Known in the Tiatro World as the King of the centuries, the soft spoken Tiatrist, the writer and the director Rose Ferns staged his new Tiatro "PODVEDAR" at the Kala Academy Hall, on 30th of last month which was attended almost by the capacity crowd. Today Rosefenrs a soft spoken gentleman is the symbol of greatness of Tiatro and Tiatrist during the past half a century by writing excellent Tiatros most of them completing hundred shows, raised the banner of Tiatro high.
What I liked in him and at least what I have seen in him is this, his Tiatros do not bear the testimony of vulgarity as he being a dignified and decent Tiatrist, script writer, director and a human being, reject immorality and vulgarity in his Tiatros. For this reason, vulgar and immoral third class comedians are not seen around him nor in his Tratros. If most of the directors toe Roseerns' line, our Tiatros will be acclamed as the best. But during the recent past with the advent of some of the third class comedians from the current generaton we saw they are killing the Tiatros by using foul and vulgar expressions which are very much abhorred by our community.
Some of the Comedians whose "BOMBLI AZUN PASSUN DODD PEKONKNA" and whose absence will go unnoticed even if they die the most miserable death tomorrow, they are the enemies of Tiatros because they are spoiling the bright image of our Tiatros by using vulgarity in actions and in statements. But one thing one must admit, that you will notice in some young comedians they are rebels on decency, morality and dignity. In fact they lack all these three attributes and because they lack the same they still remained under the darkness of dark cloud.
Coming back to the “Podvedar”, THE STORY had no extraordinary touch in it but just the normal pride of a man who had worldly pride in him because he was a traditional Goan having no advanced knowledge of the world beyond him, a typical average Goan who sees the world like a “Bebo" in the "Tollem”.. And finally, how miserably he failed it is indicated in this Tiatro“PODVEDAR”.
In the side Show songs, Tari's song on communal harmony was the best in composition as well as rendering too, so too the political solo by Roseferns having very high political ingredients. There were at least 4-6 political songs including that of Allison and the Trio of Antonette de Maina-orothy-Roma. This is yet again proved that political songs are not the monopoly of a few selected Tiatrists.
Roma seen singing her solo
The majestic role of the Podvedar with his majestic all round personality was beautifully and appropriately played by Tari who yet again showed his high class caliber in performing high grade roles. The role played by the beauty of the Konkani Stage Antonette de Maina as a mentally deformed girl was superb, never before I saw her rising to the occasion to shoulder the given responsibility as she did to her role in this Tiatro. The way she displayed her innocence while doing her role looked excellent. My especial congratulations to her.
Roma played her role well of the wife of the Podvedar and Creto did his role very beautifully. With his attractive looks and elegant dress code and perfect clarity of his vocals like that of his director Roseferns, he proved to be a perfect artiste. Roseferns excelled in his role of a priest.
One of the encore songs, a duet by Roma & Peter
The comedy role was well handled by Dorothy and both the acrobatic comedians Nato and Allison both of whom looks like men of elasticity. Though Nato is a seasoned and natural comedian but the new face of Allison was a great finding of Konkani Stage which Roseferns found and for this he must exclaimed saying Eureka – Eureka. But not only as the director but more like a fatherly figure Roseferns must guide him in the right direction by preventing him from going vulgar.
The above seen are comedians Dorothy and Allison
The great comedians of Konkani Stage like Kid Boxer, Anthony Mendes, Jacinto Vaz, Jepsis Hitler, Greg de Candolim, Champion Peter, M.Boyer never used brute vulgar words nor action while forming their roles. At least I have never seen them going brutally vulgar. Anthony Mendes the greatest of all used to use Latin words in between to make the audiene laugh but never vulgar words having double meaning. Because of this they still remain immortal.
A scene where Roma-Creto-Tari - Rosario are seen
The comedians who use the Konkani Stage to show their dirty culture and background by using vulgarity on the Stage and thereby degrade the greatness of our Tiatro are murderers who got no business to murder the Tiatro. Erlier, during the 2nd 25 years of Tiatro went into the hands of some of the rascals who used all dirt by standing on the Stage to lower the greatness of Tiatro and beause of this the decent audience stopped patronizing Tiatro saying it is the work of third class people, both the artistes as well as audience.
A scene where Creto & Antonette de Maina are seen
Because of this once at Cross Maidan in Bombay the Pai Tiatrist Joao Agostinho Fernandes was found crying and when questioned why he was crying, he replied saying that this the great beautiful art of Tiatro which was initiated by Lucasinho Reibeiro and he and me we both developed it so nicely now gone into the hands of R O S T A D people. This is my only regret, he concluded.
Seen in the Coffin is Antonette de Maina
History is repeated and it looks it is going to be repeated now too by the vulgar comedians with the backing of their directors.
A.Veronica Fernandes.