Padrin, highlights role of godfathers
By RON FIDELIS

Padrin a play written by Alfredo Fernandes was staged on November 29 , for Kala Academy’s 26th Tiatr Competition, under the banner of Piedade Youth Association, Divar.

Padrin means godfather and the role of a Padrin in the absence of parents is neatly brought out in this tiatro with a little suspense thrown in to make it more interesting. The tiatro took off at exactly 7.07 pm with a very impressive opening song by Francis on Padrin.

Clara and Chris are a young couple with a small son Sam and a newborn baby girl Swizel. They are shown getting ready to baptise Swizel while eagerly awaiting the arrival of the baby’s godfather-to-be, Charles from Mumbai.

They are however disappointed to receive a letter saying Charles cannot make it for the baptism cermony although he happily accepts the honour to be the godfather. James their cook however, offers to play the role of the godfather during the ceremony.

Nine years later, Chris dies in an accident and the burden of looking after the family is taken over by Peter, Clara’s brother and godfather of Sam. Peter finds himself a job to carry on this new responsibility while there is no word at all from Charles, Swizel’s godfather, but one day there comes a money order of Rs 2000 from Charles and little Swizel is happy now that her Padrin is sending money too.

The two school-going children then discuss about their respective Padrins much to the audience’s delight. In the meantime, Peter visits the doctor and finds out that he is having a kidney problem for which he may eventually have to undergo an operation. With his meagre earnings he realises he cannot afford an operation and look after his sister’s family too. Not wishing to disclose his dilema, he suggests that Clara take up a job. Misunderstanding his intentions, Clara refuses to accept his money. She even goes to the extent of not talking to him and has the house divided into two where Peter cannot even communicate with the family.

At this juncture, in walks Padrin Charles from Mumbai who is identified by the stammer in his speech. Charles sweet-talks his way into the family’s hearts and promises to take over his responsibility of Padrin.

Everyone is happy including Peter who feels relieved that someone is there now to carry on his work so much so that he discloses to Charles how he had reached the support money to Clara in Charles name, since Charles had stopped
sending money orders after the very first one.

Observing Peter’s frequent visits to the doctor, Sam a teenager now, meets the doctor himself and learns the sad truth about his Padrin’s affliction. He vows to help him by using his dad’s insurance money.

In the meantime, Padrin Charles has been quite busy planning to take Swizel with him to Mumbai for further studies and helping Clara to invest her husband’s 2 lakhs in a safe place.

So just when everything seems to go well, for Padrin Charles, Sam puts two and two together helped by proxy Padrin James and Peter and they realise that Charles was not the real Padrin after all, but an imposter who in actual fact is the real Padrin’s money-greedy friend Judas. He is caught just in time when the real Charles walks in, with everything explained, Peter dies leaving the responsibility of a Padrin to Charles.

All the artists have done an excellent job of their respective characters. The comedy aspect too is neatly woven into the script
and the music by Domnic De Arambol was good too.

NAVHIND TIMES