When reality bitesTIATRO ATTRACTION
Rains fail to dampen tiatr spirit!
Daniel F de Souza.
Despite the unprecedented rains that lashed the Port city since Tuesday evening an appreciative audience had an enjoyable evening watching Konkani Musical show ‘Hello Vasco’ on 30th Sept at St. Andrew’s Institute Hall Vasco. The musical show is part of a series of concerts planned at several places in Goa by Irinue Gonsalves proprietor of Modern Chemical Works and directed by William da Cruz. Some of the top notch artistes of the Konkani stage gave a scintillating performance. Vasco’s singing sisters Felcy and Aplon were at their usual best not only with their sensational singing and anchoring but also with their impressive and colourful wardrobe. And the fact that they were performing on home turf in the presence of locale fans made the occasion even more special to them and all those present.
Among the singers, Marcus Vaz, Anthony San-Clarissa, Felcy, Aplon, Lawry Travasso, child artist Ashmith, Comedian Luis Bachchan, comedian Selvy, and others entertained the crowd with a plethora of solos, duets, decent as well as comedy. Rib tickling comedy was provided by Comedian Dominic and Luis Bachchan. The singers were well selected and the songs had good entertainment value set to some good music by State Award winning musician Maestro Josinho D’Souza and his troupe with Lenoy on the Keyboards, Xavier de Moira (Paklo) on the drums. Stage lighting and special light effects by A.P. Rojals was another feature that enhanced the overall quality of the presentation supported by a good sound system.
This Konkani Musical show which is a free presentation, besides Vasco has also been staged so far in Margao, Ponda and slated to be staged in Sanvordem at the Ravindra Bhavan on 7th Oct 2009 at 7 p.m. It is a brain child of Irineu Gonsalves a former State footballer, Scrabble champion, Sports journalist & Columnist. He is a lover of tiatrs and well-wisher of the tiatrist fraternity and proprietor of Modern Chemical Works which has launched a range of new consumer home-care products on 26th August 2009. Shri Gonsalves has always supported tiatrists and their activities in many different ways and is a lover of this art which has a huge following in Goa. Besides being an excellent sportsman and an able sports administrator Irineu is a good singer himself with special love for singing Mandos. Sponsoring a Konkani Musical show free of tickets and that too with a line-up of top artistes and much sought after musicians is a proof in itself that he is a man of action and just not lip service towards the language and its rich culture.
A short documentary promoting the homecare products was screened at interval time for the audience who were later seen picking up the products at the counter selling the same. Among the distinguished guests present at the show were Rev Fr. Jose Antonio da Costa Parish Priest of St. Andrew’s church Vasco, Shri Saifulla Khan Chairperson of MMC Vasco, Ms. Lavina D’Souza MMC Councilor.
Mahanand Monis vo Soitan?: In the meantime Playwright Tony Dias’ latest tiatr Mahanand Monis vo Soitan ? based on the adventures of serial killer Mahanand Naik is running to packed houses in all the towns of Goa. People are flocking to see the show which I am told has a well scripted story based on facts and figures of the sensational case that rocked Goa and a beautiful narration with well complimented stage sets including the Borim Bridge set complete with an auto rickshaw. Tiatr lovers are advised to book their seats in advance so as not to get disappointed with a last minute rush to the theatres, despite my efforts through my known acquaintance at the booking counter I failed to get myself a seat on two occasions at the Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao, and had to be content with a houseful board.
If Irineu Gonsalves the entrepreneur is having an adventurous run with his free Konkani Musical shows, there is yet another Gonsalves who is having a dream run and is presently the toast of tiatr lovers in Goa for some other reason. My fellow Vascokar Franky Gonsalves who is playing the dreaded lead role of Mahanand, I am told has won the hearts of tiatr goers with his near to real depiction of the heartless criminal. The rumour mill doing the rounds in tiatr circles has it that this young man has grabbed the role of a lifetime that has given him an opportunity to bring out the sleeping giant in him and display his hidden talents to the maximum, of’ course to the envy of many others though. In the bargain Franky has catapulted himself to the top slot on the Konkani stage from where he can now call the shots and playwrights will be obliged to present tailor made roles to him in future.
On a cautionary note though, Franky who is just a few years into stage acting and has a long way to go, should take things easy and be his normal self without getting carried away or letting success go to his head, but strive to do even more better in future and prove that ‘Mahanand’ was just not a flash in the pan.
(This article was published in Goan Observer dated 3rd October 2009).
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