Luís Eduardo Girão: 

“Today’s tide is favorable to the spread of Spiritism” 
 

In a bold initiative, the Brazilian Display of Transcendental Theater, gets to its sixth edition in Ceará, Brazilian state in which Spiritism
is intense and dynamic 
 

O Consolador: The Brazilian Display of Transcendental Theater, started in Fortaleza, is in what edition? What has been the main inspiration to organize it and what day will it happen this year?

Thanks God we have reached our sixth edition this August. It will take place on August 19-24, 2008. Everything started when we watched in São Paulo a play called "Cândido Chico Xavier" performed by Cia. do Caminho, from Rio de Janeiro. The date was some date: right after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I was still recovering from a Panic Disorder occasioned by a high level of stress I was having in my Professional life without having "awakened" for a spiritual reality, in which I was forced to reflect after a friend of mine died at age 38, from cancer. Up to then I used to be very materialistic. I only thought about money, deadlines etc. The play was at this juncture and really touched me. It made me cry after years. Chico’s simple life, unconditionally dedicated to others, moved me. He had everything to become a millionaire, he could have everything he wanted, but he refrained from it all to help others. Besides, his messages of life after death comforted me a lot. They gave me a hint on the real sense of life. That play was the start of a new life for me. I decided to take that play to my State so that others could feel what I felt. "O Cândido Chico Xavier" in February 2002 hit the record in the history of 94 years of the traditional Teatro José de Alencar. There were nearly 4,200 people on a single weekend. Detail: the play had no star actor and had simple scenery, just like Chico. I was astonished with all that, because we didn’t expect such a huge audience. Something transcendental took place there. We felt we were mere instruments. There was a general commotion in the city and everybody was taken to the theater. And more: Many people, after the play, emotional, wanted to know more about Spiritism, get engaged in volunteer works and break their paradigms of life, changing their values. We gathered the group of professionals and volunteers in the production of the play, and thought about the idea of giving it a follow-up, not bringing another play in, but a lot of them, like a festival. Something that would fill in days of these transforming spiritual values, through the media, and that we could also take to people that had no access to such a thing: the needy. Then we thought of a name. After a prayer, a volunteer that right after became president of the Spiritist Federation of the state of Ceará, Olga Maia, had an inspiration: the name transcendental. Everybody agreed immediately, because there were no religious labels in this name and would open space to people of diverse religions and creeds to take part in the event. Without mentioning that the name transcendental fit like a glove to our proposal, because it revealed all that is beyond the matter. Hope and fraternity being created among people. On August 2003 we organized the I Brazilian Display of Transcendental Theater with five days in a row of plays in the same theater and other places and it was a total success. Then there were the editions of 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, always in August, coincidentally the month of birthday of our dear Dr. Bezerra de Menezes. Today the event attracts spiritualist groups of theater from all over Brazil, journalists from everyhere and entire families that come here on holidays. 

O Consolador: What are the criteria that has been followed, the choice of groups and plays? And, in 2008, what are the attractions? 

We’ve set a commission formed by a team of professionals connected to art and spiritualism. First we evaluate the synopsis of the spectacle to check what message of hope, comfort and peace that the play intends to convey to the audience. This is the first stage of selection. Then, through pictures, videos and technical data sent to our address, we select the plays we would like to watch personally. Usually one of our judges travels – without telling the group, of course – and watches the play, bringing us back a complete report. In 2008, in our sixth edition, the event will take place from August 19 to 24 at the usual place (TJA) and other 13 cities in the state, in a public square, besides the bus stations (for free) and Greater Fortaleza for the needy. The place that will kick off the Display this year is "Bete Davis’ Eyes", and is from Ceará. We will also have "Love Wins", from São Paulo, based on a novel by Zíbia Gasparetto;the comedy "Heart keeps beating", from Belo Horizonte (MG); the play "You cannot die", from São Paulo, the child’s play "Zé Mamulengo” and “The eight ways to be happy", and, closing the Display, the debut "The Pacifiers", from Bahia. To check the whole schedule and synopsis of the plays to be performed at the VI Brazilian Display of Transcendental Theater go online: www.teatrotranscendental.com  

O Consolador: What results do you get from that? 

All the income gathered at the Display – Box Office and food – has been given to 29 entities of Ceará with total coverage of the media in the delivery and also checking the donations. In the previous editions we got more than R$ 469 thousand and the food hit the 44 tons. We had more than 76 thousand spectators. Now, what I considered the most important is the spiritual purpose of this initiative. Many people get emotional, thoughtful and awaken to the spiritual reality. The spontaneous media generated during the month of the event is full of interviews on TVs and newspapers – with no exception – approaching spiritualist topics. Many debates with the presence of Spiritist people have already been made about abortion, euthanasia, suicide because of the Display. Besides, the media in Ceará has played a major role spreading Peace, Life and Spirituality. We have not found the slightest difficult to talk about Spiritism. This is a grace that is only possible for the courageous work of great names of Spiritism in Ceará that opened up this way boldly, such as Vianna de Carvalho, Edinardo Weyne, Mansueto Barbosa, Wanderlei Pereira, all of them born here, and we cannot forget our dear Divaldo Franco, who has had his psychographies published every Sunday, since 2005, in Ceará’s most traditional newspaper, THE PEOPLE (O Povo), which last January turned 80. 

O Consolador: How has the response been so far?  

Excellent. A strong synergy that unites especially these groups of Spiritist Theaters who have been doing a great work. It is an opportunity to exchange experiences and motivation for these groups. The event also works as a springboard for these groups, so prejudiced by the media and audience over the last years. It is evidence that, if we do something organized, with dedication, Spirituality opens up its doors and everything turns out well. The groups are back from the Display firing all cylinders, ultra-motivated and even more confident that this theater is the "theater of the future". Media on the other hand, does not label, nor judge and welcomes the initiative, because it is something new and creates a new style in Performing Arts. Ecumenism is also seen with good eyes by everyone, since the Display approaches the importance of a culture of Peace, Life and Spirituality in our society. We have already conquered a lot of space on the national media and big newspapers all over the country, talking good thing about our event. One of the biggest achievements, however, was a story in the magazine "Época", by Editora Globo, in the week of the IV Display, in 2006. If you want to feel this national impact just log on to "You Tube" and "Google" and check out videos, interviews and stories, using as a key word "transcendental theater". I also recommend to know our conquests in other projects alike, such as  www.emfavordavida.org.br, www.boanoticia.org.br (search: "agency of good news"), www.semanachicoxavier.com.br, www.brasilsemborto.com.br  or even www.estacaoluz.org.br (search: "station of light"). At last, we also thank the mobilization of Spiritist people, not only from Ceará, but the support and positive vibration all over the country for our event. It is incredible this current. And this has a practical result in positive energy. I think, because of that, and also to know that there are "infiltrated Spiritist" today in the most strategic positions to provide a steady move to any moment of the development stage on the planet. Maybe that’s why we owe to the union of the Spiritist people the huge response in terms of spontaneous media, which has surprised the whole country and even the US (Florida Review). We got stories about the Display in Folha and special 5-page coverage in the magazine Planeta. 

O Consolador: Is the audience exclusively from Brazil?

We have already had visitors from other countries, like the US, but it is still a minority. We have projects to elaborate, through partnerships, a Brazilian Festival of Transcendental Theater in São Paulo in the next years (with awards and everything else), as well as something connected to the transcendental art in the US for Brazilians, Hispanics and of course, Americans.

O Consolador: What about the books in the newspaper O Povo, from Fortaleza? What has the response been? 

There were eight titles which totalized 200 thousand books, which were freely distributed by the newspaper, through ads during two months, always on Mondays. The gifted ones with the "Collection with no Mystery" that we did in partnership with the Christian Magazine of Spiritism, from São Paulo, were the subscribers and average readers of the newspapers. It was a huge success. The response during these two months was shown in the letter section of the newspapers, in which 90% of the public praised the board of the newspaper for the initiative. It was awesome. The promotion mobilized the whole state and generated a lot of media. To have an idea, the newspapers were sold out in the first hours on Mondays and the hotline of the newspaper got constantly busy with the requests of the public. Besides the books on Mondays, which there was an ad on the cover of the newspaper, on Sunday there would be a one-page story about the issue that was coming up next. And more: during the whole week were published several ads calling the reader’s attention for the story. This action has maybe been the greatest one in the history of Spiritism in the state, ending the celebrations of the 150 years of "The Spirits’ Book" in Ceará. 

O Consolador: What about the resources for printing and distribution of the books? 

 We got sponsorship of the companies connected to Spiritism that are aware of their role of "depositories of wealth" by God. We know this is all about a "loan". If we use well these resources, we will get through this difficult test. We just need to be a little bit bold, without being egoist and the fruits will come, under all aspects. Blessed are those who help us in these projects. They are the actual helped and blessed ones by the Spirituality. The newspaper THE PEOPLE did not charge a penny. They just provided an unforgettable gift for their readers, it means, they conquered even more them... 

O Consolador: Was it difficult to conquer this space with the media in town? 

 No. We just need to do our part with a little bit of determination, good will and good intentions that Spirituality provide the rest. I use to say that today’s tide is favorable to the spread of Spiritism; it is like we were to take a penalty kick in a soccer match. The ball is there and there is no goalkeeper. We just need to take it. Long ago, of course, I believe the precursors of Spiritism suffered a lot (for us and themselves) to spread the Comforter of the Christ. Now it has been fairly easy, which increases our responsibility of doing it without fearing making mistakes. 

O Consolador: Are there websites of the Display to be registered to? What are the phone numbers and e-mail?

 Yes. To check out packages, information and official schedule log on to: www.teatrotranscendental.com  or www.estacaooluz.org.br  or call us on 85- 3260-5140.  

O Consolador: What are the most exciting aspects that you point out in this experience with the Display and the distribution of books in the newspapers?

Several people have been awakening for a Spiritual reality. Breaking paradigms in their lives, being more complete, happier. Looking for the truth. Looking to help people, being volunteers. Acquiring knowledge. Broadening their minds. Holding hands and working for Christ and with Christ for a better mankind. Working for Life, against abortion, suicide, euthanasia. Getting out of depression. Being more optimistic towards life. In short, reflecting upon the real value of LIFE: LOVE. This is priceless and entirely compensates all the effort of our team and collaborators, even if it was only one person to be benefitted from that.  

O Consolador: Final considerations.

On August 29, we have a great meeting; we as Spiritist, with the spreading of Spiritism. Maybe the biggest action in the history of the Spiritist Doctrine. On 29, a Friday, day of national release of films, and "coincidentally" also Dr. Bezerra de Menezes’ birthday, we should all go to the movies to attend the national premiere of the first Brazilian Spiritist movie to be released in the country: "Bezerra de Menezes: The Diary of a Spirit". The movie cost R$2.7 million and is an epic production.  With great actors like Carlos Vereza, Caio Blat, Lúcio Mauro, Ana Rosa and Paulo Goulart Filho, the movie is directed by Glauber Filho and portrays the life of this great Brazilian pacifier since his childhood in Ceará. You cannot miss out. We need to mobilize the population. Everything is valid to help. Get ready to go to the premiere or on the following day, because by the laws of movie market the films only keep being showed if there is a huge crowd on the first days. Time has come, more than ever, to show the power of Spiritism. Let’s take our friends, relatives and acquaintances on the 29^th. This is the moment and I guarantee: the film is beautiful, done with lots of love and for those who are going to watch I say: prepare your heart! Dr. Bezerra turns on this day 177 anos of birth in his last existence. That in which he got known as the "Doctor of the Poor", "The Brazilian Kardec " and the "Apostle of Spiritism".