To celebrate 25 years of performing on the Konkani stage, Antonette de Maina has released her maiden tiatr, ‘Fuddarachi Ranni Hanv Tuji’, a tale of a family that has many problems. The play focuses on addressing the question – can love and understanding help to clear these?
Catarina is a woman who has a very high opinion of herself. She plays matka, wins many times, and feels with this money she can control everyone. Two of her sons are happily married. Cayden is married to Samuela and Brinson to Valanka. The mother likes Samuela as she has given her a grandson while Valanka is treated like dirt and made to do all the chores. When Valanka’s dad comes visiting, he realises that his daughter is facing many problems. He offers to take her home but she refuses. One day, a tragic accident happens and Valanka is blamed, arrested, and jailed. Later, the third son returns from the States, with his smartly dressed and flamboyant wife Shakira and a five-year-old girl. A battle of superiority begins.
The play moves at a brisk pace. Dinesh provides the light effects to a fine set from Anthony de Ambajim. The cast has Dolla as Catarina who acts well as the dominant woman. Antonette de Maina plays Shakira who is tough and keeps things under control. Rioma does well as Samuela and Deann is quite tragic as the mistreated Valanka. Willie is the elder son Cayden, caring and understanding, while Benzer is quite dashing as Brinson, with an impressive act of the drunk frustrated man. Satyawan Tari scores as the old father, Denver does well as the third son and Wilson Souza plays the cop. The little Abeny looks cute and acts well as the precocious little girl, who has something to tell everyone. Sally visits the family often, creates his own jokes and also joins Flavia, Semica, Brian, David, Myron, Richard, and Riston in the comic acts.
The impressive band has Senon, Nolvert (trumpets), Seban (bass), Jack (drums), and Arif (keyboard). Jr. Reagan renders the opening song accompanied by a grand entry, through the audience, by Antonette. There are more songs from Lawry, Xavier, Roma, Francis de Tuem, Ashliff, Riston, Brian, David, Myron, Richard, Reagan, and others.
