Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/736806
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2016 39 What did you find appealing about this play in particular? Did the fact that it was a 'light' piece by the controversial – at least in Malta – Anthony Nielson have anything to do with it? This is a good comedy. Over the years I have become addicted to the sound of people laughing. And this is a script that will have people laughing throughout. There's a dark underbelly to the premise, though, since it's all about how people lie to each other. But the examination in- to the behaviour of the protagonists becomes so mad that people will be peeing themselves with laughter. The story is about two police- men who have the unpleasant job of informing an elderly couple on Christmas Eve that their daughter died in a traffic accident. A misun- derstanding and the couple's frail condition leads the two policemen to lie – which only leads to further (and more outrageous) lying that complicates their lives endlessly. It is a very intelligent script by Antho- ny Neilson and it's a very different play to his controversial (at least in Malta) Stitching. While Stitching is dark from start to finish, The Ly- ing Kind has plenty of moments of laughter amid the darkness. And if a great playwright like Anthony Neil- son can write a good comedy, why shouldn't we be able to produce it? Why did you decide the stage the production as two bilingual plays? Are there different dynam- ics that emerge in each version? We decided to stage the play in two languages to reach different audiences. Il-Giddieb Ghomru Qa- sir is translated by Simone Spiteri and stars well-known rascals Chry- sander Agius and Daniel Chircop in the main roles. They are supported by top comedian Snits, seasoned ac- tors Marylu Coppini and Michael Tabone, rising star Magda van Kuilenburg and the very promising Julie Pomorski. In the English version, we have comic duo Edward Mercieca and Alan Paris in the main roles, sup- ported by Thomas Camilleri, Polly March, Antony Edridge, Michael Fenech and again Magda van Kuilenburg who is appearing in both versions. Both presentations are being directed by Chris Gatt, who we consider as Malta's best director. We are treating these two versions as two different produc- tions. And in fact, due to the fact that we have different casts, the ac- tion is very different. Each show has a life of its own. Those watching the Maltese version will get a different show to those watching the Eng- lish version. Gatt allows each actor to make the part his own, to bring something of himself to the char- acter. Where would you say Maltese theatre as a whole is heading, at this moment in time? Would you say there are still some key break- throughs that need to occur before the scene can mature? I think there are some exciting new companies emerging. I cannot fail to mention my friends at Teatru Grokk, as one example, and I would say that the more seasoned compa- nies have found their niche. People know what to expect from me, from Masquerade, from FM Produc- tions, and so on. Where Unifaun is concerned, there is a small shift in style. We are growing more in- terested in generating and creating theatre. Hence we write, we com- mission and we devise. I am slowly gaining confidence in maybe pro- ducing some of my writing. That is the direction Unifaun is taking. We are more interested in creating plays and less in presenting ready finished scripts. The Maltese production will fea- ture Chrysander Agius Daniel Chir- cop, Snits, Michael Tabone, Julie Pomorski, Magda van Kuilenburg and Marylu Coppini and will be staged between October 7 and 9. The English version will feature Ed- ward Mercieca, Alan Paris, Antony Edridge, Magda van Kuilenburg, Polly March, Michaela Fenech and Thomas Camilleri and will be staged between October 21-23. Bookings: www.ticketline.com.mt This Week ETHICAL FUND APS REGULAR INCOME *Annualised Returns as at 29/07/2016 since inception, 06/06/2012 O ering Income & Capital Growth Potential 2122 6644 invest@apsfunds.com.mt apsfunds.com.mt Annualised Returns* 7.20% Financially smart, and ethical at heart. Talk to us about the APS Regular Income Ethical Fund today. Investments should be based on the full details of the APS Funds SICAV p.l.c. Prospectus and the APS Regular Income Ethical Fund Supplement which may be obtained from APS Bank Limited and any of its branches. Past performance over a particular period will not necessarily be indicative of the results that may be expected in future periods. The value of the participating shares and the income derived from them can go down as well as up and the investor may not receive on redemption of their shares the amount that they invested. APS Bank Limited is licensed to provide investment services by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). APS Funds SICAV p.l.c. and APS Income Fund are licensed by the MFSA. Issued by APS Funds SICAV p.l.c. APS Centre, Tower Street, Birkirkara BKR4012, Malta Tel. (+356) 2122 6644. 'People will be peeing themselves with laughter' Theatre producer Adrian Buckle talks about Unifaun's upcoming bilingual production of Anthony Nielson's (Stitching) comedy The Lying Kind – which will be presented in a Maltese version as Il-Giddieb Ghomru Qasir Alan Paris and Edward Mercieca in The Lying Kind. Photo by Christine Joan Muscat Azzopardi