On Tuesday, 4th of this month, at 3.30 PM, in Panjim at Kala Academy Hall, I saw the Tiatro “EKE FOTTIK XEMBHOR FOTTI” written and directed by Mario Menezes; this is his 37thTiatro. It was well attended by the near capacity crowd and was also well enacted by all the artistes including the Musicians.
Rosy Alvares & Semenca rendering their song.
The theme of the play was extortion of money by Mario Menezes who played the role of a villain, from Rosy Alvares who played the role of a wife of Lawry Travasso. Before getting married she was in love with Marios Menezes about which Lawry does not know anything and moreover Rosy does not like her husband Lawry to know about this. However, when Mario threatened her to divulge this secret to her husband, she succumbed to Mario’s demand of money. But how to convince her husband of whereabouts of the money she gives to her ex-boyfriend to keep his mouth closed? Hence, she invents all lies one after the other till the point of saturation is reached. It is here that to cover up one lie, hundred more lies are told.
Comedian Joana rendering her solo
It was somewhere in 1969 – 70 that the late Robin Vaz staged his tiatro “Put Konnacho” in Bombay and Goa with similar type of story where the renowned artiste Cyriaco Dias played a major role opposite to Shalini and Robin Vaz played the role of a villain as Mario Menezes did but he did his role superbly well much better than Robin Vaz did. Lawry Travasso did his role very well opposite to Rosy who was matchless in her performance. Comedians Sally and Joana did justice to the comedy roles they played. However, the major credit should go to the romantic pair of youthful Semenca and Franky; both being attractive played their role of lovers very beautifully.
A scene: Sally-T. de Ribandar - R. Alvares
In the Sideshow songs, the solo Lawry Travasso rendered “Pai-Maink Azilant Ghalinakant” was the best among all because it is very meaningful. The other songs that deserve mention here are: Trio of Mario Menezes with his colleagues on “Pe. Jose Vaz-Pe.Agnelo-St. Francis Xavier”, Rosy Alvares’ solo “Duensam Adlim ani Atanchim”, Mario Menezes’ duet “Fulanco Turo” with Semenca, Lawry Travasso’s Duet with Rosy Alvares “Konknnichea Mogache Pordesantle Goykar, Tony de Ribandar’s Duet with Joana “TV Serial”, Joana’s solo “Eleisaum” and the duet by Rosy Alvares and Semenca “Iskolachim Bhurgim”.
Duet: Semenca - Mario Menezes
Before the final scene, the director of this Tiatro Mario Menezes while thanking the audience said that he wanted to have more shows in this Kala Academy Hall but due to non-availability of the Hall he cannot proceed further. Then he requested the members of the audience if anyone is in a position to use his/her good office to materialize more availability of the hall for staging more Tiatro Shows.
Solo singing by Lawry Travasso
In this connection, I feel Tiatro Academy must step in to right the wrong meted out by the Kala Academy management to the Tiatro industry.
Another Scene: Semenca-Franky-Lawry T.
Once again well done Mario Menezes and his troupe. Since there is some important lessons to gain from this Tiatro, I feel it is worth seeing this Tiatro “EKE FOTTIK XEMBHOR FOTTI”
Mario Menezes sings a Trio with his colleagues
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim – Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.