Side-splitting adult comedy

A funny take on David Tristram’s play The Opposite Sex will be delivered by DnA Theatre Productions at St James Cavalier next week. The comedy centres on four characters, couples Mark and Vicky and Judith and Eric.

Following the success of their debut production The Secret Lives of Henry and Alice, by David Tristram in May 2009, DnA Theatre Productions are currently rehearsing the comedy The Opposite Sex, written by the same British playwright.

The Opposite Sex is a comedy about life, love and all that happens in between. Mark and Vicky and Judith and Eric are two fairly ordinary couples and when fate throws them together for dinner one evening, their intertwining pasts come back to haunt them. What starts off as a perfectly civilised dinner ends in chaos as secrets are revealed and tempers are frayed, insults are traded, punches are thrown and vases broken.

The play brings together four of Malta’s finest stage actors – Alan Montanaro, Denise Mulholland, Rowena Grima and Malcolm Galea.

Director Herman Grech believes this is a play which hinges on comic timing and perfecting the right pauses.

“The more I read the script the more I realise the way it is wonderfully laced with British humour – lines ranging from hilarious innuendos to savage insults. It’s a one-and-a-half hour roller coaster of cringe-making moments. It was very difficult to turn down such a play when being offered to work with four of the finest actors/comedians in Malta. I must admit it’s possibly one of the easiest plays I’ve had to direct because of the way each of the actors easily dips into his own bag of tricks – unprompted. We’ve worked hard, but we’re laughing hard as well,” he says.

Mr Montanaro, who plays Mark, says that The Opposite Sex is immensely entertaining to anyone who enjoys a good laugh and, he suspects, some home truths will resonate with a few members of the audience.

“We have a strong script that’s thickly coated with English wit, innuendo, and even a bit of slapstick. Added to that, I am sharing the stage with three of the funniest people I know who are each bringing their own brand of quirkiness to their performance.” he says.

Mr Galea plays Eric – part of a new brand of annoying people that have started to plague social circles.

“My character is essentially a rude and obnoxious lout. At the same time however, he’s also got a tertiary education, practises vegetarianism and is very vociferous should anyone get him started on such subjects as human and animal rights. He is all the more annoying thanks to his smug attitude,” he explains.

It’s been a while since Rowena Grima was on stage and she jokes that she has to work doubly hard to spring-clean her otherwise dusty acting skills.

“The character I play is that of a British lady who, in a few words, is a complete dunce or, if you like, as thick as a plank! Not much of a challenge there as I relate to her fairly easily... What is, on the other hand, hugely challenging is keeping up with the level of energy and professionalism my co-actors have individually brought into the play. It’s absolutely fun but hard work at the same time. What I also find trying is keeping a straight face while acting across unnervingly mischievous eyes,” she says.

Ms Mulholland says that the play reminds her of the “screwball” comedies of Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn – the fast badinage and the desire to always be one step ahead of your partner makes the piece very entertaining indeed.

She says without doubt the best part of taking part in this production is working with the other actors:

“Alan and I have been ‘married’ several times now so acting opposite him again is great fun as always; Rowena and Malcolm are two of the funniest people I know, even without a script. And working with Herman Grech has been a delight – he is very laid-back and calm, but still manages to keep his potentially unruly cast under control – usually by promising wine at the end if we work hard,” she laughs.

• Performances of The Opposite Sex take place at St James Cavalier on May 13-15 and May 20-22. Tickets may be obtained by phone on 2122 3200, e-mail: boxoffice@sjcav.org or online: www.sjcav.org.