For a closer to God experience

With the Lenten season on for Catholics, there have been plenty of groups who have come together to help people have a better spiritual experience – be it in the form of different way of the crosses, retreats, music shows and plays.   

After previously delivering plays like the much remembered Carpenter’s Cross, Resurrection Song and Walking in the Realm of the Light, the Amateur Dramatics and Music Society is now all set to present their new English musical Witness.

The musical written by Jimmy and Carol Owens will be staged on March 23 and proceeds from the show will be in support of COOJ Mental Health Foundation.  

“This play has been staged around the world right from the time it was done back in the 70s and it was always in the back of my mind to do it at some point of time. Although it was written so many years ago it is still very relevant today. It also has some lovely melodies with simple words,” says Alfwold Silveira, director of the play.  

Silveira however has put his own spin to the play. “The original play was titled ‘The Witness’ and had the apostle Peter telling the story. Peter is the witness. However I have changed the title to just Witness and the story now is told by different people like the apostles James, John, Thomas, Mother Mary and Mary Magdalene,” he says

The play now begins with Peter telling the audience that he is the witness after which he proceeds to tell the story of Jesus. Certain key phrases by Jesus also find a place through song. “There is also a fun song by the mother of James and John where she is trying to convince Jesus that her sons deserve a place on either side of him,” says Silveira.  

However, in many countries where the play has been staged, the play has usually ended with song no 17, says Silveira. “This is the scene where Jesus asks Peter three times whether he loves him and the song is about how Peter says he will be the witness till the end. However we have done all 20 songs,” says Silveira. The eighteenth song is about how the apostles feel after Jesus has left them, Song No 19 is about Pentecost and the last one is on the theme of being born again. Interestingly, the theatre group has chosen a very unique ending for the play. “Towards the end we decided to bring the crucifix out to the crowd and it will be carried by the actor who is playing the role of Judas to show repentance. After all the message of the play is hope. If Judas can be saved, so can we,” says Silveira. Song No 16, however, was a bit of problem. “This track has been written by the writer’s daughter and was done differently from the rest. At first I thought of dropping it but decided against tinkering with the play,” he says.

In all, the cast consists of 35 members. “For the longest time I couldn’t find an actor to play the role of Peter. I needed someone who was older, had a good voice and time to spare,” says Silveira. In fact, he did think of giving it a shot as well. “However my production manager advised me not to as I needed to be around the stage in case something goes wrong before or during the performance,” reveals Silveira. He finally did find the perfect Peter. “I was compering for a wedding when I ran into Alex Braganza. The two of us had previously thought of collaborating on a play but for some reasons it didn’t work out. And he willingly came on board.  

Silveira also reveals that in the past they had always had a problem of getting enough boys in their plays and had to make do with girls wearing hoods and essaying the male characters. This time, however, they got more boys than girls.  

As Silveira currently teaches theatre appreciation at different education institutions ( St Xavier’s College, Mapusa, Goa University, Dona Paula, Goa College of Hospitality And Culinary Education, Dona Paula and Dempo College’s BBA section, Panaji), he was also able to get more youngsters on board. “We have four small children in our cast and youngsters from standard eight to youth in the age group of 25-26,” he says. With this being a Lenten play, Silveira also hopes that his play will help people spiritually. “Lent has become ritualistic. The focus seems to be more on what we cannot do like no eating of meat and no drinking when instead the focus should be on what we should be doing like opening our hearts to the word of God,” he says. The play has already been staged in Divar and Rosary Church, Caranzalem. “We are also looking at having a show in Margao in April,” he says,

(‘Witness’ will be staged on March 23, 7.30 pm at Kala Academy, Panaji. Donation passes are available at  Furtados, Champs near Panaji Church, Pedro Fernandes and T Centre)