Seriously, book to see this...

We had a hoot last night at Love, Lust & Lynching at MITP (St Christopher Street, Valletta). The cast, directed by Wesley Ellul, didn't miss a beat. The delivery punchy, the management of the audience timely and the energy level of the whole cast, like a quality control meeting at a Red Bull factory. Even the prompts were enjoying themselves.
The play is about a Spanish village and its struggle against a tyrant - where's the humour you ask? Go see. But don't think you will just be rolling around laughing. They have you on your feet, at a lynching and a few members of the audience on the stage. Indeed, one last night, didn't want to leave!
But it's not just well done, there are actors who make you sit up and take notice of them; Jo Caruana's delivery in a certain scene made my eyes well - she was so passionate. And the gorgeous Julia Calvert and Jean-Pierre Busttil are a combo that should be paired up for a lead part. At one point in the play, Jean-Pierre was alone, on stage and in the dark, waiting  to start, but he already had the audience laughing. And had us laughing all the way home.

Tickets are available for shows on :
Saturday, 26 Nov, 2011
Sunday, 27 Nov, 2011
Friday, 02 Dec, 2011
Saturday, 03 Dec, 2011
Sunday, 04 Dec, 2011

Book yours now: www.ticketline.com.mt

Change of scenery

I took the day off yesterday and spent it with a friend hoping to go up to Gozo and pretend to be shepherd for a day....but as with too many companies, the contact made via the form/email on theIr website was ignored so we had to create our own adventure.

We started off in St Paul's Bay for a chocolate and raspberry donut at the new donut factory - which deserves a story of its own - and then headed towards the red tower to walk it off. We came across a few other walkers, firework 'shells' and hunters cartridges and the chameleon in the picture.

We headed to Rabat for a well deserved lunch but were horribly disappointed by la grotta. The beaujolais was anything but neauvous - in fact was acidic and had definitely been in the bottle for way longer than its name suggests. It remained in the glass having had just one sip sipped. We ordered a Nero d'Avola to accompany our bunny and chips, which we are sure the chef added the 'sent back' Beaujolais to and so that remained largely untouched. Had it not been for the rain, we would have left, but still being hungry, had a cheese platter which we figured would be safe before taking a nice scenic drive home (house hunting again thanks to random nonsensical Maltese house laws).

We'd booked to see 'if I were you' at the Manoel, and even my Italian friend got it that it wasn't executed brilliantly. The second half was better, and we left with smiles on our faces and off to the ubiquitous leglegin for a post theatre supper.

Need a good laugh?

No, I haven't had one of my incidents, LOL are holding one of their Stand Up comedy nights on  12/12/11 (eve of a public holiday) featuring 3 hilarious award-winning comedians:

Tony Law, (watch this at work without laughing out loud....) Stephen Grant  and Tim Fitzhigham  at the Dolmen Resort in Qawra. Doors open at 19.30 and it is advisable to be there then.

 

Don't go for the food, but the quality of the comedians is always high. You'll enjoy their brilliance and quick wit - their observations of what's happening locally woven in to their sets. Don't think you can replicate their jokes the next day, somehow, like the apparent memory of childbirth, you forget everything as soon as you are standing up again. 

 

 

Bookings are now open.... purchase your tickets online and collect at the door OR reserve  and collect from one of their outlets within 3 days! Take a gang .....  www.laughoutloud.com.mt/bookings

 

See you there.....?

All that jazz.....

My job is great. I get invited to many events, some which I have to attend and some I want to. This week, the Manoel Theatre hosted a night of Jazz with Dominic Galea and Friends. I hadn't had the pleasure of hearing them before and being a bit of a jazz fan, was very happy to be in the aficionado's crowd.



The set started with a couple of numbers that were of that jazz that can irritate people - you don't know where its going and cant tap your feet / nod your head to it... then, a young chap, Carlo Muscat walked on looking very pleased with himself - you knew it was going to be  a Susan Boyle type moment.

I wanted to close my eyes and kick off my shoes and be on a lounger at Baia with a cocktail in hand. Carlo's saxaphone was like the sun warming my skin and the breeze was the percussionist sweeping the drums. This guy is one to watch - even with your eyes closed.


Doreen Galea was introduced and her big voice needed no backing music. She sounds like Julie London, velvet smooth, penetrating and uplifting. An agile xylophonist came next and was follwed by veteren, Sammy Murgo, took the stage with more pizzazz and energy than I can muster at half his age.
 
The music just got better and better and eventually the whole band played together, speaking to each other with their eyes and playing pinball to pass the tune around so each could have a solo. The pianist and leader of the pack, Dominic Galea, played the piano and the depth of sound vibrated to my core. What would I have changed? I wished I hadn't been alone and I wished there was a second half.

Lesson 1....

So today was my first (but the rest of the group's second) pastry making lesson at ITS and puff pastry - which takes some muscle and a lot of waiting around time and short pastry - which takes less time to make than it does to defrost - were on the menu. The puff pastry is on the agenda for next week as this needs to rest for a while - a little like the 'owner' - while the shortcrust pastry was made into the casing for a quice lorraine. Not my favourite filling - for my homework version I'll opt for fig and gorgonzola - or roasted vegetable and pesto egg...
Good mix of people on the course, young and older, male and female and enthusiastic homes cooks to pro chefs are amongst the mix.
Didn't take any pictures but am loving the outfit... let's see if the drawstring waisted trousers will stretch far enough by week 14. You should see what's coming in a couple of weeks..... I'll share some recipes as I go along on www.indulge.com.mt/foodanddrink

Kids Under 16 FREE at the Manoel this weekend

What do you get when you combine wacky juggling, creative balloon sculptures, a live bunny rabbit, audience participation and jaw dropping miracles of magic? You get Teatru Manoel’s Magical Variety! Teatru Manoel in collaboration with BLEEP Entertainment presents a weekend of astonishing magical fun this Saturday 5th of November at 7.30pm and Sunday at 6th November at 4.00pm. Prepare to witness jaw dropping acts and colourful performances by some of Malta’s finest talent including Alfred Mifsud - The Balancing Magician, Robert Ellul – The Balloon Man, Lorenzo
Brincat, Vanni Pule and Brian Role

As part of Teatru Manoel’s ongoing campaigns to encourage more families to include the theatre as part of their jam packed weekend full of outings and events, Teatru Manoel is inviting all kids under 16 to enjoy both performances of ‘The Magical Variety’ for free. ‘We believe that The Magical Variety is a great opportunity for families to enjoy quality time together and have an enjoyable evening or
afternoon together in one of Malta’s most prestigious landmarks. We are proud to host an evening presented by Malta’s finest magicians, Alison White Dancers and work with members of The Magician’s Society to create what we consider to be a great family outing’ Ray Attard, Teatru
Manoel’s CEO

Bookings for this unique promotional offer directly from the Teatru Manoel box office, Monday to Friday between 10.00 and 13.00 and 17.00 – 19.00, Saturday’s between 10am and 13.00pm or one hour before the performance. The Magical Variety will be performed on Saturday 5th November at 19.30 and a matinee show at 16:00. For more details call 21246389 email info@teatrumanoel.com.mt