Concept
Gõycho Saib is a saint revered by every Goan irrespective of caste creed or gender. The tiatr begins with the decision of Fr Ignatius Loyola to send Fr Francis Xavier to India as a replacement for the original choice of Fr Bobadilla. The tiatr then proceeds with the life and ministry of the saint bringing out hidden facets including the raising of two dead to life. The tiatr ends with the episode of how St. Francis was called Gõycho Saib by the chieftain of the Desai clan.
Script
The tiatr script is simple and heart touching. Scene after scene keeps the audience glued to the seat with the quest for knowing what comes next. The script is well researched and contains facts never told or preached from the pulpits that feature in the plot give the script a sound footing. There is a good dose of comedy too that is partly interwoven with the plot.
Acting
The tiatr is a great teamwork with relatively new artistes teamed with some seasoned ones. Rupesh Jogle essays the title role of St Francis with ease. Fr Ubaldo with his partial bald look naturally plays Fr Ignatius Loyola. Michael Gracias and Ansh Bandekar have a good dialogue delivery portraying the role of Vical General and the Bishop but their looks are too young for their roles; they however do good justice to the role of the King of Travancore and Fr Lizano respectively. Sidhi Naik is excellent as the pregnant woman. Dr Risia Pasanha is great as the Queen of Travancore and then as the Kings sister. Constancio Miranda, Mayur Dhond Joel Ribeiro contribute well in their roles to keep the tiatr going.
Music
The tiatr band music is impressive, pleasing and soothing to the ears. The songs have a variety which gives the tiatr a soothing traditional feel. Duo Duets, trio and a quartet too in interactive style are the hallmark of this tiatr. There are good solos by Fr Ubaldo Fernandes, Renecia, Joel & George Gonsalves. The female choral song in harmony on the need to save Goa for posterity is the icing on the cake. The trio of a consumer dragging his father in law to the consumer court to replace a defective product and a duet by veteran Hortencio and new talent Carol is worth watching.
Comedy
The comedy is clean and decent. The comedy is partly interwoven to the main storyline. However being a historic plot there is little scope for the linkage. Legendary Hortencio as the drunkard excels but at times drags the scene unnecessarily. He is ably supported by Valanka and Amberley. We understand that comedy is an essential part of a tiatr, but then when a tiatr is written on a historic character that has a spiritual touch, was the comedy needed?
Backstage
The writer known for presenting tiatrs on a well designed set lets the audience down by presenting the tiatr on mere stage curtains. However the scenes during the opening chorus and the UV curtain of field used during the rising from the dead was of great taste. The light effects by John Marques was impressive. The background musical score was decent but was too loud, at times drowned the dialogues.
Direction
All artistes performed their best. There was good coordination of the backstage team with the artistes. The moves of the artistes were well blocked. A good research on the costumes gave the tiatr a feel of authenticity.
Reviewers take
Tiatr is a tiatr because of the variety songs which was a hallmark of the tiatrs staged in yesteryears. This tiatr is a revival of the traditional form with even a duet nicely sung in the hindu attire on the topic Voddapunov. Each and every song gives the tiatr a greater height taking the audience in bouts of nostalgia. The Tiatr Academy of Goa should show this tiatr as a model tiatr to the school and college students so that they learn tiatr in the right perspective.
A good tiatr recommended for all to watch.
