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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 JANUARY 2024 4 CULTURE The complexities of dementia tackled head-on in dark comedy Il-Missier A new Maltese translation of Florian Zeller's 'The Father' takes the stage at Teatru Manoel from the 2nd to the 4th of February AS of late 2023, more than 55 million people worldwide were confirmed to be living with dementia. It is currently the seventh leading cause of death and a major cause of disability and dependency among older individuals globally. The thea- tre is a powerful tool when it comes to ref lecting on social issues, such as dementia and its effects, both as an educational venture as well as a cathartic experience. Teatru Manoel is proud to be producing Il-Mis- sier, a Maltese translation of Florian Zeller's award-win- ning dark comedy The Father, which deeply and ambitiously explores life with dementia. "Theatre has an important role in the expression of all that makes us human, our challeng- es, our hopes and fears," said Teatru Manoel Artistic Direc- tor Adrian Mamo, who is also designing the production. "Flo- rian Zeller's play gets to the very heart of what is one of the world's current greatest killers, dementia, and its depiction of its effects on us as human be- ings and our relationships with those close to us is present- ed in an honest, warm, and sometimes humorous way. It is a process of catharsis in the manner of traditional and yet contemporary theatre". Directed by Jacob Piccinino and translated by Alfred Palma, the Teatru Manoel production of Il-Missier stars Maltese stage and screen veteran Mario Micallef in the role of An- dré, alongside a powerful cast made up of Simone Ellul as his daughter Anne, and Mikhail Basmadjian, Sarah Camilleri, Charles Sammut, and Angele Galea. Il-Missier promises to be a theatrical masterpiece that will leave you questioning the nature of reality and the bonds that connect us all. "Teatru Manoel is proud to bring together a group of tal- ented artists from different theatrical backgrounds in this new production in Maltese," said Mamo. Originally written in French by Florian Zeller, and lat- er translated into English by Christopher Hampton, The Father has been performed all over the world and received various accolades including the prestigious Molière Award for Best Play in 2014. The play ex- plores the complex, confusing, and harrowing experience of living with dementia as it fol- lows André, an ex-tap dancer (or perhaps an ex-engineer), and his adult daughter Anne who has moved in with him to care for him. Or is Anne just visiting from her home in Lon- don? And who is the strange man accompanying her? These details become unclear, as we follow the plot alongside An- dré, who becomes the unre- liable lens through which we witness the world of the play. The characters, time, space, and dialogue are all presented in a deliberately ambiguous manner, as the production at- tempts to capture André's des- perately confusing experience with memory loss, and the way he navigates the challenge that is his daily life. From Friday the 2nd to Sunday the 4th of February 2024, Teatru Manoel invites audiences to at- tend Il-Missier, a powerful and thought-provoking play that ex- plores the challenges of ageing and the disorienting effects of dementia. As the lines between reality and illusion blur, the audience is taken on a roller- coaster ride of uncertainty and empathy. The Maltese trans- lation brilliantly captures the raw emotions and complexities of the original award-winning text, immersing the audience in a deeply moving exploration of identity, family, and the fragility of the human mind. Il-Missier has a run time of 1 hour 30 minutes with no interval and is recommended for audiences ages over 14. Tickets range from €8 to €28 and can be purchased on- line or from the Box Office. For more information on the production and to purchase tickets, visit https://teatru- manoel.mt or call (+356) 21246389. Photos above and below by Justin Mamo