On Day 7 of Kala Academy’s 9th Tiatr ‘B’ Group Competition, Britona Dramatic Academy, Britona-Bardez, presented its tiatr, ‘Hope Love Sacrifice’, written by Augie D’Mello and directed by Deepak Amonkar.
The curtains unfolded to an airport scene where Jovan (Joltan D’Mello) when assisting his friend to board the flight encounters two people, namely one girl who is pregnant outside wedlock and another foreigner, who seeks help to find her destination. Jovan extends help to both.
The story revolves around Alex (Hermenegildo Camilo), his spouse Elma (Pedrinha Gracias) and their two grown-up children Jovan and Ruth (Myfa Fernandes). Jovan provides shelter to the Norwegian Christabell (Denelza Travasso) as a paying guest.
Ruth, who serves as a catechist in her parish, has her boyfriend Mathew (Denzil D’Souza) abroad and wishes to settle in marriage soon. Meanwhile, Mathew’s friend Marcus (Rosewan Pereira) steps in to deliver a parcel and poisons Ruth’s mind regarding her boyfriend.
Ruth cannot digest the hard truth after viewing the clippings and decides to commit suicide. While attempting that drastic act, Jovan and Christabell save her life.
On returning from abroad, preparations are underway for the great day for Mathew and Ruth. Unfortunately, Mathew meets with an accident and he is in need of a blood donor. Ruth and her parents are willing to assist immediately.
But after the blood tests of all three members, the doctor reveals that Ruth cannot be a donor as she has been tested positive for AIDS. On recovery, will Mathew agree to accept Ruth with the grievous illness? Or will he reject his girlfriend and take the other path for his future?
Tiatr ‘Hope Love Sacrifice’ has a story to relate, with twists and turns and a good dose of suspense. But it’s an old concept about the dreaded disease, probably old wine in a new bottle. Except for some hiccups here and there, it was a good presentation by all the artistes on stage.
Hermenegildo Camilo and Pedrinha Gracias às guardians displayed ample talent on stage and they were ably assisted by Joltan and Myfa. Denelza Travasso as a native of Norway was apt in dialogues and dress code. Rosewan Pereira played his negative role with ease. Uann Rodrigues and Iavita Fernandes as doctor and nurse did justice to their respective characters. Melissa Fernandes as a nun spoke confidently in the concluding scene. Voptesh Naik as Malinga and Doris Goves as Merlin tried to entertain with their laughter pills, both in dialogues and body language.
In the section of songs, there were good renditions from all the singers and a duet by Peter and Clancy, a solo by Peter Camilo and a trio by Ramson, Mashada and Jostrin were thought provoking. Roy Menezes and his musical team provided good live music, thus enriching the songs and additional sound system helped for better and clearer audition. In one song, making reference to political parties and in comic acts mentioning the name of a politician was in bad taste and could have been avoided.
The stage sets by Gajanan Nayak, execution of lights by Deepak Amonkar and background music by Prasad Kalangutkar deserve appreciation