Second talent show by St Joseph Boys' JL

On May 12 some 150 students of St Joseph Boys' Junior Lyceum, Paola, entertained their families and friends during a three-hour-long non-stop performance that included such a wide variety of items that there was definitely something of interest for everybody.

Last year's talent show, the school's first, was such a success that the organisers were initially apprehensive: would there be enough student talent to fill the programme, would the teachers find the time for a third major entertainment event after the Christmas concert and the panto?

In the event the apprehension was put to rest when the call for volunteer student talent came out. Suddenly the issue was not whether there would be enough items for the programme but whether there were too many for a standard length three-hour performance.

Teacher Mark Bonnici, still fresh from last year's success, was joined in the organisation by fellow teacher Nadine Micallef. Together they matched student talent to some 40 volunteer teachers who would follow rehearsals, advise and bring the performance up to scratch. This meant giving up free time, breaks and after-school hours.

Judging by the enthusiastic audience reception, it was all worth it. The two drama sketches Seftur ghas-Sur Tumas and L-Ghazzien Dejjem Tellief, had the audience rapt with attention and laughter, the karate display with disbelief. The rock band provided a contrast with the classical violin and piano recital. Latin American dancing provided the contrast with rap and break dancing.

In between there was the choir and a quartet of students on a makeshift village bench bringing the house down with their jokes. There were poetry recitals and a taste of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The audience roared at a student's impersonation of Elvis'sViva Las Vegas.

It was hard to believe that there was so much hidden talent among the students that was waiting to be tapped. The show was a credit to the students' acting abilities. There was also the satisfaction for a job well done by teachers and the school management team one of whose development plan targets is to improve students' self-esteem boost personal confidence and instil pride in the school.

Mozart for Prize Day

The school chooses Prize Day plays with a distinct cultural or thematic content. This year young and older audiences were regaled with a deep insight into the life of the Genius of Salzburg, as the play penned by John Suda was aptly called.

The play directed jointly by Maria Elena Abela and Noel Calleja through the drama medium and the ability of the young actors gave information about Mozart. Who was he? What troubles did he face? Why did he die so young and why was he respected more by foreigners than by his native audiences?

The production evolved smoothly in the setting provided by art teacher Simon Camilleri and his team of talented students. It clearly showed the vicissitudes of the ebullient composer's difficult life. The young narrator provided a continuous narrative which was interspersed by interventions of Mozart as a child and as an adult. The latter was involved in exchanges of intense dialogue with his father Leopold, who dominated his life. We are also given information about his married life and the support he received from his wife Constance.

Another dominant character in the play was composer and conductor Antonio Salieri who disliked Mozart and considered him his rival. In fact in his death throes, aptly accompanied by the music from his Requiem, Mozart blames Salieri for having poisoned him.

The narrator then provides us with the details of Mozart's miserable funeral; the composer was laid to rest among paupers, his grave unmarked.

The play had a great educational value as the audiences not only reflected on the brilliant composer's life but were also given glimpses of his best music with the projection of scenes from his most appealing operas The Magic Flute and The Marriage of Figaro.

The school choir, trained and directed by Lorna Debattista, also performed by singing songs from The Sound of Music, Cats, The Fiddler on the Roof and The Phantom of the Opera.

The head of school, Godfrey Bonello, in his address reported how the school was performing in carrying out the action plans it had set for itself.

Alfred Cauchi, Acting Assistant Director of Education, delivered messages regarding the role of students, parents and teaching staff at school. The prize-giving ceremony then followed.