Fact or fiction

It doesn't take much to figure out why Lemonhead Productions, fresh from the success that greeted their staging of Frankenstein earlier this year, have taken the historical figure of Lucrezia Borgia as the subject and inspiration of their next theatrical project. The character, and the stories that revolve around her, are fascinating by any standard - daughter of Pope Alexander VI, member of one of the most influential families in Renaissance Italy, the rumours and events surrounding her figure have earned her the dubious reputation of being one of the most evil women in history.

Her exploits and deeds, immortalised in numerous works of literature, cinema and opera, have crossed the line into legend and notoriety. A member of the family that has come to represent the Machiavellian political machinations and moral depravity of Renaissance Italy, she has been linked to her father the Pope's political plans and strategies, her hand being given in a series of politically expedient marriages that, inevitably, had no happy ending in store for her husbands once their usefulness was at an end. Her close relationship with her brother, Cesare Borgia, a Cardinal - himself a notorious figure, some have blamed him for his brother Giovanni's murder - was also a source of rumour, some saying that the relationship was an incestuous one, and that the Cardinal had fathered one of Lucrezia's children. This without mentioning the trinket that earned her the appellation of "poisoner" - a hollow ring which she reputedly used to secrete poison into her enemies' cups.

Noel Tanti, who has occupied various roles in a number of past Lemonhead productions, has moved into the director's chair for Lucrezia Borgia. He explains that the play, with its strong emotions and powerful central character at the focus of the story, is thematically in line with previous Lemonhead productions. The team, he says, is "always looking for that exceptional character that, somehow or other, manages to make a difference to the environment in which they live."

Lucrezia Borgia's name first came up in a brainstorming session over a year ago, and after a little background research, it was evident that they had found precisely such a character. As Mr Tanti explains, her life was full of the drama and powerful emotions that are the hallmarks of Lemonhead productions. There was also, Mr Tanti adds, another element to her story that attracted the Lemonhead team - the fact that there exist considerable grey areas regarding the concrete facts of her life.

In fact, there is a degree of controversy and uncertainty regarding how far Lucrezia's infamy is based on truth, and how much it was the result of conjecture, rumour, suspicion, gossip or outright, deliberate lies. "She has this fame as the original black widow, but it's more myth than anything," Mr Tanti says. "There's been research about her life, and the indications suggest that a lot of her reputation is primarily due to the hatred other families of the time had towards the Borgia family. Some say that rival families would hire writers to stain the name of the Borgias."

This widespread animosity towards Lucrezia's family was rooted in more than one source, and reflects the chaotic climate of political intrigue that held sway in the Vatican and in Italy at the time. They were a Spanish family living in Italy at a time when, to borrow Mr Tanti's understatement, "the Italians didn't get along very well with the Spanish". They were also highly successful, both politically (thanks in great part to the political skill exhibited by Lucrezia's father) and materially, and were thus the target of jealousy. Her brother Cesare's cruel and merciless treatment of his rivals also stirred enmities.

Mr Tanti, however, is quick to point out that they are not out to portray Lucrezia Borgia as a saint, or as an innocent victim, but rather to reflect the murky depths of the matter and the difficulty of separating fact from fiction. "We're trying to give the facts from both sides - from her family's side, and from what's been said about her. But we're not reaching a conclusion - we're leaving it open. We're giving the audience hints, but we're leaving it entirely open to interpretation."

The script, an original work in Maltese by Bryan Muscat (who is also the play's producer, together with his wife Louise), was finished around a month after this initial meeting. Though Lemonhead put up Frankenstein in the intervening months, work on bringing Lucrezia Borgia to the stage has continued apace - auditions for both productions were held at the same time. The production kicked into gear last July, when the cast and the production team had their first meeting, and the first guidelines were given to the actors regarding their characterisation. Rehearsals proper commenced in mid-September. This being a period play, certain aspects of the production needed extra attention, notably the costumes. Mr Tanti explains the team is aiming for fidelity, and admits the costumes have taken up quite a bit of time.

Gaby Gauci and Michelle Bonnici play Lucrezia at different stages of her life, while Sandro Vella and Neville Refalo play Pope Alexander VI and Cesare Borgia respectively.

• Lucrezia Borgia will be performed at St James Cavalier on Saturday and Sunday, on November 30 and on December 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets at Lm4.50 will be available at the door, but booking is highly recommended.