More than evil

Mor is not a play for everybody but only for those who dare," declares director Lino Farrugia. "We need to face the truth about our new way of life ‒ read the press, watch the news ‒ humanity is disintegrating. Or is it? Are we allowing our animal instincts to take over? In the 1970s we used to say "make love not war" and that Flower Power ruled. Now it's all about just power. Power in all its forms. Religions are not helping either. I wouldn't like to predict a squalid future, however, I would say that power is going to corrupt this civilisation if we are not careful."

Strong words indeed and there's more. Or should we say "Mor"? Mor is produced by Talenti and stars Mario Micallef, Monica Attard, Miriam Fiteni and 10-year-old Connor Church. It is written and directed by Lino Farrugia who has scripted well-known television series like Wirt, Għaddi l-Bieb Miftuħ, Issa Naraw, Villa Sunset and many others.

Mr Farrugia goes on to tell us that "the concept of the play is about evil which is born with us ‒ it is in our genes and in our DNA. However, it has developed some awful stains ‒ evil stains. Have you ever seen a beheading? Check on the internet. It is shocking."

Mor is a thriller in which the four characters ‒ He, She, the Other and Mor (a 10-year-old boy) ‒ all have different agendas. All vie to achieve their ends and evil or no evil, nothing is allowed to stand in their way.

The plot centres around a normal everyday married couple; Gloria, played by Monica Attard and Morris, played by Mario Micallef.

Their lives change when their son Henry is found dead in rather strange circumstances. However, the appearance of Sina (a long absent family friend played by Miriam Fiteni) complicates matters.

Sina used to be a call girl and at present has a lover who just happens to be a priest. Sina needs Gloria's help which Gloria refuses to give until she realises that her husband Morris has committed a crime she considers unthinkable. "The woman gets angry and the devil has to run".

"Men beware," Mr Farrugia goes on to say "it's hate at first sight. The characters hate each other, they need each other, they want to know the truth about each other but the only way is out. For all of them". But who is Mor?

Mor is the 10-year-old child who epitomises all evil. "Mor is the perennial young boy manipulating their lives and they do not know it. Mor is all about love, hate, passion, envy, scheming, double dealing and evil. Well, not just about evil," explains Mr Farrugia, "but more about the evil that men do, that does not necessarily live after them as it might or might not kill them. In fact the evil within every one of us is usually controlled and only crops up when we allow it to."

Mor has been certified 18, so how did they get around using a 10-year-old in the play? And not just a 10-year-old but one who has to be the embodiment of evil and do it with a smile. How can young Connor do this without having full knowledge of what he is doing? In films it is easier to do this as you can film around the child and then work wonders with editing but how do you achieve this live on stage?

"Well I did find a way" explains Mr Farrugia "but I cannot tell all as it will divulge too much of the technique I am using. We had to be very careful during rehearsals how to deal with certain scenes. Yes, we had to be more than careful when dealing with this rather difficult situation. We made sure that his mother attended all rehearsals. She read the script and explained the situation. On my part I made sure that the actual presence of the 10-year-old actor was not required during some scenes. Some scenes are more than awkward. We also went to great lengths to explain that this story is just like a fairy tale, where there is a witch or a baddie who does bad things. During the actual performance nights Connor will be listening to music on his MP3 and so will be prevented from hearing certain scenes and during others he will be backstage doing his homework. This is a responsibility that needs careful handling and we have made absolutely sure that the child is protected at all costs".

Mario Micallef had this to add about the play: "It is about ordinary people who have an unordinary past. They have terrible secrets and regrets and grudges. They hate each other but need each other to destroy each other and to get the truth from the harm they suffered."

Who is Morris? "He is a normal looking person, but his past is awful. He decides that he hates his wife not knowing that it is reciprocal. This may be a common occurrence but it is with a different twist. What is exciting about this play is that it is challenging ‒ I have never done anything like it. The cast is strong with myself, Monica Attard, Miriam Fiteni and of course Connor. I think that in this script, Lino is making very strong comments about relationships, marriage and the disintegration of the nucleus of society ‒ the family."

One final question for Mr Farrugia. Why should people come and watch this play? "Because it will keep them hooked to their seats till the very end. It is fun, bizarre but very entertaining with a touch of humour. Can you believe that? Humour and evil?"

• Mor is being staged by Talenti at St James Cavalier today and tomorrow and on April 18-20. Tickets may be obtained by phone on 2122 3200 by e-mail: boxoffice@sjcav.org or online www.sjcav.org/