The history makers in Konkani tiatrs
By Shamaz / Gomantak Times
From records available, it is established that Konkani Tiatro has till date
completed 110 years of its existence, having taken birth on 17th April 1892.
And as we follow the Tiatr history down the 100 years (Courtesy - Book written
by Tiatrist Wilmix Wilson Mazarello) one gets awestruck with the amount of
hard work that has been put in by our Tiatrists beginning with the late
Lucasinho Ribeiro, the originator of the Konkani Tiatr form....
...We Goans,
especially Konkani Tiatr Lovers will certainly relish the prouder moments of
the many firsts in the history of Tiatro and applaud the History Creators with
due recognition to their achievements.
Summing up in brief, I have made a small effort here to bring out some of those moments in time, for our dear readers to read and relish.
The First Konkani Tiatro, a translation of an Italian Opera, was written by the
late Lucasinho Ribeiro and staged on 17th April 1892 at New Alfred Theatre,
Bombay.
The First Original Tiatr Script was written and directed by the late Joao Agostinho Fernandes of Borda, Margao, Goa, entitled Belle de Cavel or Sundori Cavelchi in 1895 in Bombay and hence he is conferred the title Pai Tiatrist Joao Agostinho Fernandes is the first playwright to get four of his scripts published in book form.
Joao Agostinho Fernandes is also the First Playwright and Director to stage in two parts his famous Tiatr Panzaricho Bhattkar Part I and Part II, way back in 1904.
Joao Agostinho Fernandes is the First Tiatrist to cut a gramophone record of
Tiatr songs called Mog Mirmireancho in the year 1910.
The first lady to step on the Konkani Tiatr stage was the late Regina Fernandes, wife of Pai Tiatrist Joao Agostinho Fernandes, in the year 1904.
The late J P Souzalin is the First Writer/Director to stage three performances
Of his hit Tiatr Sam Francis Xavier, on the same day i.e. 25th November 1969, in
the same hall ie Princess Theatre, Bhangwadi and getting housefull sales for all
the three shows.
The late Souza Ferrao was the First Tiatrist to record songs for All India
Radio, way back in 1936 and the title Man of Thousand Faces was first earned by
him for his ability to portray any role to perfection.
The first ever Duet to be sung on the Konkani stage was by the late Ernest
Rebello with a fellow Tiatrist dressed as a girl and that started the duet trend
in Tiatros around 1920.
The late C Alvares earned for himself the title King of Duets for singing maximum number of duets on the Konkani stage.
Kid-Young-Rod were the First Tiatrists to form a Professional Trio group which Started the Trio Trend in Konkani Tiatros around 1953.
The late Jacinto Vaz popularly known as Charlie Chaplin of the Konkani Stage was the First Tiatrist to receive the Goa State Cultural Award for the year 1979-80.
M Boyer is the First Tiatrist to receive the National Award from Sangeet Natak Akademi on 16th October 1995, for his contribution to the Konkani Tiatr stage.
Divorce a Tiatro written and directed by the late Airistides Dias was the first konkani tiatro to complete 100 performances on 5th October 1980.
The first Khell Tiatr Sandlolo Put written and directed by Antonio Moraes was staged on the third day of Carnival of March 1956.
The late Nelson Affonso was the first Tiatr Director to introduce the Ring-n-Rose Revolving Stage in his Tiatr Dolorosa around 1974.
The first time ever, the late AMB Rose performed a Konkani Tiatro on the Palace
Theatre Stage at Karachi (around 1927).
This is an achievement in itself as only Whites were allowed to perform there at that time. Young Menezes was the one and only Tiatrist to have sung song of 500 words all in one breath. Like these, I am sure there are many more FIRSTS which may not be available on record but their contribution is definitely none too small and deserves due credit.