With less than a week to go till Alfred Buttigieg’s new play Mela Hawn Xi Manikomju? debuts at St James Cavalier, director Tyrone Grima speaks to Iggy Fenech about bringing the humorous, yet dark, script to life.

I may be stating the obvious when I say that theatre is unlike any other medium out there; but it’s one fact that is simply not stated enough. While films take a story and turn it into a larger-than-life adventure, and music can make us move, cry or scream along, theatre brings a story to life right in front of our eyes.

Theatre has no veneer like movies do. Special effects and actors, while directed, still feel real and fragile. Theatre is life being acted out in real time and that is what makes it feel so intimate. Indeed, as the Canadian philosopher, Marshall McLuhan, once put it: the medium is the message. And, with theatre, that is most definitely the case.

What does this have to do with Alfred Buttigieg’s upcoming play Mela Hawn xi Manikomju? I heard you say? Everything, actually.

The play, which revolves around four bed-ridden women in their 80s living in a rehabilitation hospital, explores the reality of being forgotten by family and friends, of not having anything more to contribute to the world, of becoming a burden on society.

Through dark humour and mischief, these four women rebel. And, while I will not spoil the ending, the fact that theatre is such an intimate and emotive medium, will definitely help audiences relate to the plight of these four formidable women who represent a possible future for all of us.

“The characters are vivid and alive,” says Tyrone Grima, the man in charge of bringing Buttigieg’s creation to life. “In each rehearsal we examine and study their intentions, as well as create their past history and we are constantly discovering new things about them. Each day I come out of the rehearsal space claiming that a particular character is my favourite, only to change my mind the following day.”

What’s fascinating about Grima’s directing career is that it happened by complete accident and coincidence.

A challenging script with a very precise rhythm that has to be mastered for the play to come to full fruition

“I trained as an actor, and it was always my ambition and dream to act,” he says. “However, I never felt quite comfortable in the role of an actor. Then, I started teaching drama at a school, which placed me in a position where I had to direct school productions. It was at that point that I discovered my calling to be a director. Even so, it took me a few years to mourn the possibility of being an actor and being courageous enough to direct.”

Grima’s first official public attempt was in the Drama Festival in 2005. This, eventually, led him to create his own theatre group called Theatrencore and direct numerous plays, including the critically-acclaimed Bariona (2010) and Bwani (2013) at St James, and Children of a Lesser God (2015) at Blue Box Theatre.

Yet Mela Hawn xi Manikomju? is a different kind of beast for Grima to tackle.

“Mela Hawn xi Manikomju? has a challenging script with a very precise rhythm that has to be mastered for the play to come to full fruition,” he says. “On the one hand it is both humorous and deep, while, on the other hand, what initially might seem as something limiting due to topic and setting, can develop into something exciting and playful. Obviously part of the credit lies in the cast, but the rest lies in the skilful hands of the playwright who offered us a piece which has so many layers to it.

“I only knew Buttigieg through his works prior to this experience, and yet he has given me carte blanche as director. I have been in a similar position, that is, where a piece I had written was directed by someone else. It’s very daunting, but I do appreciate the trust that Buttigieg has placed in me.”

Lilian Pace as Ġużeppa.

Grima’s cast includes quite a star-studded line-up as well, including Lee-N Abela, Lilian Pace, Ninette Micallef and Theresa Gauci, who will be playing the parts of Lina, Ġużeppa, Mena and Gerit respectively, as well as Roberta Briffa, Andre Mangion and Charles Sammut in the supporting roles.

“The cast is talented and experienced,” Grima says. “They are open to ideas and to experimentation, which is a dream scenario for a director. We discuss at length and we explore things from many angles.

“Moreover, I have also been blessed with very resourceful crewmembers, particularly Angele Galea, one of the producers, who is so supportive on so many levels, ranging from the conceptual to the practical ones.”

Now, with less than a week to go till the show kick-starts its two-weekend run at St James Cavalier, Grima, Buttigieg and the cast and crew are working hard to finalise all the details.

Mela Hawn Xi Manikomju? shows at St James Cavalier, Valletta, on Friday, Saturday and next Sunday and March 11, 12, 13. All shows start at 8pm. Tickets can be booked online or by calling on 2122 3200. The play is certified 18+ and is being supported by the Malta Arts Fund.

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