From intimate relationships to stunning visual spectacle, Blood Wedding is primed to be one of the most creative and cutting-edge productions of our theatrical season. Jo Caruana interviews director and scriptwriter Simone Spiteri and actress Josette Ciappara.
Internationally, remakes and revivals of long-loved classics have become the order of the day.
There are lovely, light moments juxtaposed against the script’s darker themes
From the light-hearted touches of Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband on the West End, to New York’s complete rehash of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in the dynamic performance Sleep No More, entertainers and artists are finding dynamic new ways to bring classic pieces to modern audiences.
Leading the way locally, award-winning scriptwriter and director Simone Spiteri is currently working on a completely new production of Federico Garcia Lorca’s poetic tragic drama Blood Wedding, which was doubtlessly one of the highlights of his career.
The story itself centres around a wedding. But although the bride is all set to marry a wonderful man, she still harbours a secret love and destructive attraction towards her past lover Leonardo Felix – whose family just happened to murder her new husband’s father and brother.
Things become even more complicated when, on the morning of the wedding, Leonardo turns up and declares his own undying love for the bride, asking her to rethink her impending marriage vows.
She is naturally left in a quandary and, despite her best intentions, the inevitable has been unavoidable all along.
Speaking about her choice of script, Spiteri, who is also the drama consultant for the Manoel Theatre, says this was an ideal choice. She wanted to direct a classic that enabled her to craft an ensemble piece with actors from different backgrounds.
“I loved the play as a theatre student, and felt that its Spanish core struck many chords with us as fellow Mediterranean inhabitants,” she explains.
“It’s also a tale about how, no matter the time-period, we’re all slaves to our heart’s desires – no matter what you think and what those around you will tell you.”
Spiteri explains that she was involved in the project from the get-go. She chose the play, auditioned over 60 keen actors to fill the various parts and head-hunted a superb team for both on stage and off.
“I don’t believe in sitting in your director’s chair, bellowing out orders to people,” she smiles.
“I believe in teamwork and think everyone should work as a link in one continuous chain and never in isolation. This helps ensure that everyone is on the ball and feels involved throughout, as well as makes the performance far stronger. We’ve already been working at this for quite a while; I believe that is important for a project of this size.”
Leading the team, Spiteri was keen to ensure that the production develop organically through the rehearsal process, as opposed to having been completely thought through beforehand. Nothing was set in stone and this has made for dynamic results.
In fact, with inside knowledge on what’s in store for audiences, renowned local actress Josette Ciappara calls it a complete must-see of the ongoing season.
“It’s a truly special production,” she says. “There are incredible underlying dynamics between the whole cast and it is beautifully woven. The very nature of this classic plays with ample modern emotional parallels and everything works together. The twists and turns of the original, the large cast, the music (which will be provided by folk band Stalko), the make-up, the set by Pierre Portelli, and, of course, Simone’s vivid imagination. It is going to be visually striking as well as generally engaging, with great attention to detail throughout and lovely, sunny moments juxtaposed against the script’s darker themes.”
Meanwhile, as Spiteri’s old drama teacher, this production also promises personal poignancy for Ciappara.
“For once I am being directed by an ex-student of mine as opposed to the other way around!” she smiles. “Simone has already left her mark on the local theatre scene and is a real professional. I love the way she has successfully deconstructed the text to give us, as actors, the freedom to delve into our characters and make them our own.”
Ciappara is playing the mother – which is slightly ironic, as she is also sharing the stage with her real-life daughter, Marta (Vella), for the first time.
“Yes, that is a highlight, too,” she smiles again. “It is a new experience and we are both enjoying it.
“The character, meanwhile, is very unpredictable thanks to her past experiences; she has gone through a lot. She is a wonderful challenge to play with subdued bitterness and anger at her core, but she is also a caring mother.
“In her own words at her son’s wedding: ‘That’s what life is – a conflict’; I believe this clearly describes her. Discovering her various facets has been fascinating and exciting, especially in relation to the other characters. Needless to say, this is Garcia Lorca at his best!”
Blood Wedding will feature a cast of well-known faces and local up-and-comers, including Chris Galea, Dave Persiva, Ruth Borg, Ninette Micallef, Chantelle Micallef Grimaud, Veronica Stivala, Marie Keiser-Nielsen, Maia Buttigieg, Toni Attard, Joseph Zammit, Karl Cassar, Charles Sammut, Pia Zammit and Lizzie Eldridge.
The production will be staged at the Manoel Theatre from May 10-12.
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