fun elements of satire and plenty of light
touches, but it also makes for thoughtful depiction of the crises and
catharses in the lives of ordinary people. Adventure? Yes, of course,
adventure is underfoot!
HC: Tell us about the music.
ISRV: The
songs are original compositions, the music is composed by our friend
Schubert Cota, and the vocals are by the actors: Mario Coelho
(original lyrics by Mario Coelho), Israiel Sarvishta, Marisse Bhobe
and Nigel Elias Khamkar.
HC:
What about the painting in the play?
ISRV: The
painting is ‘From Darkness to Light’ is by Clarice Vaz, who signs
as Craig Vaz. By synchronicity, the painting and the script happened
around the same time, and the themes seem deeply embedded in each
other. Clarice was happy to have us base her painting as a
cornerstone image for the play.
‘All
Those Pipe Dreams’ will begin punctually at 6:30 pm and end at 8:30
pm, in all the three locations i.e. on February 26, 2016 at Black Box
Ravindra Bhavan, Vasco, February 27 at Goman Vidhya Niketan, Margao,
and February 27 at Institute Menzes Braganza, Panjim
