TIATR: Made in Australia, Konkani-style By Fatima Pais <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
David Albuquerque <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> was a teacher at St. Anthony's High School, Majorda, Goa for fifteen years before migrating to Australia in Oct of 1999. He loved and misses his years in Majorda: great, simple, loving people. At school there he would regularly put up Konkanni skits. He also acted in some English plays under Father Savio of Loyola and Grace Youth Association, Margao. Then staged and acted in Neil Simon's "Biloxi Blues". He had another great experience being directed by Hartmann "Bing" de Souza's <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Konkanni version of Athol Fugard's "Master Harry and The Boys". They translated and staged the play in fourteen days. It is extremely difficult for non non-whites to get parts in any plays in Australia - not because Australians are racist, but because the plays there are set in white Australia, UK or USA. Once in a blue moon a play set in a non-white setting does come along. That's how David acted in Tom Stoppard's "Indian Ink". He doesn't think any more opportunities of that sort will arise again in his life time. It's hard to act in or put up Konkanni plays as well because it's difficult to get actors. David firmly believes that we must not forget our motherland, Goa. We must take pride in our Konkanni culture, be it drama, dance or music. Bengalis, Maharashtrians and all other Indians are intensely proud of their language and culture. About the Skit: The skit was put up informally to celebrate World Goa Day by the Clube da Goa. It is mainly about the confusion a niz Goenkar faces with Australianisms and Australian strine: Aussies pronounce 'today' as 'to die' and say "How are you going?" when they mean "How are you?" When an Aussie invites you over he asks you "to bring a plate" which means "bring food". When he says;"It's your shout" in a pub, he means:"Now it's your turn to pay for the drinks." The humour revolves around how Caitoo takes these expressions literally and begins to shout in a public place. Simplistically he thinks a hybrid car works on electricity and tells his friend Remy "Such cars won't do in Goa because 'the lights' (meaning electricity) always fail since the ministers are such chors. View the tiatr on Youtube.com: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=mYWD6xOSySY http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=0a8Cz23VB1g&feature=user Fatima's blog: http://sunshinemay-sunshine.blogspot.com/
