Chuk Konnachi - Konkani Tiatro in Toronto - A Review
by Silviano Barbosa
Toronto, Canada
Director Marshal Fernandes came out with flying colours with a mind-blowing presentation of his terrific Konkani Tiatr, which was held on October 24th, 2009 at
Etobicoke’s Michael Power High School Hall in Toronto.
With a sold-out audience of over 550, the hall was packed with Konkani aficionados savouring this Konkani Tiatro with heavy doses of Goan Salcete accent and nostalgic moments, and the audience was left with nothing but pure joy, hangama and satisfaction witnessing the beautiful dialogues and comedic delivery of their Konkani language and culture, which fortunately still thrives in this part of the world.
This is the first time that a Konkani Tiatro in Toronto has seen a full house. Incidentally director Marshal Fernandes had another Konkani sold-out show couple years ago. This could be credited to his unique marketing and organization skills that he puts in place keeping a good rapport with the actors as well as the prospective audience.
Toronto being home to more than 20,000 Goans of which at least more than a 1000 speak Konkani at home and claim it as their mother-tongue on the recent census, can very easily deliver 300 hard-core Konkani Goans to attend any Konkani Tiatr. The rest have to be cajoled into it by other means. But this audience loved this Tiatr so much that I can predict they are likely to come back the next time around.
The audience in Toronto this time was very knowledgeable about their Konkani wordage and grammar and were heard to correct the Konkani gender suffixes in a couple of instances. The ticket price of $20 was reasonable and affordable as compared to the 50$ sale price of professional English plays in the city which have variable ticket prices ranging from 50$-100$.
The following list of actors and singers (not in any particular order) gave their best performances to make this Tiatro quite memorable:
Dr. Lucina Pinto (Oh Canada! National Anthem translated into Konkani by Marshal), popular and talented singer/actor JoeVaz, upcoming young singer Rhio Gracias and director/actor/comedian/singer/composer/CD producer Marshal Fernandes (in an ode to Padma Shri M. Boyer), Rhiza Gracias (fantastic acting and singing (canto) performance), Agnelo Gracias as Mama in his best first time comedy performance and as play editor, Marshal as Leitao in his inimitable simple Lollo comedy role, actor/singer Olympio Fernandes, popular guest-singer Jack Fernandes, enthusiastic actor/singer Olavio Da Costa, actor/singer/comedian Tony Da Silva, the impressive personality of character actor/singer Chris Gomes, the free-spirited Bohemian role of Grace Almeida, the imposing fine role of father by Bonfilio Pereira,
the impressive matriarchal role of Yolanda Gracias, the dedicated and tireless Producer/actress/singer Sandra Menezes with her beautiful teenage daughter with a minor acting role, singer Stephanie Menezes, (who sang in a quartet), the sultry and racy performance in comedy by radiant Serah Barbosa in her typical Saxtti Assolna accent, the most popular song “Jinga-Mummy” composed by Marshal and performed with an encore by the duo team of Rhiza Gracias and her petite sister-in-law Sylda Gracias whose debut as an impressive singer on Konkani stage with her dressed-to-kill wardrobe thoroughly jolted the audience, professional singer Ruth Kumar with her gyrating dancing personality and powerful voice almost challenging Lorna's, accomplished beautiful voiced singer Hazel Jacob, actor Benny Pereira and singer Clema, cross-dresser/singer Auggie Pereira, and all the musicians from the Band “Crescendo” - Tony Da Costa, Tony (Organ), Lawry and Manuel, all helpers on and off the stage, stage director AC Pereira(with special award), ticket sellers, Sound with Aggie Rodrigues and of course the prompter Josie Carrasco, complete this merit list.
As an author, I would be remiss if I did not compliment the unknown author of the play.
This year the Audience Applause Metre which rated this Tiatro a '9 out of 10', generated three very dedicated and committed Stars of the Show. My special parabens (congratulations) are extended to all the people involved in this play and especially to these Stars of the Show: Serah Barbosa (as Consu), who was undoubtedly the darling of the audience as witnessed from the whistles, whispers and comments from the audience, Agnelo Gracias for his superb delivery of impeccable Konkani idioms in his slapstick (Mama) comedy and director Marshal Fernandes for his passive and sinister (Leitao) comedy and for putting up a fine overall theatrical performance that will be remembered for years to come.
Finally the audience was just great! I am sure they went home fully pleased with this fine performance! An evening well spent with lots of Goans in a purely Goan ambience in a sussegad sort of way! Thanks all Tiatrists and helpers for making our Day!
Pott-bhor hansun jivak borem dislem! Porot melche fuddlea Tiatrak!
Silviano Barbosa,
Author of the Canadian/Goan novel, “The Sixth Night”
Producer of Konkani CD album “Classic Goa”
October 24th, 2009, Toronto, Canada!
The Best Home Away from Home!
PROUD TO LIVE IN NEW GOA WEST!
VIVA GOA!
[Photos as forwarded by Silviano Barbosa
to
http://www.goa-world.com/]
http://www.southasianobserver.com/photoes/paper11818960_big.JPG
Konkani play brings the house down with laughter
( Oct 30 2009 )
by Silviano Barbosa
Toronto: Director Marshal Fernandes came out with flying colours with a mind-blowing presentation of his terrific Konkani play Chuk Konnachi? (Whose fault?)
The packed audience enjoyed it thoroughly. The play (called tiatr in the native Konkani language) was rich in dialogues and its delivery in the peculiar Salcette accent Konkani made it comedic.
This is the first time that a Konkani in Toronto has seen a full house. Incidentally, director Marshal Fernandes had another Konkani sold-out show couple years ago. This could be credited to his unique marketing and organizational skills.
Toronto, which is home to more than 20,000 Goans, out of which at least more than a 1000 speak Konkani at home and claim it as their mother-tongue as per the recent census, can very easily deliver 300 Konkani-speaking and Konkani-knowing Goans to attend any Konkani tiatr. The audience in Toronto this time was very knowledgeable
The following list of actors and singers (not in any particular order) gave their best performances to make this tiatr quite memorable:
Dr. Lucina Pinto (O Canada! National Anthem translated into Konkani by Marshal), popular and talented singer/actor JoeVaz, upcoming young singer Rhio Gracias and director/actor/comedian/singer/composer/CD producer Marshal Fernandes (in an ode to Padma Shri M. Boyer), Rhiza Gracias (fantastic acting and singing (canto) performance), Agnelo Gracias as Mama in his best first time comedy performance and as play editor, Marshal as Leitao in his inimitable simple Lollo comedy role, actor/singer Olympio Fernandes, popular guest-singer Jack Fernandes, enthusiastic actor/singer Olavio Da Costa, actor/singer/comedian Tony Da Silva, the impressive personality of character actor/singer Chris Gomes, the free-spirited Bohemian role of Grace Almeida, the imposing fine role of father by Bonfilio Pereira, the impressive matriarchal role of Yolanda Gracias, the dedicated and tireless Producer/actress/singer Sandra Menezes with her beautiful teenage daughter with a minor acting role, singer Stephanie Menezes, (who sang in a quartet), the sultry and racy performance in comedy by radiant Serah Barbosa in her typical Assolna-village accent, the most popular song “Jinga-Mummy” composed by Marshal and performed by the duo team of Rhiza Gracias and her petite sister-in-law Sylda Gracias whose debut as an impressive singer on Konkani stage with her dressed-to-kill wardrobe thoroughly jolted the audience, professional singer Ruth Kumar with her gyrating body movements and powerful voice, accomplished singer Hazel Jacob, actor Benny Pereira and singer Clema, cross-dresser/singer Auggie Pereira, and all the musicians from the Band “Crescendo” - Tony Da Costa, Tony (Organ), Lawry and Manuel.
As an reviewer, I would be remiss if I did not compliment the unknown author of the play.
The actors for their exceptional showing are Serah Barbosa (as Consu), who was undoubtedly the darling of the audience as witnessed from the wolf-whistles, whispers and comments from the audience; Agnelo Gracias, for his superb delivery of impeccable Konkani idioms; and director Marshal Fernandes, for his passive and sinister comic role and for putting up a fine overall theatrical performance that will be remembered for years to come.
‘Goenchim Noketram’ the cultural and folk group from Goa led by Gina Mascarenhas provided lively entertainment for Goans in Bahrain. The Goan Cultural Traditions of song and dance filled the air at the Baan Saeng Thai Restaurant Auditorium Bahrain, on October 22, 2009 where the show was held under the patronage of Young Goans Club.
The group electrified the performances by their originality and depicting the culture old tools relevant to the trade. It was wondrous to see the entire audience joining the singing as the group played some old Goan instrumentals using instruments like ghumot, mandolin, bongos and cymbals. A medley of Hindi, Portuguese, English and Konkani favourites of yester years got many in the crowd on to their feet and were seen dancing and swaying to the beat. The show culminated with traditional mando and dulpods. The group not only won laurels for their song and dance but for the costumes and jewellery they showcased relevant to each presentation. 
