Photo Credits: tiatr LEAD _2
Last year's Children’s Tiatr Competition gave birth to the youngest playwright on the tiatr circuit – 17 year old Edmer Barretto. This year's festival has yet another youngest (playwright) on the list. Also under the age of 18, Mavita D Barreto is this year’s precious find for the Konkani tiatr stage. The word is already out and obviously, given that yet another milestone has been reached.
“Being a tiatrist meant one had to be able to not only act, but sing as well. These were compulsory attributes required for one to become a tiatrist,” profess voices from the veteran bunch. And this years youngest playwright played the lead role of the mother in her school's tiatr.
Last week, we stopped at the fourth tiatr titled by Britona Dramatic Academy written and directed by Epifanio Valadares with the cantos and cantaram written by Peter Camilo.The tiatr brings out certain scientific facts about the excesses of technology in our lives. Apparently, one becomes more irritable and snappy. Given that one is always alone, besides oneself, when playing games and staring at screens, the spirit of sportsmanship cannot be understood. Then again, the ‘Laurel and Hardy’ twosome of students, never on mobiles, but only interested in time pass, get everyone involved in their sweet little games, much to the amusement of the audiences.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School, Cortalim, under the guidance of Rajesh Kundaikar, their teacher and tiatr director, were the school from south Goa, with the youngest playwright.While the practical necessity of working for one’s family is one side of the paradox in this tiatr titled, Vell Diyat, the girl child who misses her parents during childhood, is on the losing side of it. The grandma (played by Mavita herself) posing the question, ‘what if you die?’, somehow sets things in the right perspective. Indeed, dying before fulfilling these dreams that one is working so hard for will totally defeat the purpose and thus this breaks the paradox; given the importance of time lost with one’s loved ones.
written and directed by Milagres Esvin Carneiro, with support of project manager Vanida Correia handling the overall co-ordination, also had last year’s only underage playwright Edmer Barretto as the assistant director. With a flashback scene, heart-wrenching cantos and explosive scenes of clash dialogues mingling with the tragedies a special child goes through, this tiatr passed on a worthy message, just like all the others. Among other highlights was a choral song sporting traditional kunbi outfits and the smallest child artist at this event; about the height of a small adult’s knee.
Then came the turn of the latest tiatr-journalist-turned-tiatr-playwright, Pio Esteves. goes on to handle the theme of brain drain of Goans with practical insights as to why this happens. Focusing on the employment crunch that frustrates many of us finally choosing to go abroad for greener pastures, the playwright also digs at the capitalist mindset that seems to be plaguing the Goan population, to the extent that they believe that money is everything.
, meaning important, further showed how last year’s winners of best script, best lyrics and few more bests kept up to their high standards. Equipped with the star cast from last year, this second and only other school participating in this Sixth edition of the Children’s Tiatr Competition highlighted the value of education. With a winding storyline, the obsession to control the life of another person taking advantage of their positions gets the reverse effect when this weaker person is granted the necessary grace by destiny. Written and directed by Merciano Noronha, this group showcased the brave hearts of St. Anthony school from Monte de Guirim. And the brother-sister duo with names Estimassaum and Cintiment, were the comic relief in this tiatr, which was also very important.
