A hard, wise, lower-middle-class comedy by Alan Ackybourne is being staged at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta, next weekend.

Presented by Maleth Theatre Company, If I Were You tells the tale of a teenage son, a married daughter, a sleazy in-law, the middle-aged husband, his wife and his Trixie who all have their secrets.

Mal and Jill Rodale’s marriage is on the rocks. Mal is having an affair largely conducted during his lunch-breaks. Jill, a house-wife, who has not worked for 15 years and patently regrets it, is also aware of Mal’s infidelities.

When her daughter Chrissie comes to visit, she realises Chrissie is being physi-cally abused by her husband Dean, who works with Mal.

Meanwhile, Jill’s son Sam, struggling at school, is keen on acting and wants to appear in the school’s Shakespearean production.

Mal’s relationship with his teenage son, who, to his disgust, is becoming interested in Shakespeare, is one of mutual belligerence. The marriage of his loudmouthed son-in-law to his daughter doesn’t look promising, and the two men boost each other’s morale with frequent back-slapping.

One day, Mal wakes up and finds he’s become Jill, and she’s become Mal. Will either become a better parent and spouse?

Directed by Salvu Mallia, If I Were You features Jane Pillow, Peter Galea, Kate De Caesare, Isaac Cutajar and Sean Briffa.

The play is on at The Manoel Theatre, Valletta from Friday to next Sunday at 8 p.m.

Visit www.teatrumanoel.com.mt to book.