The ugly side of medicine

Tiatr: Fight For Right

Cast: Annie Quadros, Cia, Jaju, Pradeep Naik, Benny, Selvy, Janet

Director: Comedian Agostinho

Band: Minguel/Glen (trumpet), Casmiro (bass), Richard (keyboard), Jack (drums)

Lights/Stage: Ratna, Saldanha

Story: Dr Ruth Mendonsa (Annie Quadros) is involved in malpractices at her hospital. Advocate Kapil (Pradeep Naik) and PI Judas (Jaju) are hand-in-glove with the doctor. What will be the consequences?

For any case referred to the hospital, Dr Ruth directs all the patients to the ICU and charges the patient Rs 50,000 as admission fee. To avoid further trouble, she pays the lawyer and the police officer every time they come knocking at her door.

While being treated at the same hospital, Charlie (Benny de Aldona) has one of his kidneys stolen. He lodges a complaint at the police station and as he has authentic proof, he expects justice from the police officer and the lawyer.

Unfortunately, the case remains pending, both at the police station and the court. Meanwhile, Dr Ruth’s daughter, Myra (Cia), being aware of her mother’s ill intentions and malpractices to amass wealth, tries to fight against corruption and brings the truth to light. 

An insane person (Pascoal Rodrigues) steps in quite often to prove his point. Though he appears ridiculous as a mamlatdar or a collector, he has pearls of wisdom in his speech. 

Who is this insane person? What is his story? Has he come in disguise to unearth the truth? How do the wicked get punished? And with whose assistance is the truth unveiled?

Comedian Agostinho’s non-stop drama ‘Fight For Right’ is yet another attempt to fight against corruption and malpractices prevailing in the medical sector. The sale of kidneys and various other mismanagements in various sectors are highlighted in the drama. 

Annie Quadros stands tall as the corrupt medical practitioner. She is ably assisted by Pradeep and Jaju as the lawyer and police officer respectively. Cia as the righteous crusader, delivers well, though she needs to work on a vocal throw. Benny de Aldona, Willy and Filipe do justice to their respective roles and are noticeable in their brief entries. But among all the artistes, Pascoal Rodrigues takes the cake for his unique character.  

In the comic acts, Toothpick (Selvy), Godrej (Janet) and Portugal (comedian Agostinho) are hilarious but some of the blaring could be curtailed.    

As it is a non-stop drama, it carries no songs, except for several cantos in the acts. The opening is rendered by Annie, Benny and Janet and in the second half, the choral is by Selvy, Janet and Benny de Aldona. 

The stage sets have been worked upon by Saldanha and lights have been handled by Ratna effectively.