Poisoned by prejudice

The Manoel Theatre’s drama season opens this year with the premier of L-Għanja taċ-Ċinju, Joe Friggieri’s two-act play in Maltese that was awarded first prize in last year’s Francis Ebejer national playwriting competition organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts.

Dealing with the trial and death of Socrates in 399 BC, the play shows the great philosopher being charged with corrupting the young by his teaching and trying to defend himself in front of a popular jury prejudiced by Aristophanes’ satirical portrayal of him in Clouds.

Political intrigue, religious fanaticism and popular resentment, impassioned pleas for mercy interspersed with brilliant scenes of comic relief and some lovely choral sequences, combine to make the play one of the highlights of the Manoel Theatre’s drama season.

Directed by Albert Marshall and choreographed by Mavin Khoo, with costumes and masks by Donald Friggieri, L-Għanja taċ-Ċinju brings together a fine set of actors led by Michael Tabone in the main role.

The close collaboration between one of Malta’s most exciting theatre directors and the world famous dancer and choreographer in the interpretation of a beautifully crafted text has generated a great deal of interest among theatregoers. Though the characters wear period costumes, the dialogue sounds absolutely contemporary, highlighting the play’s relevance to current political issues and events, while the dancers reflect the changing moods of the action as it moves towards its dramatic climax.

• L-Għanja taċ-Ċinju is being staged at the Manoel Theatre on October 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets may be obtained from the booking office, by phone on 2124 6389, by e-mail: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or online: www.teatrumanoel.com.mt.