Romeo and Juliet are arguably the ultimate couple – the two youngsters who gave their all for true love and paid the ultimate sacrifice.
In the last 500 years since Shakespeare wrote the famous play about the star crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet has been produced and adapted in many wonderful ways.
Masquerade’s latest offering is an updated interpretation of the classic piece in the form of an innovative mash-up musical in a modern-day setting.
R+J Forever shows how the story would have been told had it been written nowadays. Set in a modern-day Verona, we see Romeo, a local trouble-maker, fall in love with Juliet, a young celebrity who lives among all the other pretentious rich people on Capulet Hill.
Filled with pop culture references and tongue-in-cheek nods to the original text, this musical version of the forbidden love between a teenage dirt-bag and an uptown girl consists of a mashed-up song list that is made up of a great variety of modern and classic songs.
Audiences will be treated to such unlikely combinations as Adele and Eurthymics, Billy Idol and Pink, Eminem and The Beatles, and many other musical treats all sung with gusto by the energetic cast of dynamic youngsters.
R+J Forever features a company of 29 upcoming Maltese actors and actresses who bring an energetic edge to the show which promises to have audiences hooked into the story from the offset!
Written by and directed by Wesley Ellul with musical arrangements and vocal coaching by Roger Tirazona, and choreography by Colette Caruana R+J Forever promises a delectable theatrical treat that is not to be missed.
R+J Forever opens on Saturday and shows on Sunday and Monday, and the following weekend till March 25. Tickets can be booked online through www.ticketline.com.mt.
Visual Arts
Till March 17
Call Your Girlfriend
Matthew Attard Navarro’s first solo exhibition will feature a series of poignant photographs documenting male youth at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity.
Till March 18
The City and The Artist
Organised by ArtConnect a collective exhibition of paintings is at the Manoel Theatre Courtyard with the aim of focusing on the rich immediate surroundings of the venue which has given so much to the arts community over the years.
Till March 20
A Different Perspective
An exhibition of works by John Martin Borg is showing at the Contemporary Hall, The National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta. Free entrance. Open Monday to Sunday 9 a.m. till 4.30 p.m. (last admission 4 p.m.).
Till March 23
Myths and Gods
An exhibition of sculptures by Chris Ebejer is showing at the Wignacourt Museum in Rabat.
Till March 24
Emotional Harmonies
An exhibition of works by Rachele Bianchi is on show at Opus64 Galerie, Tigne Street, Sliema.
www.opus64galerie.com
Till March 28
Freized… Continued
An exhibition of works by Unni Askeland is showing at the Loggia, National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta. Free entrance. Open Monday to Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. (last admission 4 p.m.).
Till March 30
Silver Palette Art Competition & Exhibition 2012
A collective exhibition is showing at the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce – Palazzo de La Salle, 219 Republic Street, Valletta.
Till March 31
Interim
A recent collection of paintings by James Vella Clark is showing at Capotavola, Triq ix-Xatt, Marsascala.
Till March 31
Plastic Dreams
A collection of playful photographs by Elisa Von Brockdorff are on show at Angelica’s Cafe in Archbishop Street, Valletta.
Till April 8
Adoration of Mary
An exhibition by Zsusanna Ardo which explores the gender dynamics from the female point of view of the female photographer and her female protagonist. A collaborative project between St James Cavalier and HeritageMalta.
Till April 29
Metal Magic: Spanish Treasures from the Khalili Collections
A selection of works from the Khalili Collections is showing at the Grand Salon of the National Museum of Archaeology.
Till April 30
A Cross-Section of My Art Life 2
Mary Clare Albanozzo is holding an art exhibition at her studio at 51A, Tigné Street, Sliema. Open every day. For private viewing call on 2137 1345 /9988 1197 or e-mail clarealbanozzo@gmail.com
Concerts/Music
Tonight, tomorrow and Saturday
Il Trovatore
Verdi’s opera will be conducted by Damiano Binetti with the participation of Kim Kisun and Antonio Intersiano alternating as Manrico, Katarina Vovkova and Liana Sass alternating as Eleonora and Svatopluk Sem as the Conte di Luna. Maltese bass Albert Buttigieg will be taking on the role of Ferrando. Showing at the Manoel Theatre.
Tomorrow
Encounters
Keltika will be performing in concert tomorrow at the Sagrestia Wine Vault, Valletta Waterfront at 7.30 p.m. For bookings or information e-mail: keltikamusic@gmail.com
Tomorrow
Scream Daisy and The Areola Treat live @ V-Gen
For the first time ever the Areola Treat and Scream Daisy will be joining forces on Friday the 16th of March at V-Gen Rock Club in Paceville. Doors open at 9.30 p.m., first band takes the stage at 10.30 p.m.
March 21
The Carlo Rizzo Trio
The trio, comprising Carlo Rizzo (percussions and voice), Michel Mandel (clarinets and taragot) and Norbert Pgnol (accordion), will be performing original pieces by Mr Rizzo influenced by ethnic jazz with an international flavour at The Manoel Theatre.
Performing Arts
Tonight
Stephen Sondheim’s Company
Coming exclusively to St James Cavalier cinema is production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, with a brilliant ensemble cast that includes some of the hottest names from American stage and TV circles, including (in alphabetical order Craig Bierko, Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer, Katie Finneran, Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Hendricks, Aaron Lazar, Patti LuPone, Jill Paice, Martha Plimpton, Anika Noni Rose, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Jim Walton and Chryssie Whitehead. Staged by the world-famous New York Philharmonic, Company was recorded live from the Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center, New York in 2011 and is now screening in cinemas outside the US for the first time.
Tomorrow
NT Live – Travelling Light
Following Vincent in Brixton and The Reporter, Nicholas Wright’s new play Travelling Light is a funny and fascinating tribute to the Eastern European immigrants who became major players in Hollywood’s golden age and a haunting look at the stories we tell about our own lives. An encore performance is being screened tomorrow at St James Cavalier at 8 p.m.
Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday
9 Parts of Desire
After the success of Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit in 2011, Troupe 18:45 is teaming up with St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity to present a play by Heather Raffo (at St James Theatre in the Round). The play is directed by Toni Attard (The Bacchae), with Shirley Blake, Estelle Grech and Marta Vella intimately sharing nine characters. Accompanied by an original music score composed by Mario Sammut aka Cygna. Performances start at 8 p.m.
Others
Till tomorrow
City Gate: A Diary of Demolition
An experimental documentary by Bettina Hutschek showcasing the demolition of the captial’s City-Gate is being screened at 4, Sappers Street, Valletta from Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. More information on: www.ap.com.mt
Tomorrow
Book launch: Sites, Artefacts and Landscape: Prehistoric Borġ in-Nadur, Malta
Heritage Malta, together with the Archaeological Society Malta, will be launching a new publication at the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta. This book attempts to understand the islands’ Bronze Age society in the course of the second millennium BC by exploring the history of Borġ in-Nadur in south-east Malta. Edited by Davide Tanasi and Nicholas C. Vella, the book launch will be hosted by the National Museum of Archaeology tomorrow at 6 p.m. For more information, phone 2295 4000.
March 21-April 14
VAM: Valletta Art Museum
Valletta is a city bidding to be European Capital of Culture 2018. Sadly, its antique tapestries remain locked up, its modern works of art are left in storage and its contemporary art scene has no real home. After over a year of collaborative research and design, Chris Briffa Architects present a proposal whereby the Valletta Covered market, Is-Suq tal-Belt, is rehabilitated into an art museum fit for the city of Valletta: the VAM. An architectural exhibition running till April 14at Lily Agius Gallery, 54, Cathedral Street, Sliema illustrates their proposal, with visitors having the opportunity to leave their comments which will subsequently be presented to the media and the authorities. The exhibition is supported by The Malta Arts Fund.
www.lilyagiusgallery.com
Useful contacts
St James Cavalier
Tel: 2122 3200
E-mail: info@sjcav.org
www.sjcav.org
Manoel Theatre
Tel: 2124 6389
bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
www.manoeltheatre.com.mt
To submit a cultural event e-mail: arts@timesofmalta.com