Those who have seen Prince Jacob’s latest production ‘AmcheaGharant Tiatr’, surely cannot miss out on the negative character role played byversatile artiste Ignatius de Xelvon. He plays the cruel, lecherous andheartless role of a revengeful brother and yet receives applause for thefantastic portrayal. Suffixing his every dialogue with the English word‘fantastic’ but pronounced as ‘Funtastic’ in a distinctive tone and style hewins the hearts of the audience despite his devilish ways that the characterdemands. It’s not only the negative role he has played that has brought himappreciation, but he also renders two solos in this tiatr and they too areworth lending an ear to.
Speaking briefly to The Goan, Ignatius says, “When I readthe script of my role I pondered over it and studied how to go about it. I knewI could capitalise on it and under the guidance of my director I could dojustice to the same. My director too had confidence in me and gave me a freehand. I know the audience has liked and appreciated my negative characterbecause many who have seen the show acknowledge it by saying ‘Funtastic’wherever they see me. “
Speaking further about his stage career Ignatius said, “Ihave a penchant for acting negative character roles. Once when I played therole of an elderly Maharastrian and had to mouth a lot of Marathi dialogues inAnil-Olga’s tiatr ‘Eka Goykaracho Xevott’, I received a lot of praise.”
Ignatius is however thankful to Devidas Baboy from Borim whoonce asked him to play the role of an uncle in his Konknni Nattak ‘Ek Dusnichemful’ and it was here that he took his baptism in playing character roles.
Xelvon’s debut on the Konkani stage began with Santan deXelvon’s tiatrs ‘Tukach lagon’ and ‘Hem asa tem’ staged at the amateur level.He carries the acting genes from his father Honorato Felizardo who was known inhis village for playing female roles. He later on went on to act for severalother professional playwrights. Presently, Ignatius de Xelvon is part of thePrince Jacob’s troupe for the last four seasons and is getting better andbetter with every performance.
Like several other artistes of the Konkani stage he says hisfavourite actor of the tiatr stage was, “The late Seby Coutinho was a greatartiste.” Ignatius de Xelvon has recently staged a few shows of his tiatr‘Pavsacher Patieun Bebuk Roddlem’ and produced a number of audio albums like‘Liplele tiatrist, Khorem Bhangar, PainViklem Putan ghetlem’. Ignatius is agifted composer and his solos carry a good moral and social message.
