Yesterday, 19thof this month in Panjim at Kala Academy Hall, I watched the Tiatro “MAP BHORON VOTLEM” written and directed by Prince Jacob; the Tiatro was attended by the Hall packed audience. As scheduled, the Tiatro was started exactly in time at 3.30 PM. After the late J.P. Souzalin, Prince Jacob is having an unique distinction to adhere to the time very strictly.
Annie & Valencia sing their song on Nuns
This Tiatro Prince Jacob has dedicated to all the females who are fighting for justice against the rapes committed on them. Hence, the story is based on the Rapes committed by the rowdy son of the powerful politician. The RAPist finally gets his punishment, how? It is to be seen by watching this Tiatro. The role played by Jose as the rapist was excellent, so too by Ignatius de Xelvon of the powerful politician. The roles played by both the rape victims, Sonia and Valencia merit bravo. But the role played by the veteran and seasoned artiste Annie Quadros was the most powerful as strict Police Officer. Her action and diction and movements all were appropriate. She looked as a real Police Officer the way she presented herself. She deserved highest accolades and it is she who brings an extra colour to this Tiatro. I have been watching her since a long time now and always found her performing her roles whatever they may be, very appropriately. Her attractive personality also gives an added booster to her acting. At the moment she is the pride of Konkani Stage and darling of the audience.
Seen in this photo is Valencia in the middle with Sonia
Besides good story, some of the scenes were excellent especially the scene where sorrows of Mother Mary shown by piercing arrows and the scene how Sonia is shown hanging. This scene was watched by the audience with rapt attention. The scenes at Police Station where the rapist acts looked unreal because at the Police Station you don’t act like a Dada in front of the ranking Police Officer. Certain discipline is maintained at this place even though you may be the son of the powerful politician.
Jose singing his solo
Unexpectedly, the comedy part did not reach to the pedestal as normally done in Prince Jacob’s Tiatros. Normally his Tiatros are known for very good comedy but this time it was not so. The comedy scene of Filming looked childish falling much below the majestic dignity of the director. Great directors of yesteryears like Minguel Rod, J.P.Souzalin, Alexinho de Candolim, C. Alvares, M. Boyer, Prem Kumar, Remy J. Colaco and Nelson Afonso would never introduce such cheap comedy in their Tiatros. For this reason they remained taller than all the current so called tall directors. Today's tall directors are only talking tall but depicting short stature stories.
A scene where Annie is seen in the middle
Comedian Humbert’s role as a comedian was good but some of his body movements and jerks looked vulgar not meant for our Tiatros, especially his showing his back to the audience and putting his hands between his legs. Though he is an excellent comedian yet some of his body movements are not palatable to watch. Our earlier great comedians namely Anthony Mendes, Kid Boxer, Jacint Vaz and Jepsis Hitler were superb and upright in all respects while performing their comedy roles, for this reason people still remember them. Their comedy was unforgettable. To make the audience laugh they never used low grade language of "GHORVAM RAKHNE".
Singing a trio: Jacob-Cajetan-Jose
In the segment of Side Show songs, the Tiatro failed to rise up to the expected level of the audience though some of the songs deserve mention here, namely the solo of Jose on Tiatrists, the song on Nuns by Annie Quadros and Valencia, the Trio rendered by Cajetan de Curtorim, Jose and Prince Jacob alerting Goans going abroad with Portuguuse Passports.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.Tel: 7507394349.