Theatre
L-Iffissat t’Alla
St James Cavalier

Working in collaboration with Valletta 18, Spazju Kreattiv has chosen a very different kind of Passion play for this year’s Holy Week.

L-Iffissat t’Alla is essentially a two-hander, written by Joseph Galea and directed by Carlos Farrugia, starring the writer and director as the two main actors.

With artistic advice by Carmel S. Aquilina and psychological advice by Jo Christine Scicluna, and original, live music by Mark Spiteri Lucas, the play explores the dangers of social isolation, extreme suffocating parenting  and the subsequent coping mechanisms whereby passions turn into obsessions which can ultimately have highly negative consequences.

Galea plays a man who seems to be a timid introvert, minding his own business, avoiding people and shying away from social interaction. Farrugia, whom he accidentally meets on his way to work, is a more laid-back kind of Christian, who has battled his own demons over the years and has found that being a musician in a heavy metal band doesn’t necessarily preclude his spiritual side.

Galea’s obsession with crucifixes and his growing collection because of his desire to own the perfect one, spurs him to stalk Farrugia on Facebook and contact him, since he has recognised him as an actor who plays the part of Jesus in Passion plays.

L-Iffissat t’Alla is instructive in its destructive intent and handles a subversively controversial domestic theme with a quiet confidence and measured maturity

Both men played their respective roles carefully and sensitively – it was clear that they, like many of us, know what kind of characters the two represented and made them so relatable and credible. This is what makes the piece, which is well-scripted, all the more relevant. It is actually worrying that it brings to light the reality that several people do live in our island: being brought up by close-minded, ultra-religious and often unhealthily attached parents does have an effect on your psychological well-being.

Galea’s deceased mother’s voice takes the form of four black-clad, veiled female figures who haunt his psyche regularly, repeating threats and arguments, and inflicting guilt beyond the grave, manipulating a grown man’s mind simply by attaching the memories of love and nurture to those of control and displeasure.

Maria Farrugia plays one of the four voices.

Rodianne Abela, Angela Buttigieg, Lucy Camenzuli and Maria Farrugia played the four voices and figures who made up this macabre matriarchal Greek chorus, whose use was very effective in portraying Galea’s mental anguish.

As their friendship develops, a one-sided homo-erotic undertone can also be identified, belying some of Farrugia’s character’s own demons, and pushing Galea further out of his already restricted comfort zone and into dangerous territory.

The play makes clever references to the physical elements of the Passion of Christ and Holy Week, as well as to Passion plays and discusses the various ways in which one can reconcile one’s lifestyle with one’s faith and spirituality.

Farrugia at times kisses Galea on the cheek, in a manner reminiscent of the Kiss of Judas, but the irony lies in the reversal of betrayal, where friendship, this odd form of relationship, forged over one man’s passion for the Passion and religious items pertaining to the passion, is abused of and betrayed, not by the bestower of the kiss but by the receiver.

L-Iffissat t’Alla is instructive in its destructive intent and handles a subversively controversial domestic theme with a quiet confidence and measured maturity. A good play to watch in the appropriate season.

L-Iffissat t’Alla is being staged at St James Cavalier today, tomorrow and on Saturday at 8pm, and on Friday at 10.30am.