PIO ESTEVES
tiatr@herald-goa.com
Suttka, a tiatr written and directed by Socorro Pereira and presented by Shiroda Kala Niketan throws light on problems faced by contract employees, besides exploitation of women in modern society.
The curtains unfold on a protest march by employees seeking the scrapping of the contract system. Trade union leader Cazmiro (Benit Colaco) promises to fight for justice and settle all scores of the employees.
Despite resistance, the boss of TMC Pharma Pvt Ltd, Ramiro (Linus Gomes) gets forcefully involved with his employee Sonia (Ashlenta Alemao) and leaves her pregnant. She pleads for marriage, but Ramiro declines.
Sonia’s father Victor (Salojin Colaco) intervenes, but to no avail. Sonia is left at the mercy of her fate. Meanwhile, Cazmiro steps in to convince Ramiro with regards to the demands of his employees, but the boss refuses to move an inch. Instead, the businessman employs Virapan Kutt (Nerio D’Cruz) to get rid of the contract employees.
What is the fate of Sonia? Will she accept and live by the truth or bow down to frustration? During his fight for employees’ rights, what reward does Cazmiro receive?
Various issues pertaining to contract employees have been tackled in the tiatr ‘Suttka’. Exploitation of women at workplace and home has also been highlighted. But the sequence of events that follow on stage fail to reach a climax.
Benit Colaco has done justice to his role as trade union leader. Salojin Colaco has extended able support. Ashlenta Colaco as a victim of exploitation could have been more expressive in her dialogues and body language. Among the artistes, Linus Gomes is the best and delivers his role comfortably and confidently.
In the comic acts, which find place in the main plot, Steeven Pereira and Sara Fernandes are entertaining. In the category of songs, solos by Sandra Colaco and Sara Fernandes, a duet by Joel and Grishma and a choral were appealing to the ears, but a quartet went amiss.
Stage sets by Benit Colaco and set design by Ivo Colaco need to be commended, but the execution of lights was a total failure and the background music in certain acts was disturbing.
