World Theatre Day was celebrated today at the Kala Academy Campal Panaji Goa. Emminent theatre personality Ms Vijaya Mehta Executive Director, (Indian Theatre & Film ) National Centre for Performing Arts, Nariman Poin Mumbai in her two hour long discourse on the nitty gritty of good theatre and her own experiences with special reference to the Marathi stage impressed upon the audience the need to have a passion for the performance rather than its commercial value. The audience who heard her with rapt attention were enthused by the finesse with which she delivered her reportaire.
The audience mainly lovers of the Marathi theatre assembled in the Black Box of the Kala Academy this evening from 1548 hrs to 1743 hrs later posed a few questions. Interestingly the English theatre too had a representative amidst the audience Dr Jerry Rodricks hailing from Vasco-da-Gama an educationist fielded some questions to seek her impressions on the English theatre. Indeed Ms Mehta was at her wittiest best when she explained how owing to her conservative background she was aghast at the thought of having to take a passionate kiss in one of the acts and the fact that she needed to wear skirt or dress which showed off her legs was just too embarassing for her upbringing. That sealed the doors for her to English theatre. When this writer enquired of her whether she had witnessed any Konknni tiatrs and her impression thereon she said that she did witness one in Mumbai and was impressed by the songs and comedy that were interspersed between the main theme of the tiatr. She said that Konknni tiatr had a strong charm and good rapport with the audience and that was reason enough for her to direct some of her own students to witness the tiatrs. Earlier Ms Sharmila Fernandes grand-daughter of late Joao Agostinho Fernandes "Pai Tiatrist" was introduced to Ms Mehta by Mr Paresh Joshi Vice President of Kala Academy and Dr Pandurang Phaldessai Member Secretary Kala Academy. Ms Fernandes had indeed extended an invitation to Ms Mehta to visit their humble over 140 year old house of Pai Tiatrist at Modsai Margao. Ms Fernandes also presented to Ms Mehta a book on Pai Tiatrist brought out by the Goa Konknni Akademy, Panaji on its anniversary. Thereafter the great grandson of Lucacinho Ribeiro of Assagao the pioneer of Konknni tiatr, Mr Yuri Ribeiro was introduced to Ms Mehta by this writer. Ms Mehta was impressed to know that the kin of both these emminent personalities have taken interest in the field of theatre and wished them well. The function was followed by presentation of awards and a talk by Ms Mehta later that evening. The function was underway at the time of filing this report. from the Kala Academy Campal GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) [email protected] The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage. http://in.yahoo.com/
