On 10th of this month, at Kala Academy Hall in Panjim, starting at 7.45 PM instead of at 7.30 PM as officially indicated, I saw the new Tiatro “Koxttantlean Fulam” written and directed by one of the topmost current Tiatrists Lawry Travasso. This is yet another Tiatro of Lawry Travasso where the title is named after Fulam. By doing so, Lawry Travasso has further enhanced the greatness and beauty of “Fulam’ though it was used in figurative sense describing the girls who are inhabitants of the Orphanage.
Seen above is the writer/director lawry travasso singing his solo
Seen in a scene are Franky & his beautiful stage partner Seema Gracias
The Tiatro was attended by a good number of attendees but not to a hall packed and it was well enacted by all the artistes in the play as well as in the Side Show which however needed more punch to reach to its crescendo even though all the singers sang well their songs. Special mention must be made to the solos rendered by Lawry Travasso, Peter de Arambol, Tony de Ribandar and his duet with lovely looking Antonette de Maina, the quarter of all the ladies led by Antonette de Maina and the solo by Marcus Vaz.
In another sceen seen left top is one of the comedians wearing ladies Bra?
Seen above in a scene are Mario Menezes, Rosy Alvares, Rima & Dorothy
The theme of this story is based on the girls brought up in the Orphanage, their hardships and difficulties they faced there and also the humiliation they face in their life for being the orphans as they are without proper parentage. The role played by Antonette de Maina was fantastic especially when she indicates her desperateness after her boyfriend denies her. The sorrowful Canto that she renders at this moment was the superb and super too. It reminded me while listening to this Canto of the great singer of yester years, Antonete Mendes who beautified those days Tiatros especially of the late M. Boyer by singing such Cantos so melodiously, so sorrowfully and so beautifully. How beautiful this Canto would have been if Antonette de Maina had her singing capacity and the voice modulation a bit polished? It is surprising why the director did not bring to her notice to improve her skill of singing this most beautiful canto by making it melodious? It is an historical fact that when sorrowful Cantos were rendered there appeared springs of tears flowing thru the eyes of the audience. Do we have such singers among us on the Konkani Stage now among the males and females? Most of them especially the females are screaming and yet they think they are expert in their fields. Most of them are experts only in opposing those who correct them. The role played by young artiste Franky Gonsalves as the boyfriend of Seema Gracias at the later stage and at the first stage of Antonette de Maina was excellent.
Comedian Joana seen singing her solo
I saw once during the rehearsal how the great director Alexinho de Candolim of those days was struggling while instructing to polish the then great singer Filomena Lopes to reach to her perfection in singing a beautiful canto in his Tiatro “Santa Cecilia’. Antonette de Maina no doubt sings well but still she needs guidance and direction to rise up to the occasion. The others who deserve mention here for playing their roles well are Rosy Alvares, Mario Menezes, Lawry Travasso, Reema, comedians Dorothy & Joana and of course Tari in the priestly role. He acted like a genuine priest in his talk and walk. It was because of their excellent display this Tiatro attained the success.
Domick de Arambol singing his solo
The Musical score provided under the leadership of great and renowned Maestro Norman Cardoso was superb without any unnecessary disturbances.
Comedy part was good but the one scene where one comedian who shows his chest with ladies Bra, was not palatable, director should note this ugliness. All those who come to watch the Tiatro do not belong to the “Pochpochit” background of “pochpochit gharannem”. Because of such dirt displayed from the Stage good parents are preventing their young children from watching the present days Tiatros. Precisely because of this nonsense displayed in our Tiatros the youngsters are coming very less and less and in the light of this in another 10 – 15 years time once we embrace the Cemetery, our Tiiatros will come to an end. And who will be responsible for the end of our Tiatros? Surely all those Vulgar Rostad Tiatrists. Our elder comedians never lowered themselves to such an ebb and because of this they remained till now as great and immortal.
Seen above are Tony de Ribandar & lovely lookingAntonette de Maina
A.Veronica Fernandes.