Putting a comical spin on all the events that have made 2014 – shall we say – interesting is the basis of the new show by the Comedy Knights, called 12 Months of Funny Powered by XFM. The comedy show, which is in its second year, was a riotous success, with a number of its sketches going viral on You Tube.
Director Wesley Ellul tells us that the interesting thing about this show by the Comedy Knights is about its frantic rehearsal period.
“Unlike other shows which normally rehearse over a six- to eight-week period, we have a frantic rehearsal period of just over three weeks,” he says. “This is all because we need to keep the scripts fresh and relevant to what’s going on around us. In fact, when people see the show some of the pieces would have been written and rehearsed the same week – and we’re talking whole sketches here, not just a joke or two.”
Our little islands give us all sorts of mick-taking fodder, and we’re exploiting that every step of the way
The adults-only show features six of Malta’s most recognisable performers – Marc Cabourdin, Chris Dingli and Thomas Camilleri, who are all London-trained – as well as two of Malta’s funniest women, Pia Zammit and Jo Caruana, and Mr Funny Man himself – Colin Fitz, who has been cracking people up for years.
The biggest change to last year’s line-up is the addition of Camilleri, who has joined the cast this year following his run on London’s West End in Legally Blonde as well as a number of other touring shows.
“Tom is a great character to have around and is exploding with talent,” says Ellul. “I am sure he is going to impress. Beyond this we have a whole new host of material provided by our lovely friends on both sides of the floor in Parliament, and by some other interesting characters across the Maltese islands.”
The writing team is made up of a number of comedic writers, many of whom are big on the local stand-up comedy scene – Chris Dingli, Steve Hili, Philip Leone Ganado, Matt Bonanno and Chiara Hyzler.
“When I accepted to take part in last year’s production, I had no idea of the fun that we were going to have,” says Pia Zammit. “Rehearsals were a hoot and the finished product made me guffaw every single night. Keeping a straight face on stage was always a challenge.”
She says that audience reactions every night were amazing and that she cannot wait to perform this year’s sketches.
“The news this year has been varied, interesting and comment-inducing at the very least – so we quite have our pick of ‘Maltese society’ quirks and incidents to poke fun at.”
Jo Caruana is also rearing to get this year’s show on the road.
“We’re a group of friends on stage and off, so the laughs flow freely and we spend our rehearsals making one another laugh; the gags that work stay in the show and hopefully become the kind of material that makes our audience laugh too. This year we have put the focus firmly on the last 12 months – so everyone who has been in the news in one way or another may well be included! Our little islands give us all sorts of mick-taking fodder, and we’re exploiting that every step of the way.”
• 12 Months of Funny Powered by XFM takes place at the Salesian Theatre, Sliema, from December 26 to January 3 at 8pm. Tickets, including free parking, may be obtained from the box office of Embassy Cinema, Valletta, from City Concierge – Malta at The Plaza shopping centre in Sliema or online at www.ticketline.com.mt.