Passion play at the Astra Theatre

The Astra Theatre in Victoria is presenting a two-act Passion play with a difference, Fid-Dlam... id-Dawl, on Saturday.

Translated into Maltese from the drama In Darkness... Light, the play has been adapted for the stage by Mgr Salv Borg. It transposes the audience to Jerusalem where a number of Christians have found the courage to manifest their new faith and beliefs.

The apostles and disciples have just started their mission of spreading the Good News in a world where broadcasting and the internet are still the inventions of the far future.

The drama unfolds in a city where the civilians are mostly Roman, living in the darkness of a pagan world. Christ's light shines on them but they shut it out.

On the other hand, a few Jews embrace the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

In the middle of all this, two young people meet and fall in love - Anna a blind Jewish girl, who had been baptised, and Lucio, a strong and energetic Roman enticed by the joy of youth and life.

Lucio's veneration to pagan gods means that Anna can never accept to marry the one she loves.

This emotional struggle between these two young lovers mirrors the harsher struggle between the poor Christians and the hawk-eyed Sinhedrin.

The cast for Fid-Dlam ... id-Dawl ranges from veteran actors to young newcomers. The cast is made up of Maria Schembri, John Mercieca, Charlie Zammit, Anton Said, Gorg Sacco, Ninu Azzopardi, George Franz Vella, George Cremona, Lorna Sciberras, Maria Schembri Cremona, Simon Cachia, Maria Zammit Borg, Sergio Sillato, Christian Zammit, George Camilleri and Mario Portelli.

The play is produced by the Astra Theatre and artistic direction is in the hands of Maria Zammit Borg.

Tickets may be obtained at the door or by calling Teatru Astra on tel. 2155 0985.