Following the success of last year’s sold-out show, three of Malta’s best-known stage performers will be returning this Christmas to perform a follow-up improvised comedy alternative for adults instead of the usual seasonal entertainment.

Actors Malcolm Galea and Chris Dingli together with director Wesley Ellul, will be performing their new production Dingle Bells Malcolm Smells: The [blank] and the Big Shiny [blank]! at St James Cavalier for five nights only.

Last year’s show Dingle Bells Malcolm Smells was Malta’s first ever improvised comedy show and was such a hit that the initial run had to be extended twice, with Mr Dingli having to cancel his flight back to London where he lives.

This year’s show will have a stronger improvisation element to it.

“Last year we dipped our toe into the water,” explains Mr Dingli. “This year we’re really going for it, making it even more difficult for ourselves by giving the audience much more control over what we do.”

“We took note of the things that worked well last year, and improved on them. If it wasn’t funny, we got rid of it and replaced it with something twice as funny instead,” added Mr Galea.

The show will again be a mixture of comedy genres which will include sketches, songs, monologues and some elements of stand-up comedy.

“It will be completely original, never-seen-before material and will be loosely based around a couple of themes, which the audience will decide on the night,” says Mr Ellul. “This is why the title of the show has a fill-the-blanks element to it. Everything from the story to the genre to the characters will be decided on the night. We’ve actually gone out our way to make sure no two shows are the same.”

The show runs at St James Cavalier theatre from December 26-30.

• Tickets may be obtained from St James by phone on 2122 3200 or online: www.sjcav.org. More information may be obtained at www.theatregonewrong.com.