‘Adeus’ Konkani Tiatro in Toronto A Review By Silviano C. Barbosa
Jr. Menezes steals the show in the best Konkani Tiatro so far in Toronto,
Canada!
The Goan Konkani audience at Michael Power School Auditorium in Etobicoke,
Toronto left the hall in frenzy and with great satisfaction after watching a
Konkani Tiatro written and directed by Jr. Menezes, a.k.a Raymond Menezes,
born in Quepem, Goa , now residing in Toronto, Canada.
This Tiatro was reminiscent of the amazing Tiatros produced and directed by
the likes of J.P. Souzalin and Prem Kumar, the great directors who brought
us Tiatros filled with scenes/scenarios, special effects, revolving stage
and other props and sets.
This Tiatro in no way will be any different than the Tiatros produced by
todayÂ’s directors in Goa, like Prince Jacob, Roseferns and Mario Menezes.
The artistes who performed this Tiatro in Toronto are very much well-versed
in fluent Konkani as can be witnessed by the solid dialogues that were
exchanged in perfect delivery.
Jr. Menezes made history in Konkani Theatre in North America by donning a
Goan Kashtty on stage, one of the only 2 Goan Tiatrists to do so after the
late Prem Kumar held this record in his Tiatro, “Vavraddi”. Incidentally the
audience was asked to observe a minuteÂ’s silence in honour of the great Goan
Director, actor and innovator of the Konkani Tiatro, Prem Kumar, a.k.a.
Peter Da Costa, who died a day earlier to this performance.
Jr. Menezes regaled the audience with his fine performance in various roles
as a skilled director, writer, comedian, character actor, a tribal (gavddi)
in kashtty and as a singer par excellence. Besides the above skills, Raymond
Menezes was instrumental in producing a fine DVD with his camera operating
skills, mixing, sound effects, designing sets, and giving an impressive
transition from the video to the actual acting on the stage. Jr. Menezes has
a great potential with his natural art, acting, comedy and musical skills
that he possesses, and could potentially be a creative advisor/contributor
to Pixar Films in Silicon Valley. His wife, Charmaine is a natural
complement to the wealth of their family skills and art, together with their
kids, Nikita, Stephanie and Jude Menezes. CharmaineÂ’s canto was just
exceptional.
This was the first Tiatro that Jr. MenezesÂ’ wrote, which he said he created
when he was only 17.
After performing this Tiatro when he first arrived in Canada years ago, he
fine-polished it and improvised it in its current version by adding new
roles such as the tribal woman (gavddin Andrez), which was perfectly enacted
by Serah Barbosa (my other half) and that of a ghantti, equally
well-performed by A.C. Pereira. Jr. Menezes and Serah and A.C. Pereira
mesmerized the audience with their hilarious antics on stage obtaining peals
of laughter from the very responsive and satisfying audience. These three
names reverberated the most on the lips of the audience throughout the show
and after.
The contribution by a galaxy of talented artistes including the tiny Goan
talented kids contributed tremendously to the overall success of this
beautiful play, which is sure to please a packed audience in New Jersey,
U.S.A on November 10, 2007.
This play was witnessed by some 600 spectators in a houseful-capacity hall.
The play started with a DVD flashback with a couple kids playing in a park,
especially a little boy and a girl who were always together in a playful
mood. At the end of the projected video there is a nice transition, as this
pair of kids continue their playful catch-up on stage as they grow up.
I will not delve too much on the story as this play is scheduled to perform
in New Jersey, except to say that this Tiatro slowly unwinds the story of
these star-crossed lovers and the scenes on their journey are sure to please
the audience especially the part at the end of the play. This Tiatro is full
of vivid scenes and scenarios.
I liked this Tiatro very much and it has no doubt created a record as being
the best Konkani Tiatro so far in the history of Konkani Tiatro in Toronto,
Canada, especially because it was conceived and written and directed by a
Canadian Goan.
Here are the performers who made this Tiatro the best one so far: Joe
Vaz,(hero) Clema Fernandes, Jr. Menezes, Serah Barbosa, Jude Menezes,
Charmaine Menezes, Faria Fernandes (heroine), Tony DÂ’Silva(Inspector),
Francis Moraes(Rich father), Maria Pereira, Chris Gomes, Grace Almeida,
Olavio Da Costa(Inspector), Joe Rodrigues, Alwyn Gomes, Lourdino Rodrigues,
A.C. Pereira, Auggie Pereira, Patrick Pereira and Josie Carrasco (Play
Co-ordinator). All artistes gave their best and it would be unfair to
mention a few as better than the others. Singers like the ever-impressive
Ruth Kumar together with another ace songstress Hazel Jacob excelled as
usual and most other singers gave their level best in raising this Tiatro to
a level never reached here-to-before.
The child artistes included Zacharie Gomes, Nikita Menezes, Michael Gomes
and Allison Gomes. This play was produced by Francis Constantino. The band
was by Illusion, the sound by Godfather Francis. The M.C was Mario DÂ’Souza.
Special effects and sets were done by A.C. Pereira, Lourdino Rodrigues and
Charmaine Menezes, Jude Menezes, Joe Rodrigues. Film concept, editing,
mastering was the brainchild of Jr. Menezes.
The highlights of this Tiatro of course were the special effects of a
running scene, the nostalgic scene of a roadside Goan white cross, the
sophisticated sound and light effects, the gauddin character , the ghantti
character and multi-faceted roles (at least 4 roles) of Jr. Menezes, the
powerful dialogues and delivery of all actors with the accompaniment of the
relevant music and cantos.
This Tiatro would be a welcome debut performance on the Konkani stage in New
Jersey, U.S.A. for the Goan/Konkani audience. It would create a great
impact on audiences if performed in London or even in Goa, where it is sure
to hit a century in no time. The standard of Konkani Tiatro performance in
Toronto today can easily match the best in Goa any time.
Long live the Konkani stage worldwide!
Mog assume di!
Silviano C. Barbosa,
Author of the Goan novel, “The Sixth Night”
http://ca.geocities.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
Toronto, Canada, October 15, 2007
Check this link for photos of Tiatro "Adeus"
http://www.goanet.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=31
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