Been there... seen that
This month, Pierre Stafrace does the honours on the culture circuit.
This has been a very busy season in Malta with lots of theatre, dance and music productions apart from some pretty good movies. During the month of May, however, I hardly saw anything here due to various engagements and travel.
The only thing I did manage to visit was the "refurbished" Palazzo Falson in Mdina, the building previously known as the Norman House. A lot of painstaking work has gone into the restoration on this magnificent palace, which is one of the oldest buildings in Mdina. Walls have been cleaned and repointed and broken or worn stone slabs replaced. The impressive fireplace in the kitchen has been renovated, as has the old ceramic oven. Apart from the building and the period artifacts, Palazzo Falson holds various displays of eclectic collections put together by the previous owner, Capt. O. F. Gollcher, which are truly interesting. They reminded me of similar collections in a delightful place owned by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (featured in the movie Il Postino) in Valparaiso. Spending a long weekend in Gozo, I found myself at the Lejlet Lapsi - Notte Gozitana event. Though I had booked my break way back in anticipation of a quiet weekend, I enjoyed the transformation of Victoria, especially the Citadel area, into a veritable hive of activity. Artists working around the bastions, musicians, theatrical productions and exhibitions gave us something to see practically all day and most of the night. I must say I found the "re-enactments" a bit too contrived - but then I never really like them. The rest of the activities were very enjoyable with various markets set up offering selections of crafts and goodies.
In London, I happened to come across productions by two of my favourite theatre companies - both playing in the same week! A Matter of Life and Death is by Kneehigh on the Olivier stage at the National Theatre, directed by Emma Rice. It is based on the 1947 movie of the same name, which featured David Niven as a wartime pilot who miraculously survived jumping out of a burning plane without a parachute.
The stage version is pure magic - a very romantic and tenderly passionate love story which is still quite surreal, in true Kneehigh fashion. Gisli Orn Gardarsson is simply hilarious as a Norwegian escapologist cracking jokes while dangling from a rope or disappearing in a puff of smoke.
The ambitious design by our friend Bill Mitchell is really exciting and is put to full use through the fantastic physical work of the Kneehigh actors. The production is accompanied by five musicians playing good fun compositions by Stu Barker. Overall, a great evening of physical, musical and dramatic theatre.
The other piece is by the company Cheek By Jowl - William Shakespeare's Cymbeline at the Barbican. This is a completely different piece of work played on the simplest and starkest of sets, with no special effects. The clear direction by Declan Donellan allows the action to flow effortlessly. Jodie McNee plays a strong, sensual Imogen, bringing to life one of Shakespeare's greatest female characters; she portrays fidelity, chastity and faith in a very real and credible manner. However, the whole cast give excellent performances in this action-packed play - which is often the trademark of Cheek By Jowl productions. They rely on the strength of strong ensemble acting to deliver memorable productions. This Cymbeline is a savage and dark political drama designed for our own violent times.
I hope to have more time in summer to enjoy the Maltese cultural scene - there are many concerts lined up, but I am particularly looking forward to one of my favourite Shakespeare's - A Midsummer Night's Dream.
The only thing I did manage to visit was the "refurbished" Palazzo Falson in Mdina, the building previously known as the Norman House. A lot of painstaking work has gone into the restoration on this magnificent palace, which is one of the oldest buildings in Mdina. Walls have been cleaned and repointed and broken or worn stone slabs replaced. The impressive fireplace in the kitchen has been renovated, as has the old ceramic oven. Apart from the building and the period artifacts, Palazzo Falson holds various displays of eclectic collections put together by the previous owner, Capt. O. F. Gollcher, which are truly interesting. They reminded me of similar collections in a delightful place owned by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (featured in the movie Il Postino) in Valparaiso. Spending a long weekend in Gozo, I found myself at the Lejlet Lapsi - Notte Gozitana event. Though I had booked my break way back in anticipation of a quiet weekend, I enjoyed the transformation of Victoria, especially the Citadel area, into a veritable hive of activity. Artists working around the bastions, musicians, theatrical productions and exhibitions gave us something to see practically all day and most of the night. I must say I found the "re-enactments" a bit too contrived - but then I never really like them. The rest of the activities were very enjoyable with various markets set up offering selections of crafts and goodies.
In London, I happened to come across productions by two of my favourite theatre companies - both playing in the same week! A Matter of Life and Death is by Kneehigh on the Olivier stage at the National Theatre, directed by Emma Rice. It is based on the 1947 movie of the same name, which featured David Niven as a wartime pilot who miraculously survived jumping out of a burning plane without a parachute.
The stage version is pure magic - a very romantic and tenderly passionate love story which is still quite surreal, in true Kneehigh fashion. Gisli Orn Gardarsson is simply hilarious as a Norwegian escapologist cracking jokes while dangling from a rope or disappearing in a puff of smoke.
The ambitious design by our friend Bill Mitchell is really exciting and is put to full use through the fantastic physical work of the Kneehigh actors. The production is accompanied by five musicians playing good fun compositions by Stu Barker. Overall, a great evening of physical, musical and dramatic theatre.
The other piece is by the company Cheek By Jowl - William Shakespeare's Cymbeline at the Barbican. This is a completely different piece of work played on the simplest and starkest of sets, with no special effects. The clear direction by Declan Donellan allows the action to flow effortlessly. Jodie McNee plays a strong, sensual Imogen, bringing to life one of Shakespeare's greatest female characters; she portrays fidelity, chastity and faith in a very real and credible manner. However, the whole cast give excellent performances in this action-packed play - which is often the trademark of Cheek By Jowl productions. They rely on the strength of strong ensemble acting to deliver memorable productions. This Cymbeline is a savage and dark political drama designed for our own violent times.
I hope to have more time in summer to enjoy the Maltese cultural scene - there are many concerts lined up, but I am particularly looking forward to one of my favourite Shakespeare's - A Midsummer Night's Dream.