Alan Montanaro and Edward Mercieca, who will soon be joining forces for FourPlayFour, answer Iggy Fenech’s questions. The results? Quite funny, actually.

Both veterans and fan-favourites on the local theatre scene, Alan Montanaro and Edward Mercieca’s comedic skills are legendary and FourPlay’s unique formula will surely capitalise on having these two back together on stage.

They will be joined by the fabulous Isabel Warrington and Louiselle Vassallo and, together, will be performing sketches written by Alan himself, as well as Malcolm Galea, Herman Grech and Chiara Hyzler. Moreover, additional material has been provided by Vikesh Godhwani and Joseph Zammit.

Directing FourPlayFour will be Denise Mulholland, Malcolm Galea, Herman Grech and Chiara Hyzler; while Emma Loftus is working on choreography, and Paul Abela on musical arrangements. The sketches will be supplemented by some hilarious filmed sequences, too, which were created by V-Squared Media and Entertainment.

FourPlay, in fact, really is a sum of its parts, and the recipe will have many in fits! But, surely, the question on everyone’s minds: Alan and Edward together on the stage again?

Yep! And soon! Which is why we had to sit down and ask them – more or less – the same questions… Side-by-side on the stage; head-to-head in this article.

Alan Montanaro

The man with many FourPlay Hats.

What can you tell us about FourPlay Four?

FourPlay was borne out of manic desperation when a theatre booking scheduled for May 2006 was brought forward to October. With only four weeks to put up a high-end show and no material, I roped in three other writers to help with the scripts.

Four directors were then signed up to direct four actors in a way that rehearsals could happen simultaneously.

The number four kept cropping up, giving birth, eventually, to the popular FourPlay brand.

Today, I produce it, write sketches, act in it and I’m also the personal responsible for giving birth to the beast.

This is a play with four writers, four directors and four actors – how does that work?

Like clockwork. The four writers submit the material; the four actors then read the skteches, dissect them and develop them with the four directors.

In this play you’ll be performing as a number of characters. Which one is your favourite and why?

I love them all. I know that’s a cliché – but this time I really do. I’ll be acting, singing and dancing (badly) – what’s not to love?

How does it feel to be working with Edward again?

I’m loving every minute of it. Edward is not just a buddy – he is a partner in crime. We’ve acted in several plays and pantomimes together over many years and we co-hosted a TV show called Lanċa Ġejja back in the day. The simple reality is that we just click on many levels, humanly and, of course, comically.

On stage, Edward is like a big, fluffy security blanket for me and many are the times that he saved me from a dropped line or five. And me, him, surely.

Edward also happens to be the only person who manages to crack me up on stage, which is very unprofessional of me. I can’t help it, but seeing Edward in any wig gets me each time and, of course, he’ll be wearing several in this production, which means I will be focusing intently on his shoulder when addressing him on stage rather than his face.

What can you tell us about the rehearsal process?

It truly is a joy to work with Isabel, Louiselle and Edward, so much so that we are the despair of our directors and choreographers. Truth be told, we can be a tad undisciplined at times, but that lends well to the chemistry the four of us have on stage. Also, I love to see scripts come to life as everyone chips in to make the end result even better. Moreover, when audiences see us prancing and twisting around on stage, they should bear in mind that between us there are just over 200 years.

What can audiences expect from FourPlay Four?

Well, they can expect the formula that has been so successful over the years. We ask them to simply leave their troubles (and possibly their brains) at the door; laugh as unselfconsciously as they can and just have a good night out… Because everybody, but everybody, enjoys a little bit of FourPlay.

What is in the pipeline for you after FourPlay Four?

In between the two FourPlay weekends I will be starting my rehearsals for MADC’s Treasure Island – The Panto at MFCC in Ta’ Qali. Readers will be thrilled (or not) to learn that I will not be wearing tights this Christmas – instead I will be playing the part of the very peculiar panto baddie, Long John Swagger, who has a very particular fetish.

After panto, DnA Theatre Productions will be reviving a two-hander comedy called The Secret Lives of Henry and Alice, which everyone who has ever been in a relationship must come and watch.

Edward Mercieca

FourPlay virgin

What can you tell us about FourPlay Four?

It’s my first time taking part in Four Play and, I must say, it’s been a blast. It’s a lot of hard work, mind you, and I am sure that I will lose some kilos from all the dancing and stuff. Even so, it’s very silly, very funny and it looks towards Maltese life for inspiration.

This is a play with four writers, four directors and four actors – how does that work?

Four writers write a number sketches and four directors direct four actors in them… It’s fun.

In this play you’ll be performing as a number of characters. Which one is your favourite?

Żaren Zrinzo is my favourite… Why? Because he grabs the middle classes by the you-know-what and gives them a good shake. He is very funny, too.

There’s nothing funny about dance rehearsals. I hate them

How does it feel to be working with Alan again?

It’s always great working with Alan, not least because there’s some great chemistry between us. He also always cracks me up, and apparently, I do the same to him too.

What do you think of the script?

It’s the actors that make it work.

What can you tell us about the rehearsal process?

Other than that we are all knackered? It’s pretty hard work – we do have plenty of laughs, except during dance, there’s nothing funny about dance rehearsals because I hate them.

What can audiences expect from FourPlay Four?

A very pleasant evening out with a show packed with comic relief and full of satire.

What’s in the pipeline for you after FourPlay Four?

Panto, of course. This time it’s Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood for FM Theatre Productions. I’m really looking forward to working with a great cast and, of course, with the brilliant creative team, made up of Chris Gatt, Cathy Lawlor, Krispi Spiteri and Francesco Nicodeme.

FourPlayFour, produced by DnA Theatre Productions takes place at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta on Friday, Saturday and next Sunday and November 13, 14, and 15 at 8pm.

www.teatrumanoel.com.mt

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