Torri Babel, a comedy written by Guido Fenech, is being staged at the Catholic Institute Theatre in Floriana next month.
The whole story takes place in the 1950s, when emigration was in full swing, and many Maltese decided to seek their fortune in Australia, Canada and the US because of lack of work.
Ġannikol (Guido Fenech) is a highly skilled shoemaker. There aren’t many shoe orders, but there is enough work for Ġannikol and his two apprentices, Indri (Ian Fenech) and Pupul (Fabian Scerri De Carlo) to keep them busy all year round.
Unfortunately, Ġannikol has two shortcomings that were affecting his business. The first one is that his hearing is getting from bad to worse and he badly needs a hearing aid. Customers are on the decline as he cannot understand what they want. The other problem is that he spends the little money he earns on wine drinking. So he cannot not pay his rent and his apprentices.
Delina, Ġannikol’s wife (Norma Cristina), gets very angry at her husband’s behaviour. One fine day she has a surprise visit from the new landlord, Raymondo Said (Frederick Camilleri), a rich Maltese who made his fortune in Detroit back in the States. Raymondo wants to settle the unpaid rent, but because he fancies Delina, he forgives Ġannikol’s dues and is ready to transfer the shop on Delina’s name if he would let her take care of him.
Ġannikol encourages his wife to keep meeting Raymondo, telling him she is his sister. The plan starts off well until the day they all go to the feast of Imnarja and Ġannikol’s jealousy gets the upper hand.
Meanwhile, Mrs London (Stefania Attard Vella), a very attractive English woman married to an English army officer, visits Ġannikol’s shop frequently and the latter has a big crush on her. Delina is envious.
Indri and Pupul get mixed up in this jealousy affair, and with Ġannikol not hearing well, confusion reigns supreme.
• Torri Babel is being held at the Catholic Institute, Floriana on Saturday, November 1 at 6pm and Sunday, November 2, at 5pm.
Tickets may be obtained from ticket hotline 9947 3620 or 7725 9563, from the institute on 2123 8429, the bar at the institute or by calling 2124 2551. Tickets are also available at Tereża Bazaar in Żabbar (2189 2730), Carmen Azzopardi in Rabat (7930 6435), Pawlu Testa Travel, Guardamangia (2122 3340 or 2122 3299), and online: www.istitutkattoliku.com.