Karachi was known to be a centre of excellence when it came to entertainment and music – be it bands, crooners, musicals and/or operettas, or an ensemble of choristers. Goans were then the heart and soul of an enchanting era. Their penchant for grand performances and choral music was second to none. Apparently, this love for the ‘performing arts’ was acquired during the early days of British raj and a Portuguese legacy. It was a blend of the best of European tradition with an Indian flavour.
Their first recorded performance was of Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Mikado’ in 1916 with a full all-Goan cast that ran to a packed house for three consecutive nights! Held at the newly constructed Karachi Goan Association (KGA) hall (1905), the show was directed by Carlos Fernandes and attended by a mix of the city’s elite. The proceeds were donated towards the ‘War Funds’. The ‘Mikado’ (1942 at the Palace Theatre) with British & Goan cast (also for war funds) was directed by Charlie Lobo and ‘Mikado’ 1957 was directed by Vincent Lobo. Several other Savoy musicals held in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950, were a resounding success.
The Gondoliers was held in 1936, 1939 & 1956, with music by Charlie Lobo; Trial by Jury and Pirates of Penzance (1941) with music by Prof Terrence D’Souza; including Iolanthe and the HMS Pinafore. In 1931, on the grand and solemn opening of the Christ the King Monument, a spectacular play ‘Enemies of Jesus’ with a cast of 100 performers was held to mark the historic occasion.
Post 1947, the St Patrick’s Dramatics Society (SPDS) under the direction of Fr Anthony Lobo, produced wonderful plays such as, ‘A Man for All Seasons’, Agatha Christie’s ‘Ten Little Indians’, ‘The Mousetrap’, ‘The Happiest Days of Our lives’, ‘Dry Rot’, ‘House on the Lake’ and ‘Cinderella’, recalled Norma Fernandes who performed in some of these productions. She retired as the Headmistress of Karachi Grammar School (Junior Section). Later in the mid-1970s, Pakistan also had the distinction of staging the world’s most recognised musical 'Jesus Christ Superstar’ in Karachi, majority of the cast being versatile Goan stage actors, including Victoria Menezes/de Souza as Mary Magdalene. The Shakespearean satire ‘Macbeth’ with Clare Braganza in the lead role of Lady Macbeth, was held in 1976 and directed by Walter D’Souza.
Goans in Karachi loved their church music and were part of choirs in all churches including the grand choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral and the renowned St Lawrence’s Choir (before and after partition). Church music in the 1930s and 40s was at its pinnacle at the time of Charlie Lobo, director of the cathedral choir. Vincent Lobo headed the choir from 1970 to 1974 before the great cathedral choir folded, making way for ‘guitar Masses’ and congregational singing.
A point of interest here is that Charlie Lobo is credited to have composed ‘Rise India, Thy Millions Lead’ which was the theme hymn (Lyrics by Fr Vincent Gimenez SJ) for the inauguration of the Christ the King monument on October 25, 1931. Thousands of people from all over India and other countries attended the mammoth event. The lyrics of the chorus were “Rise India, thy millions lead; And follow Christ thy King; From Comorin’s point to Everest’s peak; Christ’s hymn of triumph sing!” After independence in 1947, the lyrics were modified as, “Rise Nations, thy millions lead; And follow Christ our King; From the remotest point to Everest’s peak; Christ’s hymn of triumph sing!”
Next: The Jesuits and Franciscan Missionaries of Christ King (FMCK)
