The Social Theatre Contest set up by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and organised by the Malta Drama Centre did not produce outstanding plays. However, three of the finalist productions provided reasonably good theatre.
It would be a fine thing if the Aġenzija’s intention to have a second edition of this contest were to become reality
The adjudicators (Monica Attard, Andrè Delicata and myself) awarded the first prize to a script/production by the fairly unknown Andrè Mangion. His It-tfajjel ta’ fuq il-Bandla revolved around an autistic boy who is treated callously by his father and ends up in a hospital ward, where he is abused by a nurse.
The boy was given a consistent and vivid interpretation by the author himself and the acting, together with Clive Piscopo’s perceptive direction and the disturbing topic of the play merited the first prize.
The second prize went to Gabirjoli by Albert Marshall. The play has a narrator, Kurt (David George Camilleri), who is now dead and who looks back at his life, marital problems and his extra-marital affair.
The play is too short for the psychological development needed to make the events comprehensible, but it is structured into elegant short scenes, ending in Kurt’s death. Anthony Ellul’s firm direction helps to give it unity.
Kristabel Caruana’s Ġenn? is a lively piece but its problem is that it tries to tackle too many topics. There are the troubles and dangers faced by illegal immigrants; the psychological disturbance experienced by a girl abused by her father in childhood; and more...
Tackling four problems in such a short play was excessive, but strong performances by Chris de Giorgio and Anthea Xuereb, together with Roderick Vassallo’s direction, earned the play third prize.
The fourth finalist, Ivan de Battista and Natasha Turner’s Marjanna, was awarded no prize because of its melodramatic plot and a couple of black, melodramatic roles. The play is about prostitution and rape and Ivan de Battista’s direction often emphasises its nature. Janine Caruana has natural talent and would have benefited from better direction.
It would be a fine thing if the Aġenzija’s intention to have a second edition of this contest were to become reality.