I have performed many emergency substitution roles in thenon-stop shows staged by Rosario Rodrigues. Once when one of his main femaleactors had to answer her exams, I was called upon by Rosario Rodrigues tosubstitute her. I replaced the artist in the main role, but surprisingly, theartist who was supposed to play the role and had stayed away due to her examswas seen seated on the front row enjoying the tiatr holding a book in her hand.What I failed to understand was, if this artist could come and watch the showthat day, why could she not play her role?
One of Pascoal Rodrigues’ most popular shows was ‘Battli’.This show had completed many performances. On August 15 when this show wasscheduled to be staged at Gomant Vidya Niketan, in Margao, one of his artistsinformed him just before the commencement of the show that she would notperform in the show that afternoon and walked away with her clothes. In thisstate of emergency Pascoal came looking out for me at my residence. He pleadedwith me to play the emergency role of that artist. Being aware of helplesssituation faced by the director in such an emergency, I did not ponder anyfurther. I opened my wardrobe, picked up whatever clothes I could lay my handson and rushed with the director. I only questioned him, “How can I perform thisrole” to which he replied, “Don’t you worry, you will manage it and you willperform”. He had no time whatsoever to neither give me the script nor give meany tips in matter of the role.
When we entered the green room, some of the artists were infor a surprise and said, “So you have brought Annie? Mind you, if you don’tperform well, the people will hurl tomatoes at us.” I shot back at them saying,“We will see that later; first let us begin the show.” I asked the directorPascoal Rodrigues to brief me on the role while I was doing my make-up. Hebriefed me and said that I need to sing one ‘canto’ also. That day I performedthe role and sang the ‘canto’ too. Later the same evening, I performed the samerole at another show in Cortalim.
As told to Daniel F de Souza
