With friends like these
Three young artistes who are joining forces before they continue their journey together in the UK
I suppose many people's first introduction to the world of musicals was "the musical notes song" from The Sound of Music, more commonly known as Doe, A Deer and later perhaps, they moved on to A Spoonful of Sugar, Food Glorious Food and All I Ask of You; and if you don't know which shows these are from, then you really need to head down to the nearest DVD rental shop and start filling the gaping hole in your knowledge of popular culture. The more avid fan of the genre will undoubtedly know that these clichés are merely the tip of a vast iceberg of shows which put Titanic to shame. With Friends Like These is a showcase based entirely on excerpts from musicals and has been written with a particular reason in mind.
As the title suggests, friendship is at the heart of this venture, or should I say, adventure - and for good reason. Three young friends are about to begin a new chapter in their lives where song, dance and acting will play a pivotal role. Matthew Anastasi, Jean Marc Agius Cafa and Rachel Fabri will soon be leaving Malta to study at the prestigious GSA Conservatoire in the UK which is validated by the University of Surrey, accredited by the National Council for Drama Training and approved by Trinity College, London. Although still in their early 20s, these young performers' names are not new to the Maltese theatre crowd, having started performing at a very young age. Rachel's first performance was as a member of the children's choir in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1994, while Matthew's was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Jean Marc has been involved in the performing arts since he was still at school and has most recently performed in MADC's A Midsummer Night's Dream last month as Lysander.
Matthew, a commerce graduate, first began to consider doing a Masters' degree in Musical Theatre around three years ago, when a friend suggested he apply for a training course abroad. He had long harboured a desire to go full time, and the turning point came when he realised that what had begun as essentially a hobby, a sideline, was taking up most of his time anyway and that he was looking forward to spending his time in this manner more than he did in the completely unrelated field he'd chosen as a career path till then. So it was out with the balance sheets and in with the music scores. He first chose to audition at the Guilford School of Acting (GSA) as a trial for his "proper" audition which he planned to do at the Royal Academy of Music; however, the fact that he fell in love with the place together with their thorough selection process and auditioning style, convinced him that GSA was the place for him. Matthew feels that the positive atmosphere there has already helped him to identify very closely with the college and cannot wait to start.
Rachel always knew that she would continue her studies in the performing arts, and it was really a matter of "when" rather than "if". Having completed a degree in psychology, she auditioned and was immediately accepted at both the Royal Academy and GSA Conservatoire, but preferred and chose the latter. Jean Marc is no stranger to training abroad, having been awarded a scholarship to a musical theatre summer course at the British Theatre Dance Association as well as a more extensive course at the Leicester College of Performing Arts. For him "it simply had to be the GSA Conservatoire," he says almost petulantly. It was either that or nothing at all. Being accepted at the GSA would be a sure sign of his vocation as a performer. A rejection would have meant that he wouldn't try to go anywhere else but that he'd "rather stay here in Malta and be miserable..." he adds with a grin.
As they discuss their living arrangements rather heatedly, I remark that living together should prove to be interesting and they immediately launch into a description of how different their characters are and how they all have different fortes in the three main fields of study - dance, singing and acting. However, Rachel confirms that she's beginning to enjoy all three equally and the others nod vigorously in agreement. The whole run-up to the final auditions and the acceptance they received from the GSA Conservatoire has not been easy. It will culminate with their final production here in Malta, With Friends Like These, which now is very clearly a most appropriate title.
There have been disagreements and tantrums along the way and particularly preparing for their last series of performances while travelling abroad for auditions and making important production decisions has put a lot of strain on their relationship, but in Matthew's words, artsy people are simply "quirky" and this difference from others tends to make them more accepting and non-judgemental, "free from typical prejudices and unable to bear a grudge for long," adds Jean Marc. If anything, their journey so far has helped them grow stronger and has taught them to let things slide if each feels miffed by certain things the others do.
For Rachel the show symbolises their triumph at GSA: How three, good long-term friends each succeeded in getting in on their own merits while strongly supporting each other and overcoming the almost painful worry as to whether they'd be accepted or not. "The main thing about the show is us - raw and intimate," says Matthew, "it is not a showy cabaret or typical medley. There are no frills or embellishments, just a showcase of dance and song routines which will bring out the best talents in each of us."
In fact, most of the pieces are not your usual clichés and in that sense Chris Gatt, the director at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, who did not want a typical showcase, has pushed them into attempting to go outside the risk-free range of popular tunes and they have risen to the occasion and succeeded. "The Maltese usually like things which shock and make them talk," says Rachel, and the show, held in the very intimate space of the theatre-in the-round at St James Cavalier, should certainly give them something to talk about.
There are character pieces from current West End shows and other less well-known musicals, at least to the Maltese public, ranging from Wicked, Avenue Q, Billy Elliot, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Lion King, Jekyll & Hyde and Mamma Mia, to name but some; and from the short part of a rehearsal which I saw, my feet are already tapping.
The script was written for them by one of their "bestest" friends, Coryse Borg, and is a marriage of different styles of musical theatre pieces, from ballads to soliloquies. The lyrics are extremely important because it is these which reflect their journey. Edward Mercieca, Coryse Borg, Elaine Camilleri, Alan Paris and Faye Paris are some of the friends who will be joining them under the direction of Wesley Ellul; with choreography by Emma Loftus, Geoffrey Tanti on piano and Jason Fabri on percussion. Other help from friends came in the form of Denise Mulholland's artistic advice and the training and constant support of their voice-coach, soprano Gillian Zammit.
• With Friends Like These is being held between August 23-26. An Old Hollywood themed last night party will be held at the Castille Wine Vaults on August 26 from 10.30 a.m. till late.
As the title suggests, friendship is at the heart of this venture, or should I say, adventure - and for good reason. Three young friends are about to begin a new chapter in their lives where song, dance and acting will play a pivotal role. Matthew Anastasi, Jean Marc Agius Cafa and Rachel Fabri will soon be leaving Malta to study at the prestigious GSA Conservatoire in the UK which is validated by the University of Surrey, accredited by the National Council for Drama Training and approved by Trinity College, London. Although still in their early 20s, these young performers' names are not new to the Maltese theatre crowd, having started performing at a very young age. Rachel's first performance was as a member of the children's choir in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1994, while Matthew's was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Jean Marc has been involved in the performing arts since he was still at school and has most recently performed in MADC's A Midsummer Night's Dream last month as Lysander.
Matthew, a commerce graduate, first began to consider doing a Masters' degree in Musical Theatre around three years ago, when a friend suggested he apply for a training course abroad. He had long harboured a desire to go full time, and the turning point came when he realised that what had begun as essentially a hobby, a sideline, was taking up most of his time anyway and that he was looking forward to spending his time in this manner more than he did in the completely unrelated field he'd chosen as a career path till then. So it was out with the balance sheets and in with the music scores. He first chose to audition at the Guilford School of Acting (GSA) as a trial for his "proper" audition which he planned to do at the Royal Academy of Music; however, the fact that he fell in love with the place together with their thorough selection process and auditioning style, convinced him that GSA was the place for him. Matthew feels that the positive atmosphere there has already helped him to identify very closely with the college and cannot wait to start.
Rachel always knew that she would continue her studies in the performing arts, and it was really a matter of "when" rather than "if". Having completed a degree in psychology, she auditioned and was immediately accepted at both the Royal Academy and GSA Conservatoire, but preferred and chose the latter. Jean Marc is no stranger to training abroad, having been awarded a scholarship to a musical theatre summer course at the British Theatre Dance Association as well as a more extensive course at the Leicester College of Performing Arts. For him "it simply had to be the GSA Conservatoire," he says almost petulantly. It was either that or nothing at all. Being accepted at the GSA would be a sure sign of his vocation as a performer. A rejection would have meant that he wouldn't try to go anywhere else but that he'd "rather stay here in Malta and be miserable..." he adds with a grin.
As they discuss their living arrangements rather heatedly, I remark that living together should prove to be interesting and they immediately launch into a description of how different their characters are and how they all have different fortes in the three main fields of study - dance, singing and acting. However, Rachel confirms that she's beginning to enjoy all three equally and the others nod vigorously in agreement. The whole run-up to the final auditions and the acceptance they received from the GSA Conservatoire has not been easy. It will culminate with their final production here in Malta, With Friends Like These, which now is very clearly a most appropriate title.
There have been disagreements and tantrums along the way and particularly preparing for their last series of performances while travelling abroad for auditions and making important production decisions has put a lot of strain on their relationship, but in Matthew's words, artsy people are simply "quirky" and this difference from others tends to make them more accepting and non-judgemental, "free from typical prejudices and unable to bear a grudge for long," adds Jean Marc. If anything, their journey so far has helped them grow stronger and has taught them to let things slide if each feels miffed by certain things the others do.
For Rachel the show symbolises their triumph at GSA: How three, good long-term friends each succeeded in getting in on their own merits while strongly supporting each other and overcoming the almost painful worry as to whether they'd be accepted or not. "The main thing about the show is us - raw and intimate," says Matthew, "it is not a showy cabaret or typical medley. There are no frills or embellishments, just a showcase of dance and song routines which will bring out the best talents in each of us."
In fact, most of the pieces are not your usual clichés and in that sense Chris Gatt, the director at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, who did not want a typical showcase, has pushed them into attempting to go outside the risk-free range of popular tunes and they have risen to the occasion and succeeded. "The Maltese usually like things which shock and make them talk," says Rachel, and the show, held in the very intimate space of the theatre-in the-round at St James Cavalier, should certainly give them something to talk about.
There are character pieces from current West End shows and other less well-known musicals, at least to the Maltese public, ranging from Wicked, Avenue Q, Billy Elliot, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Lion King, Jekyll & Hyde and Mamma Mia, to name but some; and from the short part of a rehearsal which I saw, my feet are already tapping.
The script was written for them by one of their "bestest" friends, Coryse Borg, and is a marriage of different styles of musical theatre pieces, from ballads to soliloquies. The lyrics are extremely important because it is these which reflect their journey. Edward Mercieca, Coryse Borg, Elaine Camilleri, Alan Paris and Faye Paris are some of the friends who will be joining them under the direction of Wesley Ellul; with choreography by Emma Loftus, Geoffrey Tanti on piano and Jason Fabri on percussion. Other help from friends came in the form of Denise Mulholland's artistic advice and the training and constant support of their voice-coach, soprano Gillian Zammit.
• With Friends Like These is being held between August 23-26. An Old Hollywood themed last night party will be held at the Castille Wine Vaults on August 26 from 10.30 a.m. till late.