It is a big asset to any tiatr director when a husband and wife share the stage and utilise their talents together. Maina-Curtorim based Luis Xavier Mascarenhas, popularly known as Xavier de Maina, was born on 16th April, 1966. His paternal uncle, late Manuel Mascarenhas would perform in village tiatrs and act as well.
In 1982, when Porvorim-based Anthony Pires decided to stage his tiatr ‘Rinnkari’ for the annual feast of the Cross at Gogali ward, Curtorim, Xavier took the initiative of directing it. Thereafter, he took the lead of writing, directing and staging his own productions for the festive occasion annually.
Xavier penned six tiatrs, namely ‘Mhozo Guneanv’ (1983), ‘Roma’ (1984), ‘Ghatki’ (1985) ‘Bond Korat’ (1990), ‘Porinnam’ (1992) and ‘Vollkhonk Visorlo’ (2009).
Since 1996, Xavier has been in the field of traditional ‘zomnivhele fell’ (folk plays) staged during the three-day Carnival festival. Before picking up the trade and venturing as a director, he made an entry in folk plays staged by Milagres de Ganapoga, Salvador Afonso and Martin de Macazana.
Xavier kicked off as a folk play writer in 1996 till 2000. After a short break due to service in Mumbai, he resumed in 2008 and has continued till date. “The purpose of brushing aside tiatrs and sticking to folk plays during the three-day Carnival festival is precisely to help traditional age-old folk plays to survive and grow further,” he said.
Priscila D’Souza was born on April 10, 1982 in the serene village of Colvale in Bardez taluka. Since childhood, various activities held in St Francis de Assisi church, Colvale, enabled her to participate and showcase her talents for cultural programmes held during various festive occasions, namely the Christmas season and the Catechetical Day.
At the tender age of 8, Priscila found an entry in fellow villager, Pascoal de Chicalim’s tiatr ‘Tuzo Rag Mhozo Bodla’ staged for the annual feast of St Francis de Assisi in the month of May at Colvale. When preparing himself for folk plays during the Carnival festival in 1999, Xavier was badly in need of a heroine. And as Annie de Colvale was part of his folk plays troupe, she introduced Priscila to him and the journey of friendship and love began.
Apart from rehearsals and presentations of folk plays in various villages in Salcete taluka, Xavier and Priscila grew in intimacy simultaneously and they finally tied the knot in 2006. Thereafter, seeking help from each other as singers and actors on the Konkani stage, their journey progressed in the field of tiatr. As husband and wife, Xavier and Priscila made an entry in comedian Dominic’s tiatr ‘Mhaka Tuji Goroz’ and the couple continues with the same director till date. Other productions include ‘Bhogos Mhaka’ (2015), ‘Ami Sogllim Ek’ and ‘Mafi Magtam’ (2016), ‘Aadhar Card’ (2017), ‘Housewife’ (2018) and ‘Bhailean Butter Bhitorlean Gutter’ (2019).
Acting is Priscila’s forte whereas Xavier’s strength lies in composing songs (solos and duets) and renditions. In duets, the couple blend well as they both put their heart and soul in them and expressions flow spontaneously. When Xavier makes all efforts to keep the traditional flavour of ‘zomnivhele khell’, he insists that only the blowing instruments, namely the trumpet and saxophone, apart from drums, will help in its survival. “Today, some directors have introduced electronic gadgets like the electronic guitar, bass and the keyboard,” he said “which destroys the traditional art followed by our ancestors.”
The duration of Xavier’s folk plays comprises of 50 minutes each, with 8 cantos in individual play and five performances each day. “So in a three-day period,” he adds, “around 15 shows are covered up at 15 different venues in and around the Salcete taluka.”
Xavier also participated in Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition with his own production ‘Porinam’ in 1997, followed by Xavier and Priscila as a couple in tiatr ‘Tension’ by Rosario de Aldona in 2013, Manuel Dias’ tiatr ‘Aminch Kiteak’ in 2014, Joaquim (Rony Succor Production)’s tiatr ‘Ami Sogllim Ek Zaum Ieta?’ and Amar Sawant’s tiatr ‘Kavlea Kiteak Roddtai Darant’, with Xavier winning the first place as the best director.
Although the couple have no CD to their credit, Xavier and Priscila have rendered their voices in CDs ‘Khanddi Khuris’ by Menino de Maina and “Tum Believer vo Protestant?’ by Rons. The couple’s elder daughter, Savannah has acted in Mario Menezes’ tiatr ‘100%’ and Irineu Gonsalves’ tiatr ‘Goodbye Papa’, while the younger daughter, Laneesa has acted as a child artiste in comedian Dominic’s tiatr ‘Housewife’. Both daughters participated in Amar Sawant’s tiatr ‘Kavlea Kiteak Roddtai Darant’ at KA’s annual tiatr competition in 2018 and Laneesa won the ‘best child artiste’ prize.
