When I was in Goa recently, I attended a tiatr, Kallukant Uzvadd, by comedian Dominic. The reason to attend it in Margoa was to meet some of the old tiatrists such as Prem Kumar and Ophelia who were to be honoured that day. However, the honourees were not present for some reason. I mention this because it was Ophelia who once, when we chatted backstage at Bhangwaddi, remarked to me that I would be in for a surprise. I said what and she smiled away. Then I learnt that she was marrying Bab Peter. It was a May-December wedding, as dear Bab may have been more than 15 years younger than her. I also learnt that the late C. Alvares tried his best to stop this wedding. For those who may not know, C. Alvares dated Ophelia for many years and, I think, the relationship broke when Ophelia moved to Beirut to be with her late sister Mohana. Not surprisingly though, Mohana herself was Alvares's girlfriend. It was a good love affair, I am told. However, I don't know the reason why it fell apart. Future historians of tiatr can investigate. I am not sure if this is mentioned anywhere in the many pieces that appeared after Alvares' death. Coming to Bab Peter, I didn't know him well in later years. I knew him well as a small boy. The reason is that he moved into my building with his family as a sub-tenant. I think Peter's family lived there for not more than six months. It was only when I saw him on stage and his name spread as a budding singer/actor, I realized he was the same Peter I knew as a small kid. However, there was just a casual hi when I bumped into him. But with Ophelia is was a different matter. She spoke freely, though I never got to ask her about her affair with Alvares. During this time Alvares was dating Betty Fernandes. I however talked with other people why Alvares was interfering with her lovelife. Maybe he still had a soft corner for her. I read netter Daniel's interview with Ophelia in Goan Observer. It was heart-warming. I missed the opportunity to meet her. I did enquire about her and other with Wilson Mazrello, of Wilmix, and Cyriaco Dias, who I met at the Vishwa Gomant Sammelan. Cyriaco recognized me when I stood to ask a question during the conference. He then came to the front row where I was sitting and extended his hand. It was a nice meeting after 1988 when he came to Toronto for the first International Goan Convention. Similarly, it was a heart-touching meeting with one two other Goan tiatrists. Walking near Longinos at Margoa I recognized Pramanand Lotlikar walking towards me. I said hello and asked him if he recognized me. He stared at me for a brief time and said yes. He couldn't get my name. We talked for some time and he handed me his business card and I said I would try and meet him at a more convenient time when I come to Margoa. It never happened. Before this another meeting with another tiatrist was refreshing. I didn't know that a tiatr was to be held in a vaddo in Bogmalo on the feast day of St. Sebastian. It was only late at night I got the news. I went but I was late by half an hour to see Tum Asso Sor by Rose Ferns. During the interval I went to the dressing space and said hello to him. He took a long time to recognize and when I told him who I was he suddenly began talking about the times we met in Mumbai. He introduced me to his wife. We talked for a short time and then again after the end of the play. He too said I should drop in his photocopying shop opposite the Vidya Niketan, but I didn't get a chance. It was nice reconnecting with tiatrists after a long time. I saw just two tiatrs. I found Roseferns' tiatr to have gone the "soap opera" way, as he used some "effects" from the Hindi soaps that so many Goan families watch fervently. Again coming to Bab Peter, I didn't see him as an actor in the classic mold in the few tiatrs I saw him take part. He survived in the highly-competitive world of Goan theatre. Ophelia, in contrast, was a class by herself.
Eugene Correia __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail