Reviews of Devak Zai Zalear

By Julio D’Silva

 

After a hiatus of seven years, Ben Evangelist has come up with a truly entertaining tiatr Devak Zai Zalear. The tiatr has a riveting plot, scintillating acting and impressive sets.

 

As the title itself suggests, Devak Zai Zalear deals with the maxim that nothing happens without The Almighty’s blessings and that science, technology or medicine are no match to God’s grace. Ben has tackled the rather mundane issue of craving for a biological child but given it a new twist by introducing the concept of surrogate motherhood.

 

Devak Zai Zalear is the story of an aircraft pilot Rio who marries an air-hostess Synetra even though he knows that she will not be able to bear a child due to an accident in her childhood. However, once they start living in Goa, they buckle under societal condemnation of being barren and Rio is determined to have a child.

 

His brother Roland’s wife Edna agrees to be the surrogate mother to Rio and Synetra’s child conceived through in-vitro fertilization. However, tragedy strikes as Roland and Edna’s only child Keneth dies the same day Edna delivers Rio and Synetra’s child, a daughter. What happens next is best viewed in the auditorium.

 

The entire cast has acted exceedingly well. Mario Menezes as Rio is delightfully subdued while Antush as Roland stands out as his role is strikingly different from the normal pathos-stricken ones he undertakes. Rosy Alvares as Synetra and Roma as Edna are perfect. But the two child artistes – Marville as Keneth and Baby Hazel as Valanka – are the ones who steal your hearts. Baby Hazel is a treat to watch as she is so natural and has a bright future in tiatrs. Mathew Araujo enacts the role of Dr Savio with aplomb.

 

The comedy sequence is also quite thrilling as it is different from the ones seen normally. Ben Evangelist on stilts as a tall man with Bonny as his tall daughter and Agostin as the tall son, makes one laugh with the travails of abnormally long persons. Sally as Sallu keeps pace with the three to keep your ribs tickling every time they come on stage.

 

The vinyl setting with backstage lighting is truly superb giving the right impression of the action taking place in a rich person’s house.

 

By J P Pereira

 

For the first time on the Konkani stage, Ben Evangelisto presents a touching tale of a surrogate mother in his new tiatr entitled Devak Zai Zalear. The curtain opens displaying a spider and its web on one side and a dry dead branch of a tree with leaves and flowers on the other depicting that one should be consistent like the spider, specially in prayer and this consistency can result into a dead tree baring fruit.

 

Roland and Edna await the arrival of Roland’s brother, Rio and his wife Synetra who are supposed to fly from London. After the initial greetings Roland welcomes Synetra into their family and hopes she will have a baby soon. Rio explains that his wife who had met with an accident in her childhood cannot bear child and inspite of knowing all this he marries her as he was too much in love.

 

Roland has a son, Keneth, who is both loving and naughty. He is loved by the whole family and on the day he receives his First Holy Communion, a grand party is arranged. Dr. Savio, a family friend is invited but on this day Rio comes home heavily drunk. On being asked why, he discloses that he was insulted for not knowing the value of a child as he had none of his own. He demands that Synetra should somehow give him a child. Dr Savio intervenes and requests to continue with the celebration.

 

On the appointed day, both the couples are invited to the doctor’s clinic, where he informs them that the fertilization can be done externally and inserted into another woman’s womb and this woman could bear the child. Edna offers to carry the baby and all are happy, till the baby girl, Valanka is born but another tragedy befalls the family. What happens later is best seen on the stage with the story ending, depicting the mighty power of God.

 

A daringly different story, Ben as done a good job with simple but meaningful dialogues and slick direction. He has three stalwarts of the Konkani stage doing full justice to their roles. Mario as Rio, Antush as Roland and Mathew as Dr Savio play their roles in style. Rosy Alvares as Synetra and Roma as Edna are equally good. The two stylish actresses are so natural!

 

The child actors, Mervin as Keneth and Hazel as Valanka have been trained well and do a good job in their roles. Another features is the fun filled comedy, with Ben playing a double role, first as an unusually tall man and later as a hunchback Bombay Goan. Sally plays the driver and has the audience rolling with laughter ably supported by Bonny and Augustinho.

 

The music by Juju is good and the sets are very pleasant to look at. A mentions is to be made of the songs. The main attraction is Nephie Rod, who sang four songs composed by George Coelho and Menino Mario in her lovely voice. Solos by Coney M, Osvy Viegas, Lawry, George Coelho and Hazel, a duet by Mario and Lawry and a trio by Albert, Rosy and Mathew are worth hearing. Ben Evangelisto renders two songs, the imitation of the late Jacinto Vaz, got an encore four times. After eight years, Ben has done a wonderful job. Not to be missed.

 

Devak Zai Zalear is slated to tour the Gulf in February 2004 as follows:

12^th February Dubai contact person Rafael Ph. (50) 4563731

13^th February Kuwait contact person Rafael Ph. 6002864

20^th February Qatar contact person Agostinho Pires Ph. 5568072

Muscat date and contact person will be intimated later