“How beautiful it is to cry,” Pluft, the main character in the same-titled play said in the opening scene of the show held at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) recently.
From the smiles, laughter, shrieks and even tears from children, it was obvious that the Brazilian comedy was a hit. The storyline is that Pluft is a little ghost who lives in an abandoned house with his mother Mrs Pluft and Uncle Gerund. Pluft fears human contact to the point where just the thought of humans scares him. But after a girl, Maribel, befriends him the two embark on a journey to prevent Corkfoot, an evil pirate, from stealing treasure belonging to Maribel’s grandfather Captain Bonança Rainbow. They are assisted by Maribel’s friends the three wacky mariners: Sebastian, Julian and John.
The cobwebbed setting and the mariners’ antics wowed the audience and shrieks of laughter could be heard after their every move. At the same time, the eerie music used in some scenes proved too much for some of the children and they were overcome with emotion. The actors’ performance was outstanding but Michael Ignatius in the character of Mariner Julian stole the show. Lavonne George’s Mrs Pluft also charmed the youngsters and they assisted her in calling another ghostly relative by yelling “zero, zero, zero” as she dialled the number.
Khiaza Harris’s “Pluft” entranced the audience. He exuded a mixture of childlike naivety and boldness that endeared him to the children. Kirk Jardine’s “Corkfoot” was as real as any pirate, outraging the young audience with his antics that soon had them firmly on the side of Pluft and Maribel. After the close of the one hour, 15-minute play the children were happy to recall their favourite part, argue about their favourite character and about who was funnier.
Pluft was written by the internationally renowned Brazilian Maria Clara Machado in 1955 and has been performed worldwide. It was performed at the NCC and in Linden as part of the Carifesta roster of activities.
