Communication or domination?

Christmas season is now defunct except for the odd forgotten Santa still desperately trying to climb up some balcony, or some flickering fairy lights in shop windows.

One season over, another is about to begin: The theatre season for all-the-year-round drama enthusiasts is back, with no plush characters or random people breaking into song to dominate the stage.

From shows for all the family with a dancing and singing Barney, the purple dinosaur, to a PVC-clad dominatrix... the forthcoming show, Communicating Doors, produced by Maleth Theatre Company, is exclusively for an adult audience.

Written by British playwright Alan Ayckbourn, who has as many as 72 full-length plays to his credit, more than half of which were produced for the West End, the local production is being directed by Salvu Mallia, who staged and directed a number of Ayckbourn's plays in the past.

Set in 2014, the action takes place in a "nondescript" hotel room, where portal-like communicating doors allow for a time-travelling experience into the not so distant past. However, not all those using the magic portals get transported to the same era and some are even left behind.

Ayckbourn's play stars Irene Christ as Poopay Dayseer, a professional dominatrix, who has been "invited" to the hotel to provide a service for an elderly man, Reece Welles. However, he does not require the usual services from Poopay. Instead, Reece wants her to witness a confession of terrible deeds and crimes involving the murder of his two wives committed by his business partner, Julian, who gets wind of the impending confession and sets out to kill Poopay. A complex series of events ensues, with the main characters travelling back and forth in time to reveal the truth behind the devious deeds committed.

Produced by Frank Tanti, this time warp comedy/thriller also features Barry Calvert, Lillian Pace, Stefan Farrugia, Isabelle Jakobsen and Renato Dimech.

Three performances will be held at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta, on the weekend, starting today.

For bookings call on 2124 6389, e-mail bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or visit www.teatrumanoel.com.mt.