MADC’s next offering, Adult Entertainment, written by Elaine May, centres around a group of porn actors who are rather down in the dumps following the recent death of their manager and mentor.
Tired of working for others, they take the initiative to film a movie of their own, but their new manager’s script does not live up to their expectations. So they bring in a new writer who insists they read the classics to prepare for their roles.
Unexpected ideas develop and we see a new side to this group of friends before the play reaches its raucous and riotous conclusion.
“I chose this play because I rather liked the unusual – and unlikely – subject,” says the play’s director Marylou Coppini, “as well as the quirky characters and the clever and funny things they say. The play pretends to be an all-out comedy but keeps ‘surprising us with humanity in the midst of the ridiculous’.
People should come to watch us because the play is fun, a bit rude, but with touching moments too
“It is a good evening’s entertainment with clever dialogue and attractive actors, interspersed with some fun music.”
The production part has been fraught with, as Coppini puts it, “unexpected hurdles that always conspired against our inspiration”, including a cast member change late in the day. However, she says, in the end these obstacles have strengthened team spirit and ultimately, with the help of everyone involved, improved the show.
Isabel Warrington plays Frosty Moons, an ageing porn star.
“She is gay, hasn’t had much of an education and the most she has achieved in her life is making adult movies,” explains Warrington. “At face value she is your archetypal bimbo, but there are deeper layers beneath that surface. The challenge is to allow those layers to show without forgetting that, ultimately, it is a fast-paced comedy with some hilariously titillating numbers.”
One of the characters, called Jumbo Jimbo, is a numbskull, but with the right physical proportions of a well-hung porn star who thrives comfortably in the industry of adult entertainment.
He is being played by Stefan Farrugia, who says that Jimbo goes through a voyage of discovery: “Jimbo craves to star in an ‘art film’ and, together with a bunch of fellow adult video performers, he delves into reading the classics.
“This unexpected journey, which prohibits the use of drugs or booze, connects him to his emotions, turning his once-numb existence into a world which brings him face to face with his disturbing reality.”
Actress Kate De Cesare confesses that the main challenge of playing her character, Heidi the Ho, is wearing very, very short skirts.
“Playing a character so very different from my own is interesting,” she laughs. “I think I’m a bit of a prude really, so playing a porn star is great fun and there are lots of laughs during rehearsals! People should come to watch us because the play is fun, a bit rude, but with touching moments too.”
The rest of the cast is made up of Katherine Brown, Stefan Cachia Zammit and Philip Leone Ganado. Original musical numbers are by Louiselle Vassallo.
• Adult Entertainment is being performed at St James Cavalier on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and March 14-16, 22-24. Tickets may be obtained by phone on 2122 3200, by e-mailing boxoffice@sjcav.org or online at www.sjcav.org.